The Story Blender

This week, I'm thrilled to speak with literary agent Mark Gottlieb. He has represented many award-winning and bestselling authors and offers a look under the hood of the publishing industry, sharing what literary agents are looking for, what turns them off, and why it's important to have a strong query letter. We also discuss whether or not you should follow publishing trends, verbal breakdancing, and what we can learn from Shakespeare. If you're wondering what goes on inside the publishing industry from the perspective of a literary agent, give it a listen.

Acclaimed and bestselling mystery writer Rachel Howzell Hall joins me to talk about how to craft a great mystery, the importance of receptivity rather than rigidity when writing, why main characters should be both vulnerable and admirable (without being perfect), and her latest book, MIST AND MALICE.

Veteran screenwriter and author Anderson Boyd joins me to talk about his advice for writing a novel, what he learned from screenwriting that transferred into writing fiction, some of his favorite authors, and specific thoughts on shaping and telling the stories you have within you. We also chat about his novel THE LEASE OF NATURE. Check it out!

Josh Goforth

Bestselling author Liv Constantine comes on the show to share thoughts about writing domestic suspense, the keys to characterization, and how to (and why to) keep your stories believable. We also talk about our newest thriller PROMISE ME NEVER. Check it out!