I remember when I first decided to become an author. I had no idea I was diving into an ocean where 3 million new titles appear annually. As someone who’s managed to stay afloat and even ride some impressive waves in this business, I’ve learned that breaking through requires more than just talent — it demands a strategic combination of craft, savvy and the kind of persistence that borders on obsession. More…
On Writing
Mar222025
Rolling Stone – Your Next Thriller Might Just Be in Yesterday’s News: How to Find Stories in Day-to-Day Life
The bestselling thriller that kept you up all night might have begun with a three-line news item buried on page seven. The novel dominating airport bookstores could have sparked from an overheard conversation at a coffee shop. In the cutthroat world of thriller writing, the most spine-tingling narratives often spring not from grand imagination but from the mundane reality we scroll past every day. More…
Feb242025
Rolling Stone – The Great Writing Divide: Inside the Creative Battle Between Plotters and Pantsers
A fierce debate rages in the literary world, dividing authors into two distinct camps: plotters who meticulously outline every story beat, and “pantsers” or “discovery writers” who write by the seat of their pants. This fundamental split in creative approach has spawned endless discussions about which method produces better fiction. More…
Jan242025
Rolling Stone – Building the Author Brand: From Inkwell to Instagram
In an era where TikTok can turn a midlist novel into a bestseller overnight and readers spend as much time scrolling through author Instagram stories as they do turning pages, the mystique of the reclusive writer has become a luxury few can afford. The contemporary publishing landscape demands authors to be more than just storytellers — they must become their own marketing powerhouses, social media strategists and personal brand architects. More…