Meet the Thriller Author (Author Interviews)

In Episode 239 of Meet the Thriller Author, I interview thriller author Steph Nelson, whose debut novel The Final Scene sold more than 10,000 copies in its first two months. We discuss her latest psychological thriller, Don't Ask Why, a suspenseful story about four friends trapped on a secluded island in the Florida Keys where secrets, disappearances, and danger quickly turn a getaway into a fight for survival. Steph shares her journey from writing horror fiction to becoming a successful thriller author, how she develops story ideas, her "pantser" writing process, and the tools she uses to write her novels. We also discuss indie publishing, social media marketing, reader expectations, and her advice for aspiring thriller writers looking to break into the genre. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers and behind-the-scenes author conversations, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

USA Today bestselling author H.Y. Hanna joins Alan Petersen to discuss her latest psychological thriller, The Taverna at the Edge of Night. In this episode, they talk about writing atmospheric destination thrillers, using international settings like Greece to build suspense, balancing mystery with emotional tension, and creating stories where paradise hides deadly secrets.

Legendary thriller author James Grady, creator of Six Days of the Condor, joins Alan Petersen to discuss his remarkable career, the enduring legacy of Three Days of the Condor, and his new noir thriller Shadows on Sidewalks. They also talk about political thrillers, real-world events influencing fiction, writing craft, literary influences, and advice for aspiring writers.

In this episode, Rea Frey shares insights into her writing routine, the power of family secrets in thrillers, and the dramatic behind-the-scenes moment that forced her to rewrite Dear Mother from scratch.

Latest Book Mark Stevens Books Show Notes & Transcript Episode 235 Summary — Mark Stevens Transcript The post MTTA 235: Mark Stevens Interview appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Chad Boudreaux Books Show Notes and Transcript Video Episode Summary – Chad Boudreaux Interview Key Takeaways Transcript The post MTTA 234: Chad Boudreaux Interview appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Latest Maria Frankland Book Maria Frankland Books Show Notes and Transcript Video Transcript The post MTTA 233: Maria Frankland Interview appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

In this episode of Meet the Thriller Author, I’m joined by legendary crime novelist Jonathan Kellerman, the #1 New York Times bestselling author behind the iconic Alex Delaware series. Jonathan Kellerman has been a defining voice in psychological crime fiction for more than forty years. His latest novel, JIGSAW, marks the 41st book in the... The post MTTA 232: Jonathan Kellerman Interview appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

This episode of Meet the Thriller Author is a little different than usual. Instead of sitting down with a guest, I wanted to take a few minutes to chat with you directly, and to look back on 2025 and share what’s coming next for the podcast in 2026. Last year, I had the chance to... The post Special Episode: 2025 Recap and What’s Ahead in 2026 appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Daniel Hurst Books Show Notes, Video, and Transcript Summary In this episode, you’ll learn: Video Transcript The post MTTA 231: Daniel Hurst appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Myles Dungan Books Show Notes & Transcript Transcript The post MTTA 230: Myles Dungan appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Mary Stone Books Psychological Thrillers Writing as Mira Shaw Show Notes & Transcript Summary Video Interview with Mary Stone Transcript The post MTTA 229: Mary Stone appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other books by Andrews & Wilson Show Notes and Transcript Summary Become a better writer with insights from 35 world-class instructors, including James Patterson, Dan Brown, David Baldacci, and Walter Mosley. Order before Black Friday to save up to 50%!I genuinely love MasterClass. James Patterson’s outlining course was a game-changer for my writing career, and... The post MTTA 228: Andrews & Wilson appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Brian Manning of The Manning Brothers Action Thriller. Interview. The post MTTA 227: Brian Manning appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other Books by Daniel Pelfrey Show Notes & Transcript In this episode: Transcript The post MTTA 226: Daniel Pelfrey (Live from Author Nation) appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Eric Rickstad Books Show Notes & Transcript Video Transcript The post MTTA 225: Eric Rickstad appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other Books From This Author Show Notes & Transcript Summary Video Transcript The post MTTA 224: Traci Hunter Abramson appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other Books by the Author Show Notes & Transcript Summay Video Transcript The post MTTA 223: Nicole Trope appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other Books by J.A. Jance Show Notes & Transcript In this episode of Meet the Thriller Author, I sit down with New York Times bestselling author J.A. Jance to talk about her incredible career and her latest novel, The Girl from Devil’s Lake (Joanna Brady #21). Highlights include: Video Transcript The post MTTA 222: J.A. Jance appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Books by Mike Adamick Show Notes and Transcript Video Transcript The post MTTA 221: Mike Adamick appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Latest Book Other Books by the Author Show Notes and Transcript Summary Video Transcript Heads Up:This transcript was generated with the help of AI and only got a quick once-over from a human. So if you spot a typo or something that doesn’t make sense… let’s just blame the robots. 🤖[00:00:05.020] - IntroThis is Meet... The post MTTA 220: Dan Buzzetta appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Latest Book Ty Hutchinson Books Show Notes & Transcript Summary Video Interview (from MTTA YouTube Channel) The post MTTA 219: Ty Hutchinson appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Show Notes and Transcription Alex R. Johnson Author Interview Summary: Transcript Trailer for Two Step Alex R. Johnson Interview (Video) The post MTTA 218: Alex R. Johnson appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

More Books by Joshua Moehling Show Notes and Transcription Summary: Transcript The post MTTA 217: Joshua Moehling appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Marcie R. Rendon Books Show Notes and Transcription Summary: Transcript The post MTTA 216: Marcie R. Rendon appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other Books by Walter Mosley Show Notes & Transcript Summary: Transcript Video The post MTTA 215: Walter Mosley appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

This episode is different from the others. I won’t be interviewing an author, but instead, I’ll be looking back on ten years of the podcast! On June 23, 2025, Meet the Thriller Author officially marks its 10-year anniversary! It’s hard to believe that what started as a passion project has grown into a long-running show... The post MTTA: 10th Anniversary Special appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Gregg Hurwitz Nemesis (Latest Book) Other Books by Gregg Hurwitz Show Notes & Transcirpts Summary: Transcript Video The post MTTA 214: Gregg Hurwitz appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Jerri Williams Books Non-Fiction Show Notes & Resources Summary: Transcript The post MTTA 213: Jerri Williams appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

J.D. Barker Books Show Notes & Resources Episode Summary: JD Barker Interview Transcript JD Barker Interview (Video) The post MTTA 212: J.D. Barker appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Best thriller books 2024 as chosen by the Amazon Editors Best Thriller books 2024 Show Notes & Resources Summary: Author Mentions: Transcript: The post MTTA 211: Vannessa Cronin (Amazon Sr. Editor) appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Marcia Clark Books Show Notes and Transcript Trailer from the 1958 movie “I Want to Live” starring Susan Hayward The movie claimed to be based on the Barbara Graham case and Susan Hayward won a best-acting Oscar for the role, but if you want the actual low down on this facinating case read Marcia’s book!... The post MTTA 210: Marcia Clark appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Noelle West Ihli Books Show Notes & Transcript Summary The post MTTA 209: Noelle West Ihli appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other Books Show Notes & Transcript In the latest episode of the “Meet the Thriller Author” podcast, host Alan Petersen sits down with the illustrious novelist Jeffrey Archer. Renowned for his gripping storytelling and intricate plots, Archer has sold over 300 million copies of his books across more than 100 countries. His works have captivated... The post MTTA 208: Jeffrey Archer appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other Books by Jenny Milchaman Show Notes In this podcast interview, Alan Petersen speaks with Jenny Milchman about her latest suspense novel, “The Usual Silence,” which delves into the psychological background of psychotherapy with children, a field Jenny worked in before starting her writing career. Jenny shares how her experiences as a psychotherapist influenced her... The post MTTA 207: Jenny Milchman appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other Books by David Ellis With James Patterson Show Notes & Transcript In episode 206 of “Meet the Thriller Author,” host Alan Petersen interviews David Ellis, an Edgar award-winning author and justice on the Illinois Appellate Court. Ellis, who has co-authored several bestsellers with James Patterson, shares insights into his dual careers in writing and... The post MTTA 206: David Ellis appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Books by Jeffery Deaver Books by Isabella Maldonado Show Notes & Transcript Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado Interview (Episode 205) In the world of thriller novels, few names command as much respect as Jeffrey Deaver and Isabella Maldonado. Recently, these two powerhouse authors joined forces to create “Fatal Intrusion,” a gripping new novel set to... The post MTTA 205: Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Have you ever wondered what goes into selecting the best mystery and thriller books of the year? In this episode of Meet the Thriller Author, I chat with Vannessa Cronin, a senior editor at Amazon Books, to uncover the intricate process behind curating their top picks. Vannessa, with her extensive background in the book industry... The post MTTA 204: Vannessa Cronin appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Photo by Bill Dabney More Books from Ace Show Notes & Transcript The post MTTA 203: Ace Atkins appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other Books Show Notes and Transcript Summary Video Transcript Note: This transcript was machine generated and subsequently reviewed and edited minimally by a human, Alan, for accuracy. Please be aware that there may still be errors and typos. The post MTTA 202: Susan Elia MacNeal appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other Books by Ajay Chowdhury Show notes and Transcript In this episode… Video Transcript The post MTTA 201: Ajay Chowdhury appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other Books Show Notes & Transcripts In this episode: I strongly recommend watching the Netflix documentary “Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War” which features an interview with Brian about the Cold War. He plays a prominent role in episode five. Video The post MTTA 200: Brian J. Morra appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other books by Dana Perry Show Notes and Transcript The post MTTA 199: Dana Perry appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other Books by Ron Corbett Show Notes & Resources Ron Corbett Author Interview (On Video) The post MTTA 198: Ron Corbett appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

More Books by Lisa Regan Show Notes and Resources Video Interview The post MTTA 197: Lisa Regan appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Other Books by Nick Petrie Show Notes and Transcript of Nick Petrie Author Interview Nick Petrie returns to the podcast for a new interview discussing his latest novel, “The Price You Pay.” Video You can watch this interview on my YouTube channel or down below. The post MTTA 196: Nick Petrie appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

More Books From the Author Video Show Notes & Resources I. IntroductionA. Speaker’s introduction and backgroundB. Episode number and podcast nameC. Guest introduction and backgroundD. Mention of website with show notes and more resources II. Guest’s Career PathA. Transition from banking to teaching preschoolB. Working as a house cleaner in between jobsC. Decision to try... The post MTTA 195: Emily Shiner appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Latest author interview for the podcast is with Andrew Mayne. Andrew Mayne is an artificial intelligence creative, educator and Wall Street Journal best selling author. Andrew has been nominated for the Edgar Award for his book Black Fall and the Thriller Award for Name of the Devil and The Naturalist – an Amazon Charts best-seller... The post MTTA 194: Andrew Mayne appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Exciting News: “Meet the Thriller Author” is Back and Better Than Ever! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? First and foremost, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each one of you for your patience and unwavering support during our unexpected hiatus. Your messages, comments, and emails have been a beacon of encouragement, reminding... The post Special Announcement appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.

Freida McFadden Books Transcript Alan’s Psychological Thrillers! The post MTTA 193: Freida McFadden appeared first on Meet the Thriller Author.