Sunday, October 31, 2010

ThrillerCast Episode 4- Rick Chesler Interview

This week, Alan and David interview Rick Chesler, author of Wired Kingdom.

Click here to download the episode!


Our first author interview!

Alan talks about finishing the first draft of his third novel.

David talks about working on a new novella, written in first person.

David and Alan talk about narrative Point of View (PoV) – 1st person, 3rd person, omniscient, etc.

People and books mentioned in this section:

Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Suzanne Collins’ latest series
Robert Jordan
George R R Martin

Followed by:

Interview with Rick Chesler, author of Wired Kingdom.


Twitter: @rickchesler

We talk about Rick’s new book, author promotion and the struggle of the rising writer getting noticed.

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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Be a part of ThrillerCast

If you'd like to hear us discuss any particular topic on ThrillerCast, be sure to email us your suggestions. We're happy to hear from listeners and we'll always try to talk about the things you want to hear.

Also, you could be a part of ThrillerCast yourself. We're into the idea of people dialling in and joining us on the podcast to review a book they've recently enjoyed. So, read any good thrillers lately? If you have and you want to be on the ThrillerCast delivering your review, send us an email and we'll get in touch. Your review doesn't have to be really professional or very long - we just want to hear from people chatting about books they've enjoyed.

Send your suggestions and requests to review to thrillerpodcast@gmail.com and we'll take it from there.

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Sunday, October 24, 2010

ThrillerCast Episode 3- Does Size Matter?

NB: This episode was recorded in two seperate sessions a week apart. See if you can spot the continuity error!

In this episode, Alan and David discuss novellas and the relative merits of various story lengths.


Download the Episode Here

In this episode we discuss:


Our current works in progress.


The nature of selling fantasy – can you only sell big fat trilogies in today’s market?


Ebooks and the rise of the novella.


Do horror and sci-fi allow for standalones while fantasy expects big fat trilogies. Are fantasy novels leaning back towards standalone volumes?


POD while you wait kiosks allow for more variety in book lengths and shorter books more prevalent again.


Classic age novella - Conan, H P Lovecraft.


The thriller genre grew from short pulp novels, like Chandler, more like novellas than novels as they are considered today.


Marketing – thick spines on bookshelves. Publishers promoting big fat trilogies to monopolise shelf space.


The craft of writing and the advantages of the novella length for worldbuilding.


Young Adult fiction is similar in length to novella, so has similar appeal.


What makes good Young Adult writing?


Novella length work finding new life being published by small press.


Coeur De Lion’s X6 Novella anthology.


Twelfth Planet Press publishing novellas and novelette doubles.


The novella as a “gateway drug” to discovering new authors.


The Legends novella anthologies from Robert Silverberg.


Thriller anthology – Warriors.


Alan’s serialised novella, sci-fi fantasy noir thriller, Ghost Of The Black: A ‘Verse Full Of Scum.


New technology allowing authors to showcase themselves, especially making novellas available to readers that might lead to more interest in the author’s print published work.


Listen to the end for a feline out-take!


Next episode we have an interview with Rick Chesler, author of Wired Kingdom. Don’t forget to subscribe!

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Friday, October 15, 2010

ThrillerCast Episode 2

In the second episode of ThrillerCast, Alan and David discuss ebooks and how the publishing industry is changing, and a little bit about building an online profile as a writer.

Click here to download the episode.

Episode Notes - Here's what we discuss in this episode:

The ebook revolution

- Various ereaders and ebook formats

- The cost of Kindle books internationally

- The affordable Kindle


Using ebooks to explore new authors.

Indie authors getting a start with ebooks.

How do indie or small press authors get noticed? (Success story- Boyd Morrison)

Engaging online to build a profile, both for ebooks and print books.

The changing face of promotion – are in-store signings still relevant?

Established authors using ebook technology and rights to release their own work without publishers. (Dean Koontz, David Morrell)

Are print books on the way out?

What’s the future for books and ebooks?

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Monday, October 11, 2010

ThrillerCast Episode 1

In the first episode of ThrillerCast, Alan and David discuss what constitutes a thriller, and what common threads run across genres.

Click here to download the episode.

Episode Notes - Here's what we discuss in the first episode:

About our work.

- Alan – RealmShift & MageSign

- Dave – Novels and Into The Woods historical novella

What makes a book a Thriller?

- Timing, sense of pace, race against time

- Fast story, no slow exposition, “real page turner”

- MacGuffin

- Confrontation, action

- Competing groups, individuals

- Suspense

Thrillers not filed as thrillers

- Alan's books as dark fantasy thrillers

- Starfish, by Peter Watts

- Michael Crichton as thriller writer or SF writer?

- Genre/thriller crossover in book and film