The Story Blender

My guest this week is bestselling, award-winning author, poet, screenwriter, and playwright Clay Stafford. With millions of books sold, he’s also the founder of the annual Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference. We talk crime writing, how improv can help authors, and how I almost ended up a prisoner of the infamous Ministry of Tolerance. Check it out!

This week, horror author, actor, and playwright Nat Cassidy joins me to talk all things horror. You may have seen him playing a villain on the TV shows Quantico, FBI, or Law & Order: SVU, or read one of his acclaimed novels. Listen as he shares insights into why people love scary stories, what draws us in (and what drives us out), how they honor the human experience, and what Shakespeare has to do with horror. We also chat about his forthcoming collection of short stories, I KNOW A PLACE. If you’re a fan of horror, don’t miss this episode.

This week, I catch up with veteran Hollywood actor Jon Lindstrom, who has appeared in thousands of hours of television over the last three decades. He’s also a bestselling author with a new book out, a Los Angeles crime novel, Hollywood Payback. Join us as we talk about what actors can teach writers, the difference between ambiguity and moral complexity, and why it’s easier to write villains than heroes. Also, you’ll learn Jon’s movie recommendations, which might surprise you.

For decades, Jane Friedman has been keeping her finger on the pulse of the writing industry. Each month she shares her insights with tens of thousands of writers through her newsletter The Bottom Line. This week she joins me to talk about some of the most prickly topics in publishing: whether or not to use a prologue, whether or not to outline, how many points of view to include, and the pet peeves of editors and agents. Tune in this week to get an insider’s scoop on the publishing industry.

Critically acclaimed, bestselling novelist Nick Petrie, who is known for his propulsive action stories and suspenseful plots, joins me this week. He shares how to create suspense, what lies at the heart of a great story, the importance of surprise, insights into the writing process, and more. We also talk about his latest book in the popular Peter Ash series, THE DARK TIME. Don’t miss it!