The Thriller Pitch Podcast
The Thriller Pitch Podcast is the director’s cut of the thriller book world. Here, we answer what makes a great thriller tick and what it really takes to write one.
On this show, bestselling, award-winning, and emerging thriller authors share the craft, psychology, and real-world experience behind today’s most gripping stories.
Whether you’re writing thrillers or devouring them, you’ll go inside the minds behind the twists, the characters, and the moments that keep readers turning the page.
Each episode begins with a two-minute pitch, then dives into the decisions that shaped the book — the risks taken, the rewrites that didn’t work, the dead ends, and the breakthroughs that made it stronger.
If you write thrillers or just love knowing what's really behind the stories you can't put down, this is the conversation for you.
Listen on:
Episodes
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
Blunt Force is a high-octane action thriller about espionage, betrayal, and survival. When investigative journalists expose corruption on a global scale, the Trigger Man, Mark Pierce, is tasked with protecting them from elite kill teams sent by Syrian and Russian intelligence. From Spain to Luxembourg to Iceland’s frozen wilderness, Pierce battles assassins and uncovers a conspiracy that strikes closer to home than he ever imagined.
In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, Aiden Bailey and I talk about the real-world experiences that shaped the Trigger Man series, how he balances relentless action with character depth, and the global settings that bring his thrillers to life.
Aiden Bailey's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/duviZ4e
Follow Aiden Bailey on his website: https://aidenlbailey.wordpress.com/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get my free novella Cognitive Breach, bonus stories from guests, early access to episodes, and the chance to submit your own questions for future 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
Bonus question not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Page:• https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon
Tuesday Sep 09, 2025
Tuesday Sep 09, 2025
Every Fall is a chilling psychological thriller about police culture, family trauma, and the thin line between reality and haunting. After tragedy strikes on the job, Jake’s spiral of guilt and grief leaves Bree isolated and haunted in her own home. To protect her children, she must face the one person she thought would always keep them safe.
In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, Angela Douglas and I talk about the messy beginnings of creating Every Fall, the research that went into its creation, and she shares great advice for future authors.
Angela Douglas' book on Amazonhttps://a.co/d/h2bCoZf
Follow Angela Douglas on her website https://www.angeladouglasbooks.com/
Support the show on Patreon and get my free novella Cognitive Breach, plus bonus stories from guests, early access to episodes, and even the chance to submit your own questions for future authorshttps://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
Bonus questions not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Page:• https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon
Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
The Award winning novel Deadly Vision is a medical thriller about Dr. Taylor Abrahms, a pioneer in medical virtual reality whose groundbreaking Virtual Heart Project becomes the target of political sabotage, scientific rivalry, and murder as a presidential election looms.
In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, T.D. Severin and I talk about how the idea first came to him in 1994 while researching the possibilities of medical virtual reality, the thirty-year journey of rewriting the novel from its earliest draft, the balance between outlining and discovery writing, and how characters like Malcolm and Helen came to life during the revision process.
T.D. Severin's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/440RDnJ
Follow T.D. Severin on his website: https://tdseverin.com/
Support the show & get a free novella Cognitive Breach by Mark, plus free novellas and art from some guests:• Join the Patreon → 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
Bonus questions not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Page:• https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon
Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
Tuesday Aug 26, 2025
The Devil’s Eye is an adventure thriller about a lost alchemist’s notebook that surfaces at a London auction and sparks a high-stakes race across Europe. CIA operatives Ridley Samaras and Booker Douglas must decipher its codes and track down a mystical relic before a ruthless billionaire uses it to seize ultimate power.
In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, Ox Devere and I talk about how the story was inspired by real-world figures like Jeffrey Epstein, the meticulous research behind the European settings, the challenges of writing both heroes and despicable villains, and why some characters felt like her “spirit animal” on the page.
Ox Devere's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/04pO4Bp
Follow Ox Devere on her website:https://www.oxdevere.com/
Support the show & get a free novella Cognitive Breach by Mark, plus free novellas and art from some guests:• Join the Patreon → https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novel The Genesis Project: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Bonus questions not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Page:• https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Power Surge is a vigilante thriller about CC Crane, a 52-year-old ad executive who targets sexual predators, only to draw the attention of a violent male-supremacist group that threatens her daughter and her own survival.
In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, Lizzie and I talk about how the story idea grew out of a male-supremacist hate group targeting her daughter’s work, the different characters and why she chose multiple viewpoints, and the research that shaped the novel.
Lizzie Qnert's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/9A9mnoA
Follow Lizzie on her website: https://lizzieqnert.com/
Support the show & get a free novella by Mark, plus stories and art from some guests:• Join the Patreon → https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's Sponsor Mark P.J. Nadon's novel Monsoon Rendezvous: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Bonus questions not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Pagehttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon
Tuesday Aug 12, 2025
Tuesday Aug 12, 2025
The Dollhouse is a dark psychological thriller about siblings Angel and Bud, captives in a place where a madman’s cruel games decide who lives and who dies.
In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, author Sara Ennis shares the inspiration behind The Dollhouse and its connection to an Idaho abduction, her lifelong love of storytelling, and how she comes up with her plot ideas.
Sara Ennis' book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8RZNXVw
Follow Sara on her website: https://www.justcallmesara.com/
Support the show & get a free novella by Mark, plus stories and art from some guests:• Join the Patreon → https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's Sponsor Mark P.J. Nadon's novel The Genesis Project: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Bonus questions not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Pagehttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon
Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
Inside Outside is a tense domestic thriller about two women—Leslie and Selena—trapped by secrets, obligation, and the pressure to appear fine when nothing really is.
In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, author Fay Arcand talks about the her experience with the muse and how it shaped this novel, the joy of writing by the seat of your pants, and her background in criminal justice.
Faye Arcand's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/bPpUE48
Follow Faye on her website: https://fayearcand.com/
Support the show & get a free novella by Mark, plus stories and art from some guests:• Join the Patreon → https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's Sponsor Mark P.J. Nadon's novella Monsoon Rendezvous: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Bonus questions not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Pagehttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Metal Spies is a fast-moving action-thriller about a conman fronting a metal band—and getting blackmailed into stopping a billionaire’s plot against the U.S.
In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, author Cole Chase talks about where the idea came from, how his tech background influences his storytelling, and some of the research involved in his books.
We talk about:- His daughters influence on the idea behind a metal band heist crew- His life experience that shaped his novel and the research he did to bring it to life- His writing process for Metal Spies
Cole Chase's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8s35HCr
Follow Cole on his website: https://colechase.media/
Support the show & get a free novella by Mark, plus stories and art from some guests:• Join the Patreon → https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Bonus questions not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Pagehttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
The Cemetery Spot is a psychological thriller about two sisters bound by blood—and a secret that could destroy them both.
In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, author Jenna Moquin shares how the story took shape from a NaNoWriMo draft, why she chose to center it on two sisters, and how she tightened the plot by cutting scenes that slowed the pace.
We talk about:
Writing sibling dynamics inspired by real life
Taking a story from NaNoWriMo to a full novel
What she chose to cut to keep the story sharp
Why writing the next book matters most
Check out Jenna's books: https://jennamoquin.com/
Support the show & get a free novella by Mark, plus stories and art from some guests:• Join the Patreon → https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Authors: Want to be a guest?• Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Bonus questions not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Tokyo Black is an action thriller about a betrayed CIA operative forced into a dangerous new mission in Japan.
In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, international bestselling author Andrew Warren shares the inspiration behind Thomas Caine, how he explored Tokyo virtually and on foot to build the setting, and the surprising bit of pop culture that sparked a key plot device.
We talk about:
The spark that led to writing Tokyo Black
Visiting and virtually researching Japanese locations
What sets Caine apart from typical spy heroes
A unique virtual character that influenced the story
Check out Andrew's books: https://andrewwarrenbooks.com/
Follow Andrew on his Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Andrew-Warren/author/B01EOBZH7Q?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025876&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=24173e92-2fe7-4865-88b6-550de6a211a7
Support the show & get a free novella by Mark, plus stories and art from some guests:• Join the Patreon → https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Authors: Want to be a guest?• Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Bonus questions not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon