Shows
Carter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Allyson Ryan and Patrick Zeller, audiobook narrators for Tell Me What You DidEpisode 173 of Making It Up is out and it’s a different one! Today we feature the brilliant voice artists Allyson Ryan and Patrick Zeller, who are the voices behind the audio version of Carter’s latest release TELL ME WHAT YOU DID. This audiobook is the very first release of Sourcebooks’ new division Sourcebooks Audio. Both Allyson and Patrick are award-winning narrators who have voiced a range of popular books, so you might recognize their voices in the episode.Among other things, they discuss how both Allyson and Patrick got into voice acting, how they prepare themse...
2025-03-0757 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Jen Ruiz, author of 12 Trips in 12 MonthsJen Ruiz is a lawyer turned full-time travel blogger. A multiple bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and national award-winning travel journalist, she has been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, and ABC News. Jen has been named a Latina Travel Expert by Mitu and Top 40 Under 40 by the Naples Herald. She is the solo female traveler behind Jen on a Jet Plane.Among other things, Jen and Carter discuss Jen’s personal travel challenge she set for herself, how she utilizes “sensitivity readers” in her books, and the dark side of having a career in social...
2024-11-0759 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Tim Booth, author of When I Died for the First TimeThis week's Making It Up is extra-special as it features Tim Booth, lead singer and lyricist of James, a British band who has been performing for over 40 years and has sold more than 25 million albums globally (James is also Carter’s absolute favorite band, making Tim one of his personal heroes). You may have seen quotes from James songs as epigraphs in many of Carter’s novels, which is how he got to know Tim. After a decade in the making, Tim's brilliant debut novel, When I Died For the First Time, just released in t...
2024-05-1652 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Kathleen Willett, author of Anything For A FriendNovelist Kathleen Willett has a B.A. in English from Holy Cross and a M.A. in English Education from Columbia University. An English teacher who grew up in New Jersey and London, Kathleen lives in Manhattan with her husband, two daughters, and a cat named Mr. Sparkles. Willett's debut novel, Mother of All Secrets, was shared by Hoda Kotb on The Today Show as one of her favorite new books. Among other things, Kathleen and Carter discuss the benefits of reading as a kid, the emotions generated by editor's notes, and getting used to promoting and s...
2024-01-1259 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Emily Smith, author of You Always Come BackNovelist Emily Smith is a New Jersey native, who pursued her BFA in Dramatic Writing at NYU and her MFA in Creative Writing at American University. Her electrifying debut novel, You Always Come Back, was released in late 2023 to rave reviews. Among other things, Emily and Carter discuss Emily’s desire to be a writer from age four, what should be taught during an MFA, and developing an online presence. At the end of their conversation, they make up a ghost hunting story starting with a sentence from Camino Winds by John Grisham. Connect with Cart...
2024-01-0552 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Carol Dunbar, author of A Winter’s RimeCarol Dunbar is a former actor, playwright, and coloratura soprano who left her life in the city to move off the grid. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The South Carolina Review, Midwestern Gothic, and on Wisconsin Public Radio. Her most recent release is A Winter’s Rime, a harrowing and emotional novel set-in rural Wisconsin. Among other things, Carol and Carter discuss the psychology of writing and curiosity about other lives, the relationships writers have with their characters, and all the things Carol learned writing her first novel. At the end of the con...
2023-11-0351 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Heather Levy, author of Hurt For MeHeather Levy is a born and bred Oklahoman and graduate of Oklahoma City University’s Red Earth MFA program for creative writing. Her work has appeared in numerous journals, including CrimeReads and NAILED Magazine. The New York Times called her Anthony-nominated debut Walking Through Needles “a spellbinding novel at the nexus of power, desire, and abuse that portends a bright future” and the L.A. Times called it “a standout for its frank but sensitive exploration of trauma and desire.” Her novels focus on kink-positive stories centered around badass women. Among other things, Heather and Carter discuss the various...
2023-10-2758 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up goes live, with R. Alan Brooks, Emily Littlejohn, Erika T. WurthIn a special live episode of Making It Up (recorded at the Broomfield Public Library auditorium in Colorado), Carter takes the stage with mystery author extraordinaire Emily Littlejohn (Shatter the Night), teacher, author and artist R. Alan Brooks (The Burning Metronome), and acclaimed novelist Erika T. Wurth (White Horse). Among other things, Carter and the authors discuss their different journeys to becoming authors, how the industry has gotten harder in the last 50 years, and how they approach family and friend readers during the writing process. At the end of the conversation, the four of them make up a...
2023-10-091h 02Carter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Michael Katz Krefeld, author of Darkness CallsMichael Katz Krefeld started his career directing a series of short films, before he moved on to writing scripts for several TV drama-series including the Emmy awarded Nikolaj & Juliet. He debuted as a novelist with Before the Storm (Før Stormen) which won the Danish Crime Academy’s first novel-award in 2007. Since 2013, Michael’s work has won numerous awards including Crime Book of the Year and Mofibo, and has been published in 20 countries with more than one million copies sold alone in Denmark. His latest work, including Darkness Calls, has taken the critics and readers by storm. Among...
2023-09-2943 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Carl Vonderau, author of Saving MylesCarl Vonderau writes domestic suspense and thrillers. His novel, Murderabilia, won the Lefty award in 2020 for Best Debut Novel, the San Diego Book award for Best Mystery, and the Kops-Fetherling Gold Phoenix award. Carl's latest novel is domestic suspense published by Oceanview on August 15, called Saving Myles. A former banker, he worked in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and North Africa. He now writes and helps nonprofits through Social Venture Partners. Among other things, Carter and Carl discuss how religion can influence or inspire writing, his transition from music to writing as Carl’s creative passion, and...
2023-09-2257 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Chris Riley, author of The Broken PinesChris Riley lives near Sacramento, California, vowing one day to move back to the Pacific Northwest. In the meantime, he teaches special education, writes stories, and hides from the blasting heat for six months of the year. He has had over 100 short stories and essays published in various magazines and anthologies, and across multiple genres. He is the author of the literary suspense novels The Sinking of the Angie Piper and The Broken Pines. Among other things, Carter and Chris discuss the different approaches to the marketing side of writing, how Chris got into writing through short s...
2023-09-1551 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Lindsay Cameron, author of No One Needs to KnowLindsay Cameron worked as a corporate lawyer for many years in Vancouver and New York City before leaving the law behind to write books. She is the author of Biglaw and Just One Look. She lives in New York City and just released her latest book, No One Needs to Know, in May. Among other things, Carter and Lindsay discuss the similarities between legal writing and writing fiction, the publishing industry as a debut author vs after you’ve been published, and how to create the desire in readers to keep going. At the end of their con...
2023-09-0754 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Javier Castillo, author of The Snow GirlIt's hard to believe but this is the 100TH EPISODE of Making It Up! Thanks to all of you for your support over the past 2 1/2 years, and I'm looking forward to producing many more episodes. And for this special centennial episode we have a guest who has been called the "Spanish Stephen King." Javier Castillo grew up in Malaga, where he always dreamed about becoming a writer. On his daily 48-minute commute to his job in finance, he used to spend every moment of the train journey writing chapters to what would become his first novel, The D...
2023-09-0154 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with M.P. Woodward, author of Dead DropM.P. Woodward is a veteran of both US intelligence ops and the entertainment industry. As a naval intelligence officer with the US Indo-Pacific Command, he scripted scenario moves and countermoves for US war game exercises in the Middle East. In multiple deployments to the Persian Gulf and Far East, he worked alongside US Special Forces, CIA, and NSA. His latest novel, Dead Drop, was released this May. Among other things, Carter and M.P. discuss connecting characters and readers with empathy, the valuable experience of turning technical writing into a story, and the power of reading y...
2023-08-1149 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Aimie Runyan, author of A Bakery in ParisAimie K. Runyan writes to celebrate history’s unsung heroines. She has been honored as a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice selection, as a three-time finalist for the Colorado Book Awards, and as a nominee for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year. Aimie is active as an educator and speaker in the writing community and beyond. Her latest book, A Bakery in Paris was just released August 1st. Among other things, Carter and Aimie discuss when the pull towards historical fiction started in her life, how she works to be as historically accurate as possible, and h...
2023-08-0452 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Bryn Turnbull, author of The Paris DeceptionBryn Turnbull is a writer of historical fiction. Equipped with a master's of letters in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews, a master's of professional communication from Ryerson University and a bachelor's degree in English literature from McGill University, Bryn focuses on finding stories of women lost within the cracks of the historical record. Among other things, Carter and Bryn discuss the process of writing historical fiction, how she wrote her first novel at her job at the time, and the value of being part of a writing community. At the end of their conversation, t...
2023-07-1353 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with A.G. Riddle, author of The Extinction TrialsA.G. Riddle spent ten years starting and running internet companies before retiring to focus on his true passion: writing fiction. He is the author of ten novels that have sold nearly five million copies and have been translated into twenty languages worldwide. Among other things, A.G. and Carter discuss how A.G.’s reading science fiction was an escape that escalated to writing his own work, how deciding to self-publish his first book was a means to receive feedback, and what his marketing efforts look like. At the end of their conversation, they make up a s...
2023-07-0639 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Alisa Valdes, author of Hollow BeastsAlisa Valdes-Rodriguez is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of several novels. Published in 11 languages and with more than 1 million books in print, Alisa was named one of the 25 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States by Time magazine. Alisa is a former staff writer for the Boston Globe and the Los Angeles Times, and holds a master's in journalism from Columbia University. Alisa is also a screenwriter and TV and film producer, and a playwright and composer with a bachelor's from Berklee College of Music. Among other things, Carter and Alisa discuss her c...
2023-06-291h 09Carter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Rachael Herron, author of Hush Little BabyRachael Herron is the bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thrillers (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she's taught writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford. Among other things, Carter and Rachael discuss the struggle of getting a manuscript finished, the life of a career writer, how distilling sentences is an art form, and how important learning to be okay with imperfection is. At the end of their conversation, they make up a shocking s...
2023-06-2653 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Christopher Flory, author of The SaviorAuthor Christopher Flory spent ten years with various correctional departments as a probation and parole officer, specializing in the supervision of sexually based offenders and criminal street gang members. Trust Misplaced: A Paul Dodge Novel was Chris' first published novel, though he's been featured in academic journals and professional conference papers while attending undergraduate and graduate school. He’s currently working on the fourth book in the Paul Dodge series and has ideas for several more installments. Among other things, Carter and Christopher discuss going from voice memos to a screenplay to a novel, Christopher’s experience with...
2023-06-1948 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Don Bently, author of Forgotten WarDon Bentley is the New York Times bestselling author of the Matt Drake thriller series, including Hostile Intent, The Outside Man, and Without Sanction. Don also writes in the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan, Jr. universe with Zero Hour, Target Acquired, and one forthcoming title. Don spent a decade as an Army Apache helicopter pilot; while deployed to Afghanistan as a Troop Commander in support of Operation Enduring Freedom VI, Don was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal with “V” device for valor. Following his time in the military Don worked as an FBI Special Agent...
2023-06-0953 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Kara Thomas, author of Out of the AshesKara Thomas is the author of The Darkest Corners, Little Monsters, The Cheerleaders, and That Weekend, Barnes and Noble's YA Book Club Pick for July 2021. Kara's books have been sold in multiple languages and have been nominated for the International Thriller Writers Award. In 2013, she wrote and developed the pilot The Revengers with Rashida Jones and Will McCormack for The CW. Among other things, Carter and Kara discuss why authors choose their genres, how the battle of writing comes down to time, and how it's their name on the book despite how many opinions go into it. A...
2023-06-051h 04Carter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Tessa Wegert, author of The Kind to KillTessa Wegert is the author of the Shana Merchant mysteries, including Death in the Family, The Dead Season, Dead Wind, and The Kind to Kill. A former freelance journalist, Tessa has contributed to such publications as Forbes, The Huffington Post, and The Economist. Among other things, Carter and Tessa discuss the control over situations and meditative qualities that writing grants, how authors have to surprise themselves to nail a twist, and the reality of working with multiple publishers over an author's career. At the end of the conversation, they make up a scene of conflict that had b...
2023-05-2551 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Lauren Thoman, author of I’ll Stop the WorldLauren Thoman’s pop-culture writing has appeared in numerous online outlets including Parade, Vulture, and Collider. In-between article deadlines, she managed to finish a book she’d started years before and then set aside. I’ll Stop the World is now out in the world, after Mindy Kaling decided to publish it. Among other things, Carter and Lauren discuss switching up reading genres to cleanse the palate, Lauren reinventing herself as an outliner, and learning how to trust your writing voice. At the end of their conversation, they make up a quirky scene from a sentence out of The P...
2023-05-1955 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Rebecca Ann Keller, author of You Should Have KnownRebecca Keller is a writer, an internationally exhibited artist, a college professor, a Fulbright Scholar, and recipient of awards from the National Endowment for the Arts. Her stories have been nominated for a Pushcart prize, and her debut novel You Should Have Known was released from Crooked Lane Books in April 2023. She is now working on stories about art and another novel. Among other things, Carter and Rebecca discuss the origins of and inspiration for her novel, how challenging it can be to make a character both interesting and believable, and how long chapters should be. At t...
2023-05-1154 min
Carter Wilson's Making It UpThe Gentle Novelist Writing RetreatAn intimate, 2.5-day coaching program and retreat in Boulder, Colorado. Find community, inspiration, motivation, and confidence. Led by USA Today bestselling and award-winning novelist Carter Wilson. August 9-11, 2023. Limited to 10 participants; registration now open!www.carterwilson.com/gentle-novelist
2023-04-2004 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Nancy Stohlman, author of After the RaptureFlash-fiction writer Nancy Stohlman is the author of six books including After the Rapture (2023), Madam Velvet’s Cabaret of Oddities (2018), and Going Short: An Invitation to Flash Fiction (2020). Her work has been anthologized widely, appearing in the Norton anthology New Micro: Exceptionally Short Fiction and The Best Small Fictions 2019, as well as adapted for both stage and screen. She teaches at the University of Colorado Boulder and holds workshops and retreats around the world. Among other things. Carter and Nancy discuss how writers sometimes act as conduits, how to trust that the story is smarter than you, and...
2023-04-2047 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Hank Phillippi Ryan, author of The House GuestHank Phillippi Ryan is USA Today bestselling and five-time Agatha Award-winning author of 14 thrillers, winning 37 EMMYs for television investigative reporting. Her newest novel is The House Guest—it’s Gaslight meets Thelma & Louise. The Publishers Weekly says, “Ryan is a master of suspense!” The Library Journal starred review calls it “Binge-worthy.” Among other things, Carter and Hank discuss riding ponies to the library growing up, Hank’s dual-career between writing and politics, and how they approach the editing process of their novels. At the end of their conversation, they make up a story with an ending that may surprise yo...
2023-04-1757 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Samantha M. Bailey, author of Watch Out for HerSamantha M. Bailey is the author of Woman on the Edge, a USA Today and #1 national bestseller; her second novel, Watch Out for Her, was an instant #1 national bestseller. As a journalist and freelance editor, her writing has appeared in Now Magazine, The Village Post, The Thrill Begins, and The Crime Hub, among other publications. Among other things, Carter and Samantha discuss how she has been writing full novels since the age of ten, risk taking and the fear of failure among aspiring writers, and the experience of having a book published after years of hard work. A...
2023-04-0645 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Kimberly Giarratano, author of Death of A Dancing QueenKimberly Giarratano is an author of mysteries for teens and adults. Her debut novel, Grunge Gods and Graveyards, won the 2015 Silver Falchion Award for Best YA at Killer Nashville. A former librarian, she is currently an instructor at a SUNY Orange County Community College and a reviewer for BookPage. Among other things, Carter and Kimberly discuss the intricacies of describing characters, how they both find more inspiration from TV shows than reading at times, and how both like experimenting with their writing. At the end of their conversation, they conjure up a story full of mysteries starting w...
2023-03-3054 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Veronica Henry, author of The Foreign ExchangeVeronica G. Henry is the author of Bacchanal, The Quarter Storm, and The Foreign Exchange in the Mambo Reina series. Her work has debuted at #1 on multiple Amazon bestseller charts, was chosen as an editors’ pick for Best African American Fantasy and shortlisted for the Manly Wade Wellman Award. Among other things, Carter and Veronica discuss how being a writer changes your reading habits, how Veronica’s career began after reading a “how-to-write" book, and how many people it takes to get a book published. At the end of their conversation, they devise a story about two people...
2023-03-2751 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Tracy Clark, author of HideTracy Clark, a native Chicagoan, is the author of the Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series, featuring ex-cop turned PaI Cassandra Raines. Her debut, BROKEN PLACES, made Library Journal’s list of the Best Crime Fiction of 2018 and CrimeReads named Cass Raines Best New PI of 2018. The novel was nominated for a Lefty Award for Best Debut Novel, an Anthony Award for Best Debut Novel and a Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel. Among other things, Carter and Tracy discuss how Tracy’s motivation to write began with a character, how rejection letters can sometimes be totally unhel...
2023-03-1645 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Kimberly Belle, author of The Personal AssistantKimberly Belle is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of eight novels, including The Personal Assistant, The Marriage Lie, a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist for Best Mystery & Thriller, and the co-authored #1 Audible Original, Young Rich Widows. Her books have been published in dozens of languages and optioned for film and television. Among other things, Carter and Kimberly discuss how they both prefer to write in first-person, the benefits of treating writing like a job, and the dream of writing full time. At the end of their conversation, they make up a story about the moment fear s...
2023-03-0945 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Rebecca Kelley, author of No One Knows Us HereRebecca Kelley is a fiction writer from Portland, Oregon; her first novel, Broken Homes & Gardens, was published in 2015. She also co-authored The Eco-nomical Baby Guide with Joy Hatch and her most recent novel, No One Knows Us Here, launched in early 2023. Among other things, Carter and Rebecca discuss how a teacher provided early courage in Rebecca’s writing abilities, how she used a blog to get an agent, and how much of a book needs to be completed before you can get a book deal. At the end of their conversation, their impromptu story perfectly depicts a ten...
2023-03-0349 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with David Heska Wanbli Weiden, author of Winter CountsDavid Heska Wanbli Weiden, an enrolled citizen of the Sicangu Lakota Nation, is the author of Winter Counts, which has won multiple awards and was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Weiden received his MFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts, his law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. Among other things, Carter and David discuss David’s childhood spent between the Sicangu Lakota Nation and the rougher parts of Denver, if technology is replacing reading in younger gen...
2023-02-2354 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Lexie Elliott, author of Bright and Deadly ThingsLexie Elliott has been writing for as long as she can remember, but she began to focus on it more seriously after she lost her banking job in 2009 due to the Global Financial Crisis. After some success in short story competitions, she began planning a novel. The result was The French Girl, which was published by Berkley in February 2018. This was followed by The Missing Years in 2019 and How To Kill Your Best Friend in 2021. She is now working on her fourth novel. Among other things, Carter and Lexie discuss Lexie’s path towards writing novels, how the...
2023-02-1652 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Chad Boudreaux, author of Scavenger HuntBefore launching his career as a novelist, Chad Boudreaux served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He has also served in several high-ranking positions at the U.S. Justice Department, where he was hired the night before the September 11, 2001 attacks. During his time at the Justice Department, Boudreaux focused most of his time on matters relating to terrorism and homeland security. His career in the government inspired him to write his debut novel, Scavenger Hunt, released in January 2023. Among other things, Carter and Chad discuss the discipline necessary to...
2023-02-0950 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Nuzo Onoh, author of A Dance for the DeadNuzo Onoh is a Nigerian-British writer of Igbo descent, a pioneer of the African horror literary subgenre, and hailed as the "Queen of African Horror.” Nuzo holds both a Law degree and a Masters in Writing from Warwick University. Nuzo’s works have featured in numerous magazines, podcasts, and anthologies, as well as in several academic studies and publications, and her latest novel was released last November titled, A Dance for the Dead. Among other things, Carter and Nuzo discuss her childhood growing up through war, how she turned nightmares into her creative inspiration, and her fear of no...
2023-01-2645 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Ronald Kelly, author of Southern Fried & HorrifiedRonald Kelly has been writing and publishing horror tales set in the American South for 36 years. A former Zebra Books author, his published works include Fear, Undertaker’s Moon, Blood Kin, Hell Hollow, and many more. His audio collection of Southern-fried short stories, Dark Dixie: Tales of Southern Horror, was included on the nominating ballot of the 1992 Grammy Awards for Best Non-Musical or Spoken Album. In 2021, his collection of extreme horror fiction, The Essential Sick Stuff, won a Splatterpunk Award for Best Collection. His latest release is Southern Fried & Horrified. Among other things, Carter and Ronald discuss how...
2023-01-1248 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Jennifer Givhan, author of River Woman, River DemonJennifer Givhan, a National Endowment for the Arts and PEN/Rosenthal Emerging Voices Fellow, is a Mexican American writer, activist, and the author of four full-length poetry collections: Landscape with Headless Mama, Protection Spell, Girl with Death Mask, and Rosa’s Einstein. Her novels include Trinity Sight, Jubilee, and most recently, River Woman, River Demon. Among other things, Carter and Jennifer discuss adding educational value to fiction in a well-balanced way, how some writers gravitate to a similar theme throughout many different novels, and what it took for Jennifer to make her first story publishable. At the end...
2022-12-2954 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Carla Damron, author of The Orchid TattooCarla Damron is a fiction writer and social worker. In addition to The Stone Necklace, she authored the Caleb Knowles mystery novels, in which she explores the social issues of addiction, homelessness, and mental illness. Her latest novel, The Orchid Tattoo, takes on the dark horrors of human trafficking. Among other things, Carter and Carla discuss using writing as a therapeutic outlet, how Carla getting her MFA changed how she approaches writing, and the importance of having a well-rounded villain. At the end of their conversation, they craft a nerve-raising story beginning with a sentence from The G...
2022-12-1544 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Katie Sise, author of The BreakKatie Sise is a bestselling author, TV host, and jewelry designer featured in major fashion magazines and television shows. Jewelry and television work inspired her first novel, Creative Girl, which was when she realized the thing she most wanted to do in the world was write books. After ghost writing bestselling NYT suspense books, she published three of her own novels with HarperCollins and has gone on to sell bestselling adult novels since, the most recent of which was released this November, The Break. Among other things, Carter and Katie discuss the importance of perseverance in writing, K...
2022-12-0148 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Barbara Nickless, author of Dark of NightBarbara Nickless is the #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Sydney Parnell police procedural series. She promised her mother she’d be a novelist when she grew up, because what could be safer than sitting at a desk all day? Now she is an award-winning author and creative-writing instructor, and she spends her free time snowshoeing, caving and hiking in the Colorado Rockies. Among other things, Carter and Barbara discuss writing crime fiction while being sensitive to current political climates, how much attention to give to reviews and readers' opinions, and all the adv...
2022-11-1853 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Jeffrey Wilson, author of Dark FallJeffrey Wilson has at one time worked as an actor, a firefighter, a paramedic, a jet pilot, a diving instructor, a Naval Officer, and a Vascular and Trauma Surgeon. He is also the co-author, with Brian Andrews, of the Wall Street Journal and Amazon #1 Bestselling TIER ONE series of thrillers from Thomas & Mercer. He still works as a consultant for the Department of Defense when not hard at work on his next book. Among other things, Carter and Jeffrey discuss the challenges of short versus long fiction, how Jeffrey used his experiences to fuel his writing, and t...
2022-11-1049 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Samuel Octavius, author of The Echo ChamberSamuel Octavius spent 24 years in the Marine Corps, being rewarded with tons of stories to share. He has pursued his passions for writing, technology, and the intersection of futurism and society. He retired at the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant, completed a B.S. and an M.S. and continues to pursue graduate studies while working on his first novel, The Echo Chamber. Among other things, Carter and Samuel discuss the impact that speech and debate in high school had on Sam’s life, his experience in the military and the adjustment period afterwards, and the difference bet...
2022-11-0347 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Jonathan Woods, author of Hog WildJonathan Woods holds multiple degrees and for many years he practiced law for a multi-national high-tech company. But writing is his real passion. His stories have appeared in 3:AM Magazine, Dogmatika, Plots with Guns, Pulp Pusher, Thuglit and other web-based literary magazines. His latest novel, Wild Hogs, released late August this year. Among other things, Carter and Jonathan discuss childhood reading, Jonathan’s years in-between law and writing, and living the writer's dream. At the end of their conversation, they tell a story quite fitting for Halloween weekend, starting with a sentence from Stephen Hunter’s Black Light...
2022-10-2745 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with David Ellis, author of Look CloserDavid Ellis is a judge and an Edgar-award-winning author of ten novels of crime fiction, as well as eight bestselling books co-authored with James Patterson. His novels have been translated into more than ten languages worldwide. In December 2014, Dave was sworn in as the youngest-serving Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court for the First District. Among other things, Carter and David discuss figuring out how to actually write, David’s experience as a co-author with James Patterson, and the never-ending plague of typos. At the end of the conversation, they devise a story with quite a cliffhanger, sta...
2022-09-0856 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Russell James, author of Quest for the Queen’s TempleAfter flying helicopters with the U.S. Army and a career as a technical writer, Russell James now spins twisted tales best read in daylight. Russell has penned over twenty horror novels including Dark Inspiration, Q Island, and The Playing Card Killer. He also authored the Grant Coleman Adventures series starting with Cavern of the Damned and the Ranger Kathy West series starting with Claws. Among other things, Carter and Russell discuss life before writing, finding success without an agent, and promoting books at horror and pop-culture conventions. At the end of their conversation, they craft the b...
2022-09-0250 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with James Byrne, author of The GatekeeperJames Byrne is the author of the recent thriller The Gatekeeper. He writes under various names and has published nine other novels in the realm of thrillers and mysteries. He is also Editor-in-Chief of the Portland Tribune. Among other things, Carter and James discuss publishing highs and lows, how the gender of an action-adventure protagonist greatly impacts sales, and writing in longhand. At the end of their conversation, they use a sentence out of Stephen King’s Joyland to spin a short tale about money and murder. Connect with Carter at www.carterwilson.com...
2022-08-2544 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Pip Drysdale, author of The Next GirlPip Drysdale is a writer, musician, and actor who grew up in Africa and Australia. Her debut novel, The Sunday Girl, was a bestseller and has been published in the United States, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The Strangers We Know was also a bestseller and is being developed for television and her most recent novel, The Next Girl, was published this year. Among other things, Carter and Pip discuss her frequent moving as a child and adult, the things they will not write about, and how they balance both reading and writing. At the e...
2022-08-1846 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Faye Snowden, author of A Killing RainFaye Snowden is the author of three standalone mysteries and a four-part series of which the first two, A Killing Fire and A Killing Rain, have been released. She also has published short stories and poems in various literary journals including The African American Review, Calliope, Red Ochre Lit, Bay Area Poets, and more. At eighteen, she left Louisiana to join the Navy and afterward worked as an information technology professional in various industries while on her way to a masters in English Literature. Among other things, Carter and Faye discuss growing up with a love of r...
2022-08-1145 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Clare Mackintosh, author of The Last PartyClare Mackintosh has sold more than two million copies of her books worldwide and is the multi-award-winning author of the thriller I Let You Go, a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and the fastest-selling title by a new crime writer in 2015. Together, her books have spent more than sixty weeks in The Sunday Times bestseller lists and have been translated into at least forty languages. Her new book, The Last Party, launches in the U.K. today! Among other things, Carter and Clare discuss how working as a police officer influences her writing, how the p...
2022-08-0457 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Joey Hartstone, author of The LocalJoey Hartstone is a film and television writer who has written two feature films, LBJ and Shock and Awe, both directed by Rob Reiner. He wrote on the first two seasons of the legal drama The Good Fight and is currently a writer on the Showtime series Your Honor. His debut legal thriller, The Local, was released in June 2022. Among other things, Carter and Joey discuss the differences between the film and book industries, choosing what to include or not in a true story, and transitioning to novel writing from screenwriting. At the end of their conversation, t...
2022-07-2846 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Hannah Mary McKinnon, author of Never Coming HomeThe 50th EPISODE (!) of Making It Up features Hannah Mary McKinnon, who led a successful career in recruitment before quitting the corporate world in favor of writing. Her debut, Time After Time, was a rom-com but she has since transitioned to suspense novels. Of five, four are bestsellers and her seventh book and sixth thriller is scheduled for spring next year. Hannah’s latest thriller, Never Coming Home, released in May 2022 and is a book that Carter dubs “masterful.” Among other things, Carter and Hannah discuss the messages within novels, writing with incredible determination, and learning how to navi...
2022-07-1155 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Elle Marr, author of Strangers We KnowNovelist Elle Marr strives to tell powerful and compelling stories of women who demonstrate resilience in the face of great obstacles. She is the author of three thrillers, The Missing Sister (2020), Lies We Bury (2021), and Strangers We Know (May 2022). The Missing Sister was the #24 Best Selling eBook of 2020 on Amazon, #1 in the entire Kindle Store, featured in Woman's World, and named one of PopSugar's 31 Thrillers of 2020. Her latest thriller, Strangers We Know, was an Audible Most Anticipated Listen of Spring 2022, featured by Goodreads during Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and reached #4 in the Kindle Store. Among other th...
2022-06-2043 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Jess Montgomery, author of The EchoesJess Montgomery is the author of the Kinship Historical Mysteries, set in 1920s Appalachian Ohio and inspired by Ohio’s true first female sheriff. Under her given name, she writes the “Level Up Your (Writing) Life” column for Writer’s Digest. She also hosts the “Tea with Jess: Chatting with Authors & Artists” in which creatives share their journeys and insights. Among other things, Carter and Jess discuss her path and reasons for going into technical writing, how the genre you can’t stop reading is the genre you should be writing, and the magic of reading and writing and how...
2022-06-0647 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with D.P. Lyle, author of Double BlindD.P. Lyle is the award-winning author of 22 books, both non-fiction and fiction. He is the International Thriller Writer’s VP for Education and runs CraftFest, Master CraftFest, and ITW’s online Thriller School. D.P has also written for television shows such as Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Cold Case, House, Pretty Little Liars, and more. Among other things, Carter and D.P. discuss the importance of confidence, the research that goes into writing and having too many books to write at once. At the end of their conversation, they tell a quirky little mystery based on a sen...
2022-05-2943 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Ananda Lima, author of Mother/landAnanda Lima is a poet whose most recent collection, Mother/land, is the winner of the Hudson Prize. She is also the author of Chapbooks Translation (winner of the Vella Chapbook Prize), Amblyopia, and Tropicália (winner of the Newfound Prose Prize). Her work has appeared in the American Poetry Review, Poets.com, Kenyon Review Online, and many more. She has an MA in Linguistics and an MFA in Creative Writing. Among other things, Carter and Ananda talk about writing in various languages, constructing verse from abstract thoughts, and how the publishing industry works for poetry. At th...
2022-05-2345 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Katrina Monroe, author of They Drown Our DaughtersKatrina Monroe is a novelist whose debut title, They Drown Our Daughters releases in July 2022 from Sourcbooks. The book has been named one of CrimeReads' 16 Horror Novels To Look Out For In 2022 and Tor Nightfire's Horror Books We're Excited About In 2022. Katrina lives in Minnesota with her wife, two children, and Eddie, the ghost who haunts their bedroom closets. Among other things, Carter and Katrina talk about what constitutes horror, how the switch from small publishing to a larger release is going and preparing to attend writer conferences for the first time. At the end of their c...
2022-05-1247 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Katie Lattari, author of Dark Things I AdoreKatie Lattari is the author of two novels, American Vaudeville, a small press work, and her recent thriller debut, Dark Things I Adore. Her short stories have appeared in such places as NOO Journal, The Bend, Cabildo Quarterly, and more. Among other things, Carter and Katie discuss creepy small towns, the tumultuous journey to writing novels, and how to handle the editor’s first letter without panicking. At the end of their conversation, they make up a little tale about a dark plan, starting from a sentence from The Tourist, by Olen Steinhauer. Connect with Cart...
2022-05-0443 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking it Up with J.T. Ellison, author of Her Dark LiesJ.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award-winning co-host of the literary TV show A Word on Words. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker. With millions of books in print, J.T. has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, been optioned for television, and has been published in 28 countries. Among other things, Carter and J.T. discuss growing up surrounded by reading and writing, making every mistake in the book as a new writer, architect-vs.-gardener writing styles, and wanting yo...
2022-04-0654 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Lara Elena Donnelly, author of Base NotesLara Elena Donnelly is the author of the Nebula, Lambda, and Locus-nominated trilogy The Amberlough Dossier, as well as short fiction and poetry. Lara has taught in the MFA program at Sarah Lawrence College as well as the Catapult Workshop in New York. She is a graduate of the Clarion and Alpha writers’ workshops and has served as on-site staff at the latter, mentoring amazing teens who will someday take over the world of Science Fiction & Fantasy. Among other things, Carter and Lara discuss writing competitions and workshops, the value of a critique group, and how different the...
2022-03-2353 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Aaron Philip Clark, author of Under Color of LawAaron Philip Clark is a novelist and screenwriter from Los Angeles, CA. In addition to his writing career, he has worked in the film industry and law enforcement. His most recent novel, Under Color of Law, which was inspired by his experience in the LAPD, was just named a 2022 Thriller Awards finalist (Best Paperback Original). Among other things, Carter and Aaron discuss the world of screenwriting, eBooks versus hard copies, and what you can and can’t teach about writing. At the end of their conversation, their improvised story (beginning with a sentence from The Negotiator by Fre...
2022-03-0758 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Alex Finlay, author of Every Last FearAlex Finlay is the pseudonym of Anthony Franze, who launched his debut thriller the same year as me back in 2012. His 2021 breakout thriller as Alex Finlay, Every Last Fear, was an Indie Next pick, a LibraryReads selection, an Amazon Editor’s Best Thriller, as well as a CNN, Newsweek, E!, BuzzFeed, Business Week, Goodreads, Parade, PopSugar, and Reader’s Digest best or most anticipated thriller of the year. His recent release is The Night Shift. Among other things, Carter and Alex discuss learning to write by clinically analyzing the books they love, how being a lawyer influenced his or...
2022-02-2145 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Daniel Jude Miller, author of Monsters in ManhattanDaniel Jude Miller is the author and illustrator of the children’s picture book series Monsters in Manhattan, as well as Everybody Wake Up, Earclaw and Eddie, and Halloween Boy and the Christmas Kid. Growing up in Queens, NY and working in Manhattan inspired Daniel to write and draw all the creatures and goblins he came across on a daily basis. He now lives upstate, far from the clutches of those monsters. Among other things, Carter and Daniel talk about Daniel’s decision to start his own publishing company after 12 years as an illustrator, the process of educa...
2022-02-1450 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Allen Eskens, author of The Stolen HoursAllen Eskens is the bestselling author of The Life We Bury, The Guise of Another, The Heavens May Fall, The Deep Dark Descending, The Shadows We Hide, Nothing More Dangerous, and The Stolen Hours. He is the recipient of the Barry Award, Minnesota Book Award, Rosebud Award (Left Coast Crime), and Silver Falchion Award and has been a finalist for the Edgar® Award, Thriller Award, and Anthony Award. His books have been translated into 26 languages. Among other things, Carter and Allen discuss how his intensive outlines sometimes create more stories, the hero’s journey from an author's pers...
2022-02-0750 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Lynne Griffin, author of The Dangers of an Ordinary NightLynne Reeves Griffin is an internationally recognized family counselor, public speaker, teacher, and writer of fiction and non-fiction. Her work has appeared in Parents, Psychology Today, Solstice Literary Magazine, Chautauqua Journal, Craft Literary, Fiction Writers Review, Brain, Child, and more. She writes novels of domestic suspense as Lynne Reeves, with The Dangers of an Ordinary Night published by Crooked Lane Books in November 2021. Among other things, Carter and Lynne discuss how she approaches writing with a societal issue in mind, leaving a prescribed “message” out of the story allowing readers their own takeaways, and how to best appro...
2022-01-3143 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Amanda Kabak, author of UpendedAmanda Kabak is the author of The Mathematics of Change and her latest novel, Upended. Her stories have been published in The Massachusetts Review, Tahoma Literary Review, Sequestrum, The Laurel Review, and more. She’s also the recipient of the Lascaux Review fiction award, the Arcturus Review’s Al-Simāk award for fiction, and the Betty Gabehart prize from the Kentucky Women Writers’ Conference.Among other things, Carter and Amanda discuss the messy nature of first drafts and how they lead to crying in coffee shops, working as a technical writer, and communicating trauma in a story. At the...
2022-01-2445 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Gabrielle St. George, author of How to Murder a MarriageGabrielle St George is a Canadian screenwriter and story editor with credits on over 100 produced television shows, both in the USA and Canada. Her feature film scripts have been optioned in Hollywood. She also writes humorous mysteries and domestic noir about subjects of which she is an expert– mostly failed relationships, hence her début soft-boiled series, The Ex-Whisperer Files, which recently launched with its first title How to Murder a Marriage.Among other things, Carter and Gabrielle discuss how childhood can influence creativity, being envious of other writers’ successes, and the confoundedness of mean reviews. At the e...
2021-12-2145 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Yasmin Angoe, author of Her Name Is KnightYasmin Angoe recently released her debut novel, Her Name Is Knight. She taught English in middle and high schools for years, served as an instructional coach for virtual teachers, and spent time as a freelance copy editor. Angoe recently received the Eleanor Taylor Bland Award for emerging writers of color from Sisters of Crime, of which she’s a proud member.Among other things, Carter and Yasmin discuss Yasmin’s “first” book that she wrote in middle school, why you should always check your junk mail, and what events or topics deserve a trigger warning. At the end of t...
2021-12-1346 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Dr. Ian Smith, author of Wolf PointDr. Ian Smith is the author of 15 books, both novels, and multiple #1 New York Times bestselling non-fiction health and diet books. He is currently the medical contributor and co-host of the nationally syndicated television show The Rachael Ray Show and a former co-host of the Emmy award-winning syndicated daytime talk show, The Doctors. Among many more noteworthy achievements (too many to list here) Dr. Ian was appointed by President Obama to a second term on the prestigious President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition.Among other things, Carter and Dr. Ian discuss the huge differences between wr...
2021-12-0650 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Drew Magary, author of The Night the Lights Went OutDrew Magary is a co-founder of the employee-owned sports and culture website Defector, as well as a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle online and the author of three novels. Drew’s life changed forever at a company holiday party in 2018 when he suffered a mysterious fall that caused him to smash his head so hard on a cement floor that he cracked his skull in three places and suffered a catastrophic brain hemorrhage. His latest work—The Night the Lights Went Out—chronicles his recovery from his injury, including understanding what his family and friends went through as he lay...
2021-11-2947 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Alverne Ball, author of Blue ReligionAlverne Ball’s creativity is seemingly boundless. His writing has been featured in literary magazines, he’s crafted award-winning comic and graphic novel material for various production studios, and he’s written and produced a short film himself. Oh, yeah, he’s also a novelist. His latest book is Blue Religion, a sequel to his earlier work Only The Holy Remain.Among other things, Carter and Alverne discuss the moment of clarity when he knew he wanted to be a writer, how difficult it can be to find a publisher who will work with underrepresented language and characte...
2021-11-2255 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Farrah Rochon, author of The Boyfriend ProjectFarrah Rochon is a USA Today bestselling author who has garnered much acclaim for her popular Holmes Brothers and New York Sabers series. More recently, The Boyfriend Project and The Dating Playbook. When she’s not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah enjoys reading, cooking, traveling the world, visiting Walt Disney World, and Broadway shows.Among other things, Carter and Farrah discuss her mom’s influence as an English teacher, pursuing psychology to end up writing Romance, and how self-publishing is sometimes the best decision. At the end of their conversation they take a sentence from The...
2021-11-1551 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Robert Dugoni, author of The World Played ChessRobert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite series, which has sold over 8 million copies worldwide. In addition, he has two other series, several standalone novels, and numerous short stories. His latest book, The World Played Chess, is the emotionally arresting follow-up to The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell. Among other things, Carter and Robert discuss their love for storytelling and where it comes from, how Robert went from practicing law to theater to writing, and how he sought war stories from Vietnam v...
2021-11-0845 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with SF Kosa, author of The Night We BurnedSarah Fine, writing under the name SF Kosa, is a psychologist by training and a writer by passion. Though The Quiet Girl was her debut psychological suspense novel, she is the author of over two dozen fantasy, urban fantasy, sci-fi, and romance novels, some of which have been translated into other languages.Among other things, Carter and Sarah discuss how she went from wanting to be a surgeon, to writing novels, being internally focused while writing their first book, and writing to feel the emotions of characters. At the end of their conversation, a sentence from David...
2021-10-2551 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Maureen Johnson, author of the Box in the WoodsMaureen Johnson is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of several YA novels, including 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Suite Scarlett, The Name of the Star, and Truly Devious. She has also done collaborative works, such as Let It Snow with John Green and Lauren Myracle (now on Netflix), and several works in the Shadowhunter universe with Cassandra Clare.Among other things, Carter and Maureen discuss attending a Catholic high school as a non-Catholic, getting her MFA from Columbia, and how she writes mysteries by outlining and stress-testing her crime scene. At the end of their...
2021-10-1843 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Lemony Snicket, author of Poison for BreakfastDaniel Handler, better known as Lemony Snicket, became a cultural phenomenon with his 13-volume A Series of Unfortunate Events. His books have sold more than 70 million copies, won Peabody and Writers Guild of America awards, and have been made into box-office and streaming movies. His latest release, the standalone novel Poison for Breakfast, is self-described as a “book about bewilderment.” Among other things, Carter and Daniel discuss the education of writing, how to read like a writer, and the benefits of putting your work away for a whole year. At the end of their conversation, they spin a tal...
2021-10-1148 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with SA Cosby, author of Razorblade TearsS.A. Cosby, thriller-writer extraordinaire. Shawn (S.A.) struck oil with his breakout 2019 novel Blacktop Wasteland, a Los Angeles Times book winner and the ITW Thriller Award winner for best hardcover (a big goddamned deal). He followed that up with his 2021 book Razorblade Tears, which was an instant New York Times bestseller.Among other things, Carter and Shawn discuss writing for a purpose and expanding perspectives, the role luck and timing play in success after publishing, and accepting valuable help from industry experts and editors. At the end of their conversation, they tell a story, beginning from...
2021-10-0449 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Stuart Turton, author of The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn HardcastleStuart Turton lives in West London with his wife and daughter writing murder mysteries after years spent as a journalist. He is the author of the international bestsellers The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle which got picked up to be a Netflix series, and The Devil and the Dark Water. Among other things, Carter and Stuart discuss finding work as a writer after traveling for five years straight out of college, remembering a childhood conversation that may have foretold a future career as an author, and plotting vs pantsing. At the end of their conversation, they pull a ra...
2021-09-2156 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Adrian Goldsworthy, author of The FortAdrian Goldsworthy is a historian and novelist who specializes in ancient Roman history. After teaching Greek and Roman history for six years before pursuing writing full-time, Adrian has since published a vast collection of both fiction and non-fiction works, most centered on Ancient Rome. His latest novel, The Fort, was released in August 2021. Among other things, Carter and Adrian discuss the creative challenge of putting 1,000 years of history into 450 pages, the publishing industry in Britain versus the States, and the inevitability of falling in love with your story and then writing until you hate it. At the e...
2021-09-1453 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Barb Webb, author of Getting LaidBarb Webb is a sustainable living expert living in Appalachian Kentucky and the author of Getting Laid and Getting Baked. Barb's writing isn't just limited to books on sustainable living; she's also a prolific blogger with her self-founded company Rural Moms, which has a social media audience of over 200,000 followers. Among other things, Carter and Barb discuss growing up in a traditional family and being encouraged to fight against her artistic side, how her creativity found a home in tech-writing and the importance of being ahead of the trend. At the end of their conversation, they tell a...
2021-09-0650 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Brad Parks, author of UnthinkableBrad Parks is an international bestselling author and the only writer to have won the Shamus, Nero, and Lefty Awards, three of American crime fiction’s most prestigious prizes. A graduate of Dartmouth College, a former journalist with The Washington Post and The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger, he now lives in Virginia with his wife and kids as a full-time novelist, his most recent being Unthinkable.Among other things, Carter and Brad discuss how writing is both an art and a craft, the allure of writing for the reader and keeping the audience in mind, and letting ch...
2021-08-2748 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Xio Axelrod, author of The Girl With Stars In Her EyesXio Axelrod is a USA Today bestselling author who writes different flavors of contemporary romance and what she likes to call, “strange, twisted tales.” Her love for writing started with writing fanfiction due to a passionate response to how an episode of Buffy ended. Now, her most recently published novel is titled, The Girl With Stars In Her Eyes.Among other things, Carter and Xio discuss growing up under the influence of a songwriter and producer dad who wanted her to do anything but go into the music industry, how fan fiction developed into publishing novels, and the...
2021-08-1951 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Clare Whitfield, author of People of Abandoned CharacterClare Whitfield was born the fourth child to ex-Armed Forces parents and grew up on St Helier Estate in Morden before moving to Sutton. After studying contemporary dance at Middlesex University, she worked as an editorial assistant for a publishing company, tried her hand at freelance writing, and eventually worked in marketing where she spent her free time writing. In her 30s she took an MA in creative writing at the University of Winchester and has now published her first novel, People of Abandoned Character.Among other things, Carter and Clare discuss military parents and having...
2021-08-1250 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Sabrina Jeffries, author of Undercover DukeSabrina Jeffries is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels and works of short fiction (some written under the pseudonyms Deborah Martin and Deborah Nicholas). She is a sought-after speaker, as evidenced by her 2010 gig as emcee for the National Romance Writers of America’s 30th Anniversary Awards Ceremony. She continues writing romance and even plays with adding in a little Mystery, with her most recent novel, Undercover Duke.Among other things, Carter and Sabrina discuss adjusting to pseudonyms, growing up the daughter of missionaries in Thailand, and the benefits versus difficulties of writing ro...
2021-08-0542 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Mark Sullivan, author of The Last Green ValleyMark Sullivan is the acclaimed author of eighteen novels, including the #1 New York Times bestselling Private series, which he writes with James Patterson. He’s received numerous awards for his writing, including the WHSmith Fresh Talent Award, and his works have been named a New York Times Notable Book and a Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year. After Beneath A Scarlet Sky far surpassed what he could have hoped, he recently published another Historical Fiction Novel about a story of incredible human perseverance. Among other things, Carter and Mark discuss the difficulties of being an aut...
2021-07-2945 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Erika Engelhaupt, author of Gory DetailsErika Englehaupt has spent more than a decade writing and editing for top science publications, including National Geographic, Science News, Scientific American, the Philadelphia Inquirer and NPR. Her niche is exploring the gross and horrifying realities of nature. She decided to take it a step further, diving even deeper than her beloved blog, and write a book called Gory Details. Among other things, Carter and Erika discuss growing up with an engineer and inventor dad who always had a lab nearby, the struggles of being a science writer, and how to write a book inspired from a b...
2021-07-2350 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Emily Bleeker, author of What's Left UnsaidEmily Bleeker is a busy woman. She's a mother of four, an improv actor, an aspiring guitarist and, oh yeah, the Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of six novels. Combined, her books have reached over a million readers. She is a two-time Whitney Award finalist and was recently listed as one of the top 100 Kindle authors “of all time.” Her latest novel, What's Left Unsaid, releases July 2021. Among other things, Carter and Emily discuss writing from wildly different points of views, how surviving a rare form of cancer influenced her novels, and how a perso...
2021-07-1348 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking it Up with Julia Heaberlin, author of We Are All the Same in the DarkJulia Heaberlin is the author of the international bestseller Black-Eyed Susans, Paper Ghosts, and We Are All the Same in the Dark, her newest crime novel set in the moody landscape of Texas where she grew up. Heaberlin’s psychological thrillers, all set in her home state, have sold to more than twenty countries. Among other things, Carter and Julia discuss murder in a small town, how persistence is equally important as talent in writing, and how a personal tragedy affected her work-in-progress.At the end of their conversation, they make up a dark tale inv...
2021-07-0447 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking it Up with Steven James, author of SynapseSteven James is a kind and gentle soul who writes about dark, gritty things. He's the author of more than thirty books, including the critically acclaimed Bowers Files, an eleven-book series of psychological thrillers which includes Opening Moves, Every Crooked Path, and Every Deadly Kiss. The series has received four Christy Awards, which is adamn big deal. Among other things, Carter and Steven discuss his family's history of spinning yarns, getting a Master's degree in storytelling, and how faith can influence writing. At the end of their chat, Carter and Steven create a t...
2021-06-2848 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Mark Stevens, author of The Melancholy HowlMark Stevens is a helluva good writer and an all-around good dude. Best known for his Allison Coil mystery series, Mark’s novel Antler Dust was a Denver Post best-seller in 2007 and 2009. Buried by the Roan, Trapline, and Lake of Fire were all finalists for the Colorado Book Award (2012, 2015 and 2016 respectively). Trapline won. Mark has been named Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Writer of the Year, hosts a regular podcast for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and has served as president of the Rocky Mountain chapter for Mystery Writers of America.Among other things, Carter and Mark discuss what it...
2021-06-2145 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking it Up with Lynne Constantine, author of The Silent ConspiracyLynne Constantine is an internationally bestselling author who writes with her sister as Liv Constantine (The Last Mrs. Parrish) and solo as L.C. Shaw (The Silent Conspiracy). Her books have been translated into 28 languages, are available in 33 countries, and are in development for both television and film.Among other things, Carter and Lynne talk about her father working for Spiro Agnew, the process of writing books with a sibling, and the dread of receiving the first editorial notes on a manuscript. At the end of their conversation, they make up a boozy little tale...
2021-06-1145 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with K.J. Howe, author of SkyjackK.J. Howe lived all over the world growing up, and those experiences turned her into a bestselling and award-winning storyteller with global reach. Among other things, Carter and K.J. talk about meticulous research, the kindness of thriller writers, and kidnapping conferences in Miami. At the end of their conversation they make up a short story starting with a sentence from William Goldman's Princess Bride.Connect with Carter at www.carterwilson.comConnect with K.J. at www.kjhowe.com
2021-06-0646 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Sean Eads, author of Lord Byron's ProphecySean Eads writes for himself and is unapologetic about it. Not only is Sean a talented and amazingly prolific author of countless novels and short stories, he and Carter are in the same critique group. Carter and Sean talk about audience, character development, and the lasting pain from accidentally deleting a manuscript. At the end of their conversation they make up a short story starting with a sentence from Eyre Price's Rock Island Rock.Connect with Carter at www.carterwilson.comConnect with Sean at www.seaneads.net
2021-05-3043 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking it Up with David Bell, author of Kill All Your DarlingsDavid Bell has been fascinated by murder since he was a kid. Fortunately, his career path led him to writing stories about it rather than committing it. He's the USA Today bestselling author of ten standalone thrillers and his eleventh, KILL ALL YOUR DARLINGS, releases in July 2021.Among other things, Carter and David discuss the highs and lows of publishing, the wisdom he imparts on his writing students, and how he defines success as an author. At the end of the conversation, they make up a weird story about chest hair using a sentence from The Children's...
2021-05-2157 minCarter Wilson's Making It UpMaking it Up - Official TrailerUSA Today bestselling novelist Carter Wilson talks to writers of all backgrounds in order to find out why they do what they do. He and his guests discuss childhood influences, roots of creativity, luck and loss, tools of the craft, and the highs and lows of publishing. At the end of their conversation, they pick a random sentence from a random book and use it to create an impromptu short story. Visit Carter at www.carterwilson.com.
2021-04-2701 min
Carter Wilson's Making It UpMaking It Up with Alex Marwood, author of The Wicked GirlsAlex Marwood was a journalist who worked extensively across the British press. Her first novel, The Wicked Girls, achieved widespread acclaim and international bestsellerdom. It was shortlisted for ITW, Anthony and Macavity awards, was included in Stephen King’s Ten Best Books of the Year list, and won the prestigious Edgar Award.Carter and Alex talk about the other famous writers in her family, the highs and lows of publishing, and what its like writing when you have ADHD. At the end of our conversation, we make up a dark little tale based on a random sentence fr...
2021-04-1345 min
Carter Wilson's Making It UpMaking it Up with Julie Clark, author of The Last FlightJulie Clark still tells people she's an elementary school teacher, which she is. But she's also the New York Times bestselling author of the 2020 breakout thriller The Last Flight. Carter and Julie talk about working multiple jobs, the unpredictability of the publishing industry, and how to continuously become a better writer. At the end of the conversation, they make up a surreal circus story using a sentence from The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B, by J. P. Donleavy.Connect with Carter at www.carterwilson.comConnect with Julie at www.julieclarkauthor...
2021-04-1341 min
Carter Wilson's Making It UpMaking it Up with Joe Clifford, author of The Shadow PeopleJoe Clifford's writing career was immensely helped when he was hit by a bus. Today, this bestselling mystery and crime writer has a dozen books to his name and life is good, even if it requires a cane.Carter and Joe discuss Joe's past struggles with heroin addiction, his inability or desire to hold down a 9-5 job, and love and heartbreak within the publishing industry.At the end of the conversation, they make up a noirish tale using a beginning sentence from Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises.Connect with Carter at www...
2021-04-1145 min