Carter Wilson's Making It Up artwork

Carter Wilson's Making It Up

157 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1 rating

In this conversation series, USA 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.

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Episodes

Making It Up with Caroline Cleveland, author of When Cicadas Cry

April 19, 2024 02:00 - 47 minutes - 32.8 MB

Caroline Cleveland credits growing up in the rural South and its quieter way of life for her lifelong passion for books and storytelling. Her dedication to the written word led her to law school at the University of South Carolina, where she earned her degree in 1991. She is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a specialist in labor and employment law and is the founding partner of Cleveland & Conley, LLC. Her debut novel, When Cicadas Cry, about a high-profile murder case in a s...

Making It Up with Diego Báez, author of Yaguareté White

April 12, 2024 03:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MB

Diego Báez is a writer and educator. He is the author of Yaguareté White, a finalist for the Georgia Poetry Prize and a semifinalist for the Berkshire Prize for Poetry. A fellow at CantoMundo, the Surge Institute, and the Poetry Foundation’s Incubator for Community-Engaged Poets, Báez has served on the boards of the National Book Critics Circle, the International David Foster Wallace Society, and Families Together Co-operative Nursery School. His poems, book reviews, and essays have appeared...

Making It Up with Jeff Hoffmann, author of Like It Never Happened

April 04, 2024 18:00 - 49 minutes - 33.8 MB

Jeff quit his job at the age of 47 to return to college for his MFA, and his first novel, Other People’s Children, emerged from that decision. His second novel, Like It Never Happened, was just released in March 2024. In addition to his two novels, Jeff’s writing has been published in The Sun, Booth, Harpur Palate, and Publishers Weekly. He was the winner of the Madison Review’s Chris O’Malley Prize in Fiction and a finalist for the Missouri Review’s Jeffrey E. Smith Editor’s Prize. Among o...

Making It Up with Peg Tyre, author of Strangers in the Night

March 29, 2024 21:00 - 50 minutes - 34.9 MB

Peg Tyre is director of strategy at the Edwin Gould Foundation in New York City. In addition to her two creative fiction novels that have recently been republished, Tyre has written about education for The New York Times, Politico, The Atlantic, and more. She has been a finalist for the National Magazine Award and is the author of two critically acclaimed books on education, one of which is a New York Times bestseller. She has a bachelor’s from Brown University and was a Spencer fellow at th...

Making It Up with Araminta Hall, author of One of the Good Guys

March 21, 2024 19:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MB

Araminta Hall began her career in journalism as a staff writer on teen magazine Bliss, becoming Health and Beauty editor of New Woman. On her way, she wrote regular features for the Mirror's Saturday supplement and ghost wrote the supermodel Caprice's column. She has a MA in creative writing and authorship from the University of Sussex, and teaches creative writing at New Writing South in Brighton. She is the author of Our Kind of Cruelty, which was named a best book of 2018 by CrimeReads an...

Making It Up with Joe and Kasey Lansdale, authors of The Case of the Bleeding Wall

March 15, 2024 01:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MB

Joe Lansdale has written novels in many genres, including Western, horror, science fiction, and mystery, and has written for comics such as "Batman: The Animated Series." As of 2020, he had written 50 novels and published more than 30 short-story collections. He has won ten Bram Stoker Awards, a British Fantasy Award, an Edgar Award, and more, and has been inducted into The Texas Literary Hall of Fame. Kasey Lansdale is a country blues singer and songwriter, an actress, and an author. Lansd...

Making It Up with L.R. Jones, author of The Wedding Party

March 07, 2024 18:00 - 45 minutes - 31.1 MB

L.R. Jones, or Lisa Renee Jones, is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her dark, edgy fiction includes the novels You Look Beautiful Tonight, The Poet, A Perfect Lie, and the Lilah Love series. Prior to publishing, Lisa owned a multistate staffing agency recognized by the Austin Business Journal and was #7 in Entrepreneur magazine’s list of growing women-owned businesses. Among other things, Lisa and Carter discuss being parents to golden retrievers, the differences between ...

Making It Up with Matt Coyle, author of the Rick Cahill series

March 01, 2024 00:00 - 49 minutes - 34.3 MB

Matt Coyle is the author of the best-selling Rick Cahill crime novels. He graduated with a degree in English from University of California at Santa Barbara. His foray into crime fiction was delayed for thirty years as he spent time managing a restaurant, selling golf clubs for various golf companies, and in national sales for a sports licensing company. Yesterday’s Echo was published in 2013 and won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, the San Diego Book Award for Best Mystery, and the Be...

Making It Up with Audrey Gale, author of The Human Trial

February 24, 2024 04:00 - 44 minutes - 30.6 MB

Audrey Gale is the author of the new release, The Human Trial. After twenty-plus years in the banking industry, Audrey pursued her master’s in fiction writing at the University of Southern California. Her first novel, a legal thriller entitled The Sausage Maker’s Daughters, was published under the name A.G.S. Johnson. Her second, The Human Trial, is the first book in a medical-thriller trilogy inspired by Gale’s own experiences with the gap between traditional medicine and approaches based o...

Making It Up with Katherine Howe, author of A True Account

February 16, 2024 04:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MB

Katherine Howe, author of A True Account: Hannah Masury’s Sojourn Amongst the Pyrates, Written by Herself, is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning historian and novelist. She is the author of several novels for adults and young adults, has edited two volumes of primary sources for Penguin Classics, and is the co-author with Anderson Cooper of the #1 New York Times bestselling books Vanderbilt and Astor. She has appeared on “Good Morning America,” “CBS This Morning,” NPR’s “Weekend ...

Making It Up with Boyd and Beth Morrison, authors of The Last True Templar

February 08, 2024 20:00 - 56 minutes - 39 MB

Boyd Morrison is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twelve thrillers, including six collaborations with Clive Cussler in the Oregon Files series. His first novel, The Ark, was an Indie Next Notable pick. He has a PhD in industrial engineering from Virginia Tech. His latest thriller The Last True Templar is the second book in the Tales of the Lawless Land series co-written with his sister, expert medievalist Beth Morrison. Beth is Senior Curator of Manuscripts at the J. Paul Getty Mu...

Making It Up with Sara DiVello, author of Broadway Butterfly

February 02, 2024 04:00 - 48 minutes - 33.3 MB

Sara DiVello is a true crime writer and the founder and host of the popular author interview series, Mystery and Thriller Mavens. Her latest book, Broadway Butterfly: A Thriller, received starred reviews from Library Journal and Book List, was a CBS New York Book Club pick, an Entertainment Weekly Best Book of Summer, was featured in Vanity Fair,  and much more. Among other things, Sara and Carter discuss why they wanted to start podcasts, the transition from a corporate career to being an ...

Making it Up with Hailey Piper, author of Queen of Teeth

January 24, 2024 22:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MB

Hailey Piper is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth, A Light Most Hateful, The Worm and His Kings series, and other books of dark fiction. She is also the author of over 100 short stories, and her non-fiction appears in Writer’s Digest, Library Journal, CrimeReads, and others.  Among other things, Hailey and Carter discuss how to navigate conversations and relationships with editors, outlining during the writing process, and Hailey’s experiences writing short stories. At ...

Making it Up with Hailey Piper, author of Cruel Angels Past Sundown

January 24, 2024 22:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MB

Hailey Piper is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Cruel Angels Past Sundown, Queen of Teeth, A Light Most Hateful, The Worm and His Kings series, and other books of dark fiction. She is also the author of over 100 short stories, and her non-fiction appears in Writer’s Digest, Library Journal, CrimeReads, and others.  Among other things, Hailey and Carter discuss how to navigate conversations and relationships with editors, outlining during the writing process, and Hailey’s experiences...

Making It Up with Abbott Kahler, author of Where You End

January 17, 2024 23:00 - 59 minutes - 40.6 MB

Abbott Kahler (formerly Karen Abbott) is the author of four New York Times bestselling works of narrative nonfiction, including The Ghosts of Eden Park and Then Came the Devil. Her debut novel, Where You End, is inspired by a true story of identical twins and amnesia. USA Today once named her “a pioneer of sizzle history.”  Among other things, Abbott and Carter discuss Abbott’s early commitment to getting published, the thriller genre and its changes over time, and her experience moving fro...

Making It Up with Kathleen Willett, author of Anything For A Friend

January 12, 2024 21:00 - 59 minutes - 40.9 MB

Novelist 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 genera...

Making It Up with Emily Smith, author of You Always Come Back

January 05, 2024 00:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MB

Novelist 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 sent...

Making It Up with Elise Hart Kipness, author of Lights Out

December 29, 2023 02:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MB

Elise Hart Kipness is a former television sports reporter turned thriller writer. LIGHTS OUT is based on her experience in the high-pressure, adrenaline-pumping world of live TV.  In addition to reporting for Fox Sports Network, Elise was a reporter at New York’s WNBC-TV, News 12 Long Island, and the Associated Press. She is currently copresident of Sisters in Crime Connecticut, as well as a member of Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers.   Among other things, Elis...

Making It Up with Martin Clark, author of The Plinko Bounce

December 22, 2023 03:00 - 55 minutes - 38.1 MB

Entertainment Weekly called Martin Clark “hands down, our finest legal-thriller writer.” The New York Times stated that he is “the thinking man’s John Grisham.” Martin’s novels have appeared on multiple bestseller lists and have been chosen as a New York Times Notable Book, a New York Times Editors' Choice, and a Washington Post Book World Best Book of the Year. His current release is The Plinko Bounce.  Among other things Martin and Carter discuss the getting into the publishing groove as ...

Making It Up with Erin Hoover, author of No Spare People

December 15, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 43.1 MB

Erin Hoover is the author of two poetry collections, Barnburner and No Spare People. Her poems have appeared in The Best American Poetry and Best New Poets, and in journals such as Cincinnati Review, Florida Review, Poetry Northwest, and Shenandoah. She lives in rural Tennessee and teaches creative writing at Tennessee Tech.  Among other things, Erin and Carter discuss how Erin found herself writing and relating to poetry, the differences between prose and poetry, and the process of putting...

Making It Up with Stephen Michaud, author of Robert’s Story

December 07, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 43.1 MB

Stephen G. Michaud is an internationally recognized author, co-author, reporter, and editor whose decades-long career credits comprise twenty books and multiple contributions to periodicals. The New York Daily News named The Only Living Witness (a biography of serial killer Ted Bundy co-authored with Hugh Aynesworth) one of the ten best true-crime books ever written. Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer, a compilation of Michaud and Aynesworth’s death-row interviews with Bundy, was a New Y...

Making It Up with Edward Cahill, author of Disorderly Men

December 01, 2023 01:00 - 46 minutes - 31.9 MB

Edward Cahill is Professor of English at Fordham University, specializing in the literature of British America and the early US republic; more recently, he has been teaching modern and contemporary fiction and writing novels. His debut novel, Disorderly Men, was published by Empire State Editions for Fordham University Press in September 2023 as the press’s first original literary fiction release.  Among other things, Edward and Carter discuss how screenwriting teaches editing skills, the c...

Making It Up with Hannah Nicole Maehrer, author of Assistant to the Villain

November 16, 2023 22:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MB

Hannah Nicole Maehrer—or as TikTok Knows her, @hannahnicolemae—is a fantasy romance author and BookToker with a propensity for villains. When she’s not creating bookish comedy skits about Villains and Assistants, she’s writing to Taylor Swift songs. Her biggest passions in life include romance, magic, laughter, and finding ways to include them all in everything she creates. Most days you can find her with her head in the clouds and a pen in her hand.  Among other things, Hannah and Carter d...

Making It Up with Carol Dunbar, author of A Winter’s Rime

November 03, 2023 00:00 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MB

Carol 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 char...

Making It Up with Heather Levy, author of Hurt For Me

October 26, 2023 23:00 - 58 minutes - 40.3 MB

Heather 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 n...

Making It up with Amy Weinland Daughters, author of Dear Dana

October 12, 2023 23:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MB

Amy Weinland Daughters is a humorist, a freelance sportswriter, and an author. Her second book, Dear Dana: That Time I Went Crazy and Wrote All 580 of My Facebook Friends a Handwritten Letter (She Writes Press), was released May 17, 2022. Currently a resident of Tomball, Texas, Amy, and her family have also lived in Blackwell, England, and Dayton, Ohio.  Among other things, Carter and Amy discuss how living in other places (beyond where you grew up) helps foster empathy, the development of ...

Making It Up goes live, with R. Alan Brooks, Emily Littlejohn, Erika T. Wurth

October 09, 2023 21:00 - 1 hour - 43.1 MB

In 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 a...

Making It Up with Michael Katz Krefeld, author of Darkness Calls

September 29, 2023 01:00 - 43 minutes - 29.6 MB

Michael 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 De...

Making It Up with Carl Vonderau, author of Saving Myles

September 21, 2023 23:00 - 57 minutes - 39.6 MB

Carl 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 an...

Making It Up with Chris Riley, author of The Broken Pines

September 14, 2023 23:00 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MB

Chris 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 t...

Making It Up with Lindsay Cameron, author of No One Needs to Know

September 07, 2023 19:00 - 54 minutes - 37.3 MB

Lindsay 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 reade...

Making It Up with Javier Castillo, author of The Snow Girl

August 31, 2023 23:00 - 54 minutes - 37.5 MB

It'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 cha...

Making It Up with Del Chatterson, author of Merger Maniac

August 17, 2023 22:00 - 47 minutes - 32.9 MB

Del Chatterson is an experienced writer, entrepreneur, business advisor, and cheerleader for entrepreneurs. He has over thirty years of successful business and consulting experience, he has written two business books, and is currently working on a series of crime thriller novels and a collection of short stories. His first novel in the Dale Hunter Series, No Easy Money, was published in August 2018 and the next two novels, Simply the Best and Merger Maniac, were released in the spring and fa...

Making It Up with M.P. Woodward, author of Dead Drop

August 11, 2023 01:00 - 49 minutes - 33.8 MB

M.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 empat...

Making It Up with Aimie Runyan, author of A Bakery in Paris

August 03, 2023 22:00 - 52 minutes - 35.9 MB

Aimie 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...

Making It Up with Eliza Knight, author of Starring Adele Astaire

July 27, 2023 21:00 - 49 minutes - 34.2 MB

Eliza Knight is an award winning, USA Today and international bestselling author. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and Novelists, Inc., the creator of the popular historical blog, History Undressed, a co-host on the History, Books and Wine podcast and a co-host for the true crime podcast, Crime Feast. Her latest release is Starring Adele Astaire.  Among other things, Carter and Eliza discuss how her journalism experience has helped her historical research habits, how she used...

Making It Up with Bryn Turnbull, author of The Paris Deception

July 13, 2023 21:00 - 53 minutes - 36.4 MB

Bryn 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 ...

Making It Up with A.G. Riddle, author of The Extinction Trials

July 06, 2023 18:00 - 39 minutes - 27.5 MB

A.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...

Making It Up with Alisa Valdes, author of Hollow Beasts

June 29, 2023 21:00 - 1 hour - 47.8 MB

Alisa 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 ...

Making It Up with Rachael Herron, author of Hush Little Baby

June 26, 2023 20:00 - 53 minutes - 36.6 MB

Rachael 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, a...

Making It Up with Christopher Flory, author of The Savior

June 19, 2023 19:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MB

Author 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 ...

Making It Up with Don Bently, author of Forgotten War

June 08, 2023 22:00 - 53 minutes - 36.5 MB

Don 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 ...

Making It Up with Kara Thomas, author of Out of the Ashes

June 05, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 44.6 MB

Kara 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 do...

Making It Up with Tessa Wegert, author of The Kind to Kill

May 25, 2023 20:00 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MB

Tessa 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...

Making It Up with Lauren Thoman, author of I’ll Stop the World

May 18, 2023 23:00 - 55 minutes - 37.8 MB

Lauren 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 voi...

Making It Up with Rebecca Ann Keller, author of You Should Have Known

May 11, 2023 17:00 - 54 minutes - 37.7 MB

Rebecca 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 ca...

Making It Up with Ciera McElroy, author of Atomic Family

May 04, 2023 21:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MB

Ciera Horton McElroy is the author of the novel Atomic Family, which has received critical praise including a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Ciera holds a BA from Wheaton College and an MFA from the University of Central Florida. Her work has appeared in AGNI, Bridge Eight, Iron Horse Literary Review, the Crab Orchard Review, and Saw Palm, among others.   Among other things, Ciera and Carter discuss her knowing from a young age that she wanted to be a writer, how trends in the indus...

The Gentle Novelist Writing Retreat

April 20, 2023 21:00 - 4 minutes - 2.79 MB

An 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

Making It Up with Nancy Stohlman, author of After the Rapture

April 20, 2023 16:00 - 47 minutes - 33 MB

Flash-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.    A...

Making It Up with Hank Phillippi Ryan, author of The House Guest

April 17, 2023 16:00 - 57 minutes - 39.7 MB

Hank 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 ho...