Thursday, September 29, 2011

Episode 28 - Setting the Hook with David Sakmyster and R.P. Steeves



Direct Download Link

This week, Alan and David discuss how to keep a reader interested from the start.

Updates:
Alan is headed to Conflux and is working on writing for a gaming project.

David was interviewed on AllPulp.


Why do some books grab you from the start and others don't?

Start the story "as close to end as possible."

The importance of a strong "hook" in the age of the e-reader.

Purchasing based on samples.

Promo- Adventures in Sci Fi Publishing

Guests- David Sakymster and R.P. Steeves

The importance of setting in an engaging thriller.

How do our guests approach "hooking" the reader?

Prologues in thrillers.

Character development and secondary characters.

David's forthcoming screenplay project with David Golemon.


Visit our guests on the web:

David Sakmyster

R.P. Steeves


And don't forget our weekly

awesome and sometimes inappropriate outtakes after the closing credits!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Episode 27 – Branching out as a writer with David L Golemon

Click here to download this episode!

Show notes

David and Alan talk about their writing life and where they’re at right now.

David mentions the release of Callsign Queen. http://www.amazon.com/Callsign-Queen-Zelda-Novella-ebook/dp/B005MLJ6G6

David talks about his lack of focus in writing direction – the problem of having too many genres and idea directions in his head. David wonders if he has writer's ADD, and is it a problem to work on several projects at once.

Alan talks about how he works on many projects, but usually one at a time.

The importance of re-reading work when you’ve had a break from it.

Mur Lafferty’s “I Should Be Writing” podcast promo. www.ishouldbewriting.com

Then we chat with thriller and multi-genre author, N Y Times bestseller, David Lynn Golemon.

David Golemon talks about the Event Group books and their inspiration.


We talk about multiple characters in stories.

We talk about the importance of realism in characters and the need to kill main characters sometimes to ensure readers are always engaged and under suspense. Otherwise it’s just Red Shirt syndrome. “Real life is death sometimes.”

We talk about the personal impact on the writer of these character deaths.

David talks about how his and his family’s military background has influenced his writing.

We go on to discuss David’s new book, The Supernaturals - http://www.sevenrealmspublishing.com/products.php?product=The-Supernaturals . David talks about why he wrote a ghost story.

David talks about his move to Seven Realms to publish The Supernaturals and his position on small press.

This leads David to talk about how publishing is changing and the nature of mainstream press compared to small press, and the state of the book.

David also mentions the possibility of starting a new pulp magazine for horror and adventure stories, including graphic stories with great artwork. You heard it here first!

What scares David Golemon?

David Golemon – pantser or planner?

David talks about the great American historical novel he really wants to write.


And yes, throughout the interview there’s the repeated sound of a dog. We have no idea why...

Friday, September 2, 2011

Episode 26 – From Stage to Novel – the A J Hartley interview


An unusually long ThrillerCast this week, but well worth the extra time.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE EPISODE

Dave and Alan share some great news with regard to both their novel series’.

We get a nice bit of listener feedback that Dave shares.

Then Dave talks about some Stupid Author Antics.

Dave plugs a few new releases that are due soon which are well worth all thriller and genre fans paying attention to.

Promo- The Dead Robots' Society Podcast - http://deadrobotssociety.com/

The A.J. Hartley interview:

Thriller adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth - http://www.ajhartley.net/Macbeth.htm

How the novel came to be, and the differences from the original.

Play vs Novel

Writing battle scenes

The challenges of adapting Shakespeare to the modern thriller and reader response.

Perceptions and misconceptions about Shakespeare.

AJ's thriller novels.

The "Shakespeare Conspiracy"

AJ's fantasy novels and forthcoming middle grades book.

Common threads that cut across genres.

Genre restraints in adult literature that are absent from children's and young adult literature.

An Englishman's obsession with the American pastime

Magical Words www.magicalwords.net

AJ Hartley's website www.ajhartley.net 

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