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Thriller 101 Newsletter
Pitch Your Article to Thriller 101
Learn more about Roxie Key
Daniel Hurst Episode
Eloise Corvo's article: Turning a Standalone Mystery into the First in a Series
Connect with David on Twitter

EPISODE INFO:
How should you start your novel? Should you have a prologue? Should you jump right into the action? Or spend time with the characters? Today’s guest is going to talk us through the how and why she started her novel the way she did. And I have to tell you, it might be her debut novel, but she knocked this out of the park.

BIO:
Roxie Key lives in Northampton, UK, with her wife and daughter. Currently working as a creative copywriter for a global brand, Roxie has a degree in creative writing and an unhealthy obsession with crime thrillers. Roxie’s debut thriller, The Deadly Spark, is a dark, compelling crime novel about the fallout after a deadly house fire, perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Jane Casey and Clare Mackintosh. Published by HQ, an imprint of HarperCollins, it's available in paperback, ebook and audiobook.

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Thriller 101 Newsletter
Thriller 101 Agent Pitch Contest
Learn more about Daniel Hurst
Michelle Jackson Episode
Jody Wenner's "On Brand "article
Connect with David on Twitter

EPISODE INFO:
By the end of today’s episode you’ll understand

• Why Daniel decided to go from self-publishing to working with an independent press
• His writing process
• You’ll have a better understanding of how he writes the kinds of clear, compelling hooks that make readers buy his novels.
• He shares the biggest reasoning behind his decision to sign with a publisher.

BIO:
Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021, and his bestselling book to date is his title The Doctor’s Wife, which topped the Amazon UK Kindle Chart on February 16th 2023. He remembers that date because he stayed up all night celebrating.

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Thriller 101 Newsletter
Thriller 101 Agent Pitch Contest
Learn more about Michelle Z. Jackson as an agent
Learn more about Michelle Z. Jackson as an author
Heather Levy Episode
Connect with David on Twitter

EPISODE INFO:
If you’re hoping to land an agent this year, you’re going to love this conversation with Michelle.

We talk about:

• Connecting your pitch to your opening
• How to maintain tension
• The benefits of active voice,
• What agents look for in a submission
• And what makes them pass on a project.

BIO:
Michelle Z. Jackson represents books that evoke heartfelt emotions and fervent conversations among its readers. Her mission is to mentor and develop authors, particularly those from underrepresented communities, and help them build a brand of quality and authentic reads.

Originally from Jamaica, West Indies, she is now a literary agent with LCS Literary. She began her agenting career as an intern and then a Literary Associate with Olswanger Literary. She is also a published author and has earned educational degrees from New York University, SUNY at StonyBrook, Teachers College Columbia University and Argosy University. She is a member of AALA and SCBWI.

Tweet me @DavidRGwyn