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Award-winning author Chris Mullen talks with me about everything from writing Westerns to teaching Kindergarten to encouraging creativity and risk-taking—and how to move past the obstacles that so many adults put in their own way. Chris is an award-winning teacher and the acclaimed author of Westerns for teens and adults.

Acclaimed novelist Deborah Raney joins me to talk about writing women’s fiction and romance, how she crafts stories without using an outline, what she does when her characters surprise her, and how important it is—or isn’t—to keep stories believable. We also talk about her latest novel, WHO NAMES THE STARS. Check it out!

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!

This week, New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison joins me to talk about ghost cats, why she’s a gardener rather than an architect as a writer, the differences (and surprising similarities) between mystery and suspense, serendipity, believability, and more. We also discuss her latest novel, YOU KNOW WHY.

In this week’s conversation with actor, director, and producer Eriq La Salle, you'll learn why your characters are only as fascinating as the problems they face, why it’s more important to be interested in your story than to be interesting, why you should never judge your characters, and why you should always do your research. We also discuss the challenge of creating a hero who’s just as compelling as your villains and why stakes and complexity are two of the most important elements of characterization. Check out the episode, and be sure to pick up his latest literary thriller, LAWS OF SOLOMON.

International bestselling author Alex Finlay joins me to talk about trusting your readers, letting them fill in the gaps, how much planning to do (or not do) before writing your book, and how to handle clichés in a way that lets you get away with using them. We also discuss his latest thriller, THE ANNIVERSARY.

With books sold in 150 countries, author J.D. Barker has become a name synonymous with suspense. He joins me to talk about his writing process, the economy of language, how to start scenes (and how not to), and why the emotional impact of stories matters so much. We also talk about Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula, how he actually believed in vampires, the missing 102 pages, and J.D.’s latest thriller, THE FIRST SCARLET DOOR.

This week on The Story Blender, international bestselling author Douglas Preston and his coauthor (and daughter), Aletheia Preston, join me to discuss their latest novel, PARADOX. We explore what makes characters truly resonate, why believability matters—even when you're writing stories with extraordinary or unbelievable elements—and how to keep readers invested from beginning to end. We also dive into the rights of Neanderthals, moral choices, and the importance of finding the danger in every story. Give it a listen!

Martial arts expert and author Carla Hoch joins me to talk about writing fight scenes that actually work. How do you write a knife fight scene? What do you need to remember? What would (or should) your character do? Is it better to fight on the ground or standing up? Does adrenaline cloud or sharpen your vision? We also chat about situational awareness and using unique objects of opportunity. Fighting is physics and Carla teaches us how to use it in our books.

This week on The Story Blender, I’m joined by screenwriter and storytelling consultant Zena Dell Lowe for a provocative conversation about writing redemptive stories that aren’t agenda-driven, why consequences matter and how they reveal character, the importance of a story’s moral fabric, the difference between moral ambiguity and moral complexity, and the secrets to writing heroic characters. We also question the classic advice, “Show, don’t tell,” and explore its impact on the stories we tell. If you’re interested in what really makes a story tick, check it out.

In a special Father’s Day episode, author and essayist Mark Phillips joins me to talk about telling personal stories, writing memoirs, and how much truth lives in the “true” stories we tell. We also chat about his book MY FATHER’S CABIN, which explores the complexities of a father-son relationship and the forgiveness that sometimes needs to go both ways. Check it out!