Thrillers That Heal
How Suspense Stories Help Us Face Fear, Find Justice, and Feel Hope Have you ever finished a thriller with your pulse still racing… and yet felt strangely lighter? It seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? We immerse ourselves in stories filled with danger, deception, betrayal, and loss. We stay up past midnight, whispering just one more chapter […]
The Many Flavors of Plot Twist
Have you ever finished a book, stared at the last page, and thought… Wait. WHAT? Not in the “I’m confused” way. But rather in the “I need to sit here for a minute and re-evaluate my entire life” way. That’s the power of a good plot twist. When it’s done well, a twist doesn’t just […]
Why Readers Crave Impossible Mysteries
Imagine this. A man lies dead in a room bolted from the inside.The windows are sealed.The chimney is too narrow for a cat.The snow outside the door is smooth and untouched. No footprints. No weapon. No way in. And yet… someone did it. From the moment Edgar Allan Poe introduced “The Murders in the Rue […]
What Makes a Thriller Novel Different from Other Genres?
Have you ever stayed up far too late with a book you meant to put down after just one more chapter—only to find yourself, hours later, breathless at the final page? If so, chances are, you were reading a thriller. Thrillers have a particular kind of magic—a visceral pull that sets them apart from other […]
Secrets, Signals, and Story Hooks: What NCIS Can Teach Us About Writing Suspense
For years, my writing mentor kept encouraging me to watch NCIS. He insisted it was some of the best writing in television. Ever. It’s not that I didn’t believe him. It’s just that I never found the time to make it happen. And then, I did. And got hooked. There is something eminently satisfying about […]
Was Alfred Hitchcock Presents Based on Books? Let’s Knock on That Door…
You know the sound. That iconic “Good evening,” delivered with deadpan charm as a rotund silhouette strolls across a minimalist screen. Then a sharp, suspenseful story unfolds—strange, ironic, sometimes chilling. And always captivating. Have you ever wondered where those stories came from? I found myself mulling over that question the other day while watching an […]
The Ticking Clock and Other Secrets: What Makes a Suspense Thriller Thrill?
Have you ever found yourself holding your breath, heart pounding, as you turn the pages of a suspense thriller, desperate to know what happens next? It’s that moment—caught somewhere between fear and fascination—that makes thrillers so irresistible. I’ve had my fair share of those moments as a reader, and I strive to create them for […]
My Rule of Three article featured at Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine
If you love top-notch mystery stories and get some extra enjoyment from a behind-the-scenes look, I invite you to visit the Trace Evidence blog at Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Right now, they’re featuring my article on the Rule of Three and how writers use it to enhance their stories, deliver information, and sometimes hide clues […]
Stories create the bond that draws us together
I have long been a proponent of the power of story. For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved stories and used them in my capacity as a teacher, a public speaker, and now as a writer. I believe stories create the bond that draws us together as families, as communities—as the whole human […]
Surprise! A new Story Power video
Do you love a surprise? There’s a new addition to my Story Power series of videos, and it’s all about surprise Some of a story’s most memorable moments strike us out of the blue. These surprises pack a punch, keeping us involved in what’s happening on the page and wanting to know more. When we’re […]
Recent Comments