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Former Scholastic editor Shelly Romero just made the leap to literary agent.

And she's spilling the industry secrets most writers never hear.

After eight years of editorial experience and now with an agent's perspective, Shelly reveals…

• What really happens when agents read your opening pages
• Why manuscripts need to be more polished than ever
• The submission mistakes that trigger instant rejections.

What You'll Learn:

• Why voice trumps plot in manuscript submissions
• Exact polish level needed for today's publishing market
• Query red flags that guarantee instant rejections

Click here to learn more about Shelly Romero

Connect with Shelly on Instagram

Guest Bio: Shelly Romero began her publishing career in 2017 at Scholastic, where she rose up the ranks from editorial assistant to associate editor, where she acquired her own titles and assisted on series publishing for The Bad Guys and Goosebumps. She later joined Cake Creative as Lead Editor, and she was most recently a freelance editor. She graduated from Stephens College with a bachelor’s degree in English and attended the 2017 NYU Summer Publishing Institute. Shelly was selected as a 2020 Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree and is a member of Latinx in Publishing & People of Color in Publishing. Born and raised in Miami by Honduran parents, she now resides in New York City, where she might be found at a movie theatre viewing the latest release from her Letterboxd watchlist.

Episodes I think you'll love…

1. 3 Keys to Nailing the Opening of Your Novel
2. Literary Agent and Author Jenna Satterthwaite on Making it in the Publishing Industry
3. Turn Your Manuscript into a Page-Turner Using The Central Question Framework with Julie Tyler Ruiz
4. Literary Agent Jessica Berg Shares How to Catch an Agent's Eye

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction

Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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Every thriller, mystery, suspense, and crime writer faces the same dilemma…

How do you craft a story that keeps readers turning pages?

In this episode, Julie Tyler Ruiz reveals a simple framework that separates forgettable genre fiction from the stories readers obsess over for years.

You'll discover…

• How to identify the one central question that must drive your entire manuscript
• Learn the specific prompts that will transform vague plot ideas into page-turning gold
• Master the art of creating payoffs that leave readers breathless.

Whether you're stuck in the middle of a manuscript or planning your next story, this conversation will give you the confidence to craft questions worth answering.

And (most importantly) answers that readers will never forget.

What You'll Learn:

• How to transform questions into page-turning hooks
• Why character stakes must connect to your main question
• How to build toward answers that create lasting impact

Click here to learn more about Julie Tyler Ruiz

Connect with Julie on Instagram

Guest Bio: Julie Tyler Ruiz, PhD, is a writer, educator, and creator of StoryBold. With a decade of experience in higher education and a PhD in English, she combines business savvy with a deep passion for storytelling to help writers craft their best work. Through self-study courses, group masterminds, in-depth articles, and private coaching, Julie empowers writers to unlock their authentic voice and bring their stories to life. Now a sought-after voice in the writing world, she’s dedicated to guiding storytellers toward clarity, confidence, and creative success.

Episodes I think you'll love…

1. Pacing and Process: Writing Thrillers and Mysteries with Elle Grawl

2. Thriller Writing Secrets: Building a Writing Process with Leslie Conner

3. How to Hook Readers with Alex Kenna’s Expert Thriller-Writing Advice

4. Literary Agent Jennifer Chevais Shares What Grabs Attention in a Query Submission

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction

Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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Liz Alterman joins the podcast to discuss her latest novel, "You Shouldn't Have Done That", and reveals the unconventional strategies that have shaped her successful writing career.

From her unique character development process involving weekly read-aloud sessions to her bold decision to switch from traditional publishing to a nimble indie press offering 99-cent e-books, Alterman shares practical insights that challenge conventional wisdom about both craft and business.

She opens up about how she tests story premises, develops authentic character voices, and why she believes flexibility is the key to getting your work into readers' hands.

Whether you're struggling with character development or navigating publishing decisions, this conversation offers actionable advice for writers at every stage of their journey.

What You'll Learn:

• How to test story premises before committing months to writing.
• The weekly feedback system that prevents major character voice problems.
• Why pricing strategy can dramatically impact your book's reach and success.

Click here to learn more about Liz Alterman.

Guest Bio: Liz Alterman is the author of the award-winning memoir, Sad Sacked, the young adult thriller, He’ll Be Waiting, the suspense novels The Perfect Neighbourhood, The House on Cold Creek Lane, and You Shouldn't Have Done That, as well as the romcom Claire Casey's Had Enough. Her work has been published by The New York Times, The Washington Post, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, and other outlets. Subscribe to her Substack where she shares the ups and downs of the writing life (and cat photos). Liz lives in New Jersey with her husband and three sons. When she isn't writing, Liz spends most days reading, microwaving the same cup of coffee, and looking up synonyms.

Episodes I think you'll love…

1. The Art of Dual POV & Crafting Psychological Thrillers with Liz Alterman
2. Writing Character Backstory with Author Liz Alterman
3. Literary Agent and Author Jenna Satterthwaite on Making it in the Publishing Industry
4. First Page Formula: Author and Writing Coach April Davila on What Agents & Readers Want to See in Your Thriller Manuscript Opening

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction

Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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Ever wondered what it's really like behind the scenes of being a literary agent?

What You'll Learn in this episode:
• Why agents prioritize story over polished prose
• The brutal financial reality of the publishing industry
• What makes manuscripts stand out in queries

Jenna's honesty about the industry might just shift how you approach your writing career.

Join Jenna's Substack HERE

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction

Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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Writing coach April Davila reveals the non-negotiable elements that make first pages irresistible to readers and agents.

Learn why most manuscripts fail in the opening paragraph, discover the strategic approach to character revelation that transforms boring descriptions into magnetic hooks.

Then find out which common opening mistakes instantly kill reader interest.

Plus, April shares her surprising advice about when to actually write your first page (hint: it's not when you think).

What You'll Learn:

• The essential elements every first page needs
• Why dream sequences and flashbacks kill reader interest
• Strategic character reveals through environmental details

Click here to learn more about April Davila.

Guest Bio: April Davila is an award-winning author, speaker, and writing coach. Publisher's Weekly called her debut novel, 142 Ostriches, a "vivid, uplifting debut" and the book went on to win the WILLA Award for Women Writing the West. Writer's Digest listed her blog (at aprildavila.com) as one of the Best 101 Websites for Writers and she is the creator of the Sit Write Here writing coaching program, which integrates mindfulness meditation techniques to help writers quiet their inner critics, overcome writer's block, and edit more effectively. Her second novel is forthcoming.

Episodes I think you'll love…

1. Literary Agent Amy Nielsen on How to Fix Your Opening Pages (Part 2)
2. How to Write an Opening Chapter that Keeps Readers Reading with Author David McCloskey
3. 3 Keys to Nailing the Opening of Your Novel
4. Agent Carleen Geisler Reads a Submission & Shares How Agents Evaluate Opening Pages
5. Writing Your Opening Scene with Thomas Mullen

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction

Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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Storyteller's Society Sneak Peek: This Creative Silos method can make you way more efficient in your writing practice.

Creativity coach Cindy Cisneros reveals why traditional productivity advice fails creative writers, her game-changing "Silos" method that stops the destructive cycle of switching between writing and querying, and the "cross-modality" technique that breaks through even the most stubborn creative blocks.

What You'll Learn:

• The "Creative Silos" strategy that lets you batch writing and other tasks for maximum flow
• Why waiting for natural motivation beats forcing daily word counts every time
• The real reason creative people need "incubation time" and how to use it strategically

Click here to learn more about Cindy

Episodes I think you'll love...

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction

Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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Your opening page has 30 seconds to hook an agent or it's as good as a rejection.

Literary agent Amy Nielsen reveals the cliché openings that kill manuscripts, the scene structure 90% of authors get wrong, and her "General-Specific-Personal" formula that eliminates info-dumping while building irresistible voice.

What You'll Learn:

- How to avoid cliché openings that scream "amateur"

- A literary agent's simple test to tell if your opening is actually a scene

- The inciting incident strategy that finds your perfect entry point

Episodes to Check Out Next

- 2 Literary Agents & an Author Weigh in on How to Write Your Opening Pages

- Agent C.L. Geisler Reads a Submission & Shares How Agents Evaluate Opening Pages

- Literary Agent Amy Nielsen on How to Write a Query Letter that Gets Attention

- 90% of Writers Make THESE Writing Mistakes Interview with Ex-Literary Agent Karyn Fischer

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction

Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

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Find out more about Eloise here.

In this interview, I talk to author Eloise Corvo about her debut novel OFF THE BEATEN PATH. Eloise reveals her practical three-part framework for crafting effective red herrings, which is a vital skill for any thriller, mystery, suspense, or crime fiction writer.

You’ll discover essential writing tips for balancing misdirection with reader satisfaction and gain insider insights into publishing options beyond traditional routes.

Whether you're drafting your first mystery or refining your tenth thriller, Eloise's practical advice on how to write compelling suspense will transform your approach to planting clues and creating satisfying twists.

This episode packed with actionable writing techniques is perfect for mystery authors looking to elevate their craft and engage readers from page one to the final reveal.

What Listeners Will Learn

• The Three-Element Formula for Red Herrings
• Mystery Structure and Pacing
• Publishing Journey Insights

Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction

Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now