Karin Slaughter and the Mystery of Character and Rachel Howzell Hall on Switching Genres

In part one of this week’s episode, Bianca sits down with the legendary bestselling author Karin Slaughter to talk about all things dark, twisty, and utterly gripping in her latest novel, ‘ We Are All Guilty Here .’ From building immersive worlds to crafting characters that leap off the page, Karin gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her writing process—including the real work of research and the power of planting those irresistible “curiosity seeds” that keep readers hooked. She also opens up about the art of authentic dialogue, the psychology behind her characters, and why realism is absolutely non-negotiable in her storytelling. Whether you're a writer, a reader, or a true crime junkie, this episode is packed with smart, candid insights you won’t want to miss! In part two of this week’s episode, Bianca sits down with the brilliant Rachel Howzell Hall for a no-holds-barred conversation about her bold leap from crime fiction to fantasy. Rachel spills the tea on juggling gritty realism with magical worlds, the secret to crafting characters who leap off the page, and the daily grind of her disciplined (but very human) writing routine. She gets real about the highs and lows of the creative process—reminding us to celebrate the little victories—and shares her tried-and-true tips for building suspense and emotional resonance. With humor, heart, and hard-earned wisdom, Rachel opens up about redefining success in an ever-changing literary landscape. Note: Cece Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency. Find us on our socials: Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writing https://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_author https://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agent Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/ https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAW Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting To sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com It’s Beta Reader Match Up time again where you can be matched up with those writing in a similar genre and/or time zone, so they can critique your work as you critique theirs. For more information and to register, go to: https://www.biancamarais.com/beta-reader-match-up.html Sign up for CeCe’s Fall Course: Writing Tension Creating Tension, Conflict and Stakes in a Story Our Sponsors: * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/tsnotyaw * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com * Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands