The Thriller Pitch Podcast

Crime Fiction Without Redemption Fantasies | Joel Nedecky

In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, I talk with Joel Nedecky, author of The Broken Detective, about the craft choices behind his debut crime novel.
We discuss building a story around a private investigator who knows he’s going to prison, writing character before plot, and allowing questions of addiction, family, and consequence to emerge during revision.
This conversation focuses on perspective, process, and writing crime fiction without easy redemption.
Joel Nedecky's book The Broken Detective: https://a.co/d/atzlbSo
Follow Joel Nedecky online: https://jnedecky.com/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get early access to episodes, bonus after-show segments with guests, and my free novella Cognitive Breach. You’ll also be able to support the show and help me keep bringing on great thriller authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels including his psychological action tech thriller, The Genesis Project: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

BONUS: 10 Lessons I Learned from Interviewing 27 Thriller Authors (2025)

To kick off Season Two of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, host Mark P.J. Nadon shares ten lessons he learned in 2025 after reading more than 45 thriller novels and interviewing 27 thriller authors.
In this bonus episode, Mark reflects on the patterns that came up again and again across conversations with writers, including the importance of support networks, consistency, flexibility in the writing process, letting go of book one, embracing imperfect first drafts, and why relying on luck is not a sustainable strategy.
The episode also outlines a few changes coming in Season Two, including a new biweekly release schedule and the addition of a clearly marked spoiler-full section at the end of future interviews.
This episode is for writers thinking long-term about their craft and what it really takes to keep writing thrillers over time.
Join the After Show on Patreon and get early access to episodes, bonus after-show segments with guests, and my free novella Cognitive Breach. You’ll also be able to support the show and help me keep bringing on great thriller authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels including his psychological action tech thriller, The Genesis Project: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

Why We Tell Dark Stories — and What They Cost | Westley Smith

In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, I’m joined by Westley Smith, author of They Came at Night, to talk about blending psychological thriller and action, and how lived experience shaped the emotional core of the novel.
We talk about writing characters shaped by trauma, balancing tension with restraint, and why some stories aren’t built from research alone. Westley shares how personal loss influenced his approach to story, and what he hopes readers carry with them after the final page.
This conversation explores endurance, resilience, and the ways dark fiction can become a form of processing rather than escape.
Westley Smith's book They Came At Night: https://a.co/d/aGFreg3
Follow Westley Smith online: https://westleysmithbooks.com/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get early access to episodes, bonus after-show segments with guests, and my free novella Cognitive Breach. You’ll also be able to support the show and help me keep bringing on great thriller authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels including his psychological action tech thriller, The Genesis Project: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

Karen E. Osborne on Building Characters from Real Life and Writing Across Dual Timelines

In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, I’m joined by Karen E. Osborne to talk about how she builds characters from real life and structures stories across dual timelines.
We discuss Justice for Emerson, how observing people in everyday moments helps her capture physical detail and voice, and the way characters become so real to her that she rarely loses track of who they are. Karen also talks about writing across timelines without losing clarity, and how personal history and lived experience quietly shape the emotional core of a story.
This conversation focuses on character, structure, and the small, human details that make fiction feel alive.
Karen E Osborne's book Justice for Emerson: https://a.co/d/9P7NHXj
Follow Karen E. Osborne online: https://www.kareneosborne.com/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get early access to episodes, bonus after-show segments with guests, and my free novella Cognitive Breach. You’ll also be able to support the show and help me keep bringing on great thriller authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels including his psychological action tech thriller, The Genesis Project: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

How Adam Roach Turned a 100-Word Flash Fiction into a Thriller Series

In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, I’m joined by Adam Roach, author of The Ritualist. Adam talks about how a 100-word flash fiction piece he wrote for a horror contest became the starting point for his thriller series.
We discuss the original flash fiction, what judges said about expanding it, and how that idea eventually became a full-length novel. Adam also talks about writing scenes by visualizing them like a movie, how his approach to outlining changes depending on the project, and why he doesn’t focus heavily on detailed police procedural research.
The conversation also touches on writing villains, long-running antagonists, and how Adam thinks about continuing a story across multiple books.
Adam Roach's book The Ritualist: https://a.co/d/2hovKOO
Follow Adam Roach online: https://www.adamroachbooks.com/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get early access to episodes, bonus after-show segments with guests, and my free novella Cognitive Breach. You’ll also be able to support the show and help me keep bringing on great thriller authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels including his psychological action tech thriller, The Genesis Project: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

How Melissa F. Miller Blends Fairy Tales, Trauma, and Tension in Psychological Thrillers

What happens when a real encounter sparks the opening of a psychological thriller?
In this episode, USA Today bestselling author Melissa F. Miller explains how she built Cut Off from Sky and Earth around memory, trauma, and the dangerous weight of past relationships. We get into how she blended the feel of a fairy tale with a tense, grounded narrative, why she stepped away from legal thrillers for this story, and how she writes three POVs without outlining.
With more than fifty books behind her, Melissa shares the instincts she trusts, the tension she chases, and the character choices that shaped this novel.
If you’re writing psychological suspense or juggling multiple POVs, this episode is packed with takeaways.
Melissa F. Miller's book Cut Off From Sky and Earth: https://a.co/d/c5VEcU6
Follow Melissa F. Miller online: https://melissafmiller.com/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get early access to episodes, bonus after-show segments with guests, and my free novella Cognitive Breach. You’ll also be able to support the show and help me keep bringing on great thriller authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels including his psychological action tech thriller, The Genesis Project: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

How Andrew Warren Writes Smart, Tactical Villains

In this episode, international best-selling author Andrew Warren, joins me to talk about how he created White Tiger — a villain who’s as tactically intelligent as he is physically dangerous. We dig into writing action that’s fast but clear, how to use strategy to shape a fight scene, and why a smart antagonist raises every aspect of a thriller.
Andrew also talks about returning to the Thomas Caine world for Book Six, keeping a long-running series fresh, and the choices that help each story feel different without losing what readers love.
If you’re writing thrillers or looking for a deeper look at how villains and action scenes work together, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
 
Andrew Warren's book White Tiger: https://a.co/d/j6QRo5f
Follow Andrew Warren online: https://andrewwarrenbooks.com/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get early access to episodes, bonus after-show segments with guests, and my free novella Cognitive Breach. You’ll also be able to support the show and help me keep bringing on great thriller authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels including his psychological action tech thriller, The Genesis Project: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

When the Mind Breaks: Jo Loveday on Addiction, Identity, and Psychological Horror

Jo Loveday joins me to discuss Campus of Shadows, a psychological horror thriller that follows a vulnerable mind as it begins to break. We talk about crafting a believable mental decline, how Jo’s nursing and psychiatric training informed Dave’s deterioration, and why portraying addiction felt personal.
Jo also opens up about living with dyscalculia and how it helped shape Dave’s character, the challenge of writing from a male POV, and the ten-year journey of learning story structure, rewriting, and cutting entire early chapters to sharpen the emotional core of the book.
It’s a thoughtful conversation about identity, vulnerability, and writing psychological darkness with care and realism.
Jo Loveday's book: https://a.co/d/gAgs2Al
Follow Jo Loveday online: https://joloveday.com/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get early access to episodes, bonus after-show segments with guests, and my free novella Cognitive Breach. You’ll also be able to support the show and help me keep bringing on great thriller authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels including his psychological action tech thriller, The Genesis Project: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

Trust the Story: Mark Philbin on Writing Tense Plots and Characters with Agency

How do you build a high-stakes thriller without losing sight of character? In this episode, Mark Philbin joins me to talk about Kill Them All, a plot-driven thriller built around a twelve-city murder spree and a protagonist who sees patterns others miss.
We discuss where the idea began, how he shaped the “12 victims in 12 months” structure, and why grounding a twisty plot in character growth matters just as much as pacing. Mark shares how his radio background shaped his writing style, how he created a team of distinct FBI agents, and why trusting your outline — and your voice — is essential when you’re trying to stand out in a crowded thriller market.
If you’re interested in building tense plots, crafting characters with agency, or simply love hearing authors break down their creative decisions, this conversation is a great one.
Mark Philbin's book: https://a.co/d/gayzNd0
Follow Mark Philbin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mphilbinwriter/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get early access to episodes, bonus after-show segments with guests, and my free novella Cognitive Breach. You’ll also be able to support the show and help me keep bringing on great thriller authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels including the Armageddon Descendants trilogy bundle: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

How M.M. Deluca Builds Twisted Friendships in Multi-POV Psychological Thrillers | EP18

What makes a friendship unravel, and how do you show every side of it on the page?
In this episode, author M.M. Deluca joins me to talk about The Divorce Party, a psychological thriller set in Las Vegas that explores secrets, tension, and the fragile balance between loyalty and betrayal. We talk about writing from multiple perspectives, shaping believable relationships between flawed friends, and grounding suspense in realism drawn from real life.
For thriller writers, this conversation offers insight into how story structure and character perspective can heighten emotional tension, while readers get an inside look at what drives M.M. Deluca’s storytelling.
M.M. Deluca's book: https://a.co/d/c2u4aSn
Follow M.M. Deluca on her website: https://www.marjoriedeluca.com/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get early access to episodes, bonus after-show segments with guests, and my free novella Cognitive Breach. You’ll also be able to support the show and help me keep bringing on great thriller authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon