“You're really investing in yourself. And when I actually do get a check, I'm like—wait, I got paid for this one?” —Courtney Psak

Courtney Psak is the author of two novels, and her third, The Hostess, is being released in April 2026. She graduated with a degree in Communications and Journalism with a master’s degree in Publishing. She is a member of the Crime Writers' Association, International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime and a board member for the Mystery Writers of America.

Among other things, Courtney and Carter discuss Courtney’s detailed outlining and writing process, having a UK publisher, and how mother-in-laws make great unreliable narrators. At the end of their conversation, they make up a gripping story using a line from Chris Pavone’s The Doorman.

“Don’t wait for chapter five to be good. Be good immediately.” —Chris Pavone

Chris Pavone is an international thriller author whose novels include THE EXPATS, winner of both the Edgar and Anthony Awards; the instant bestseller TWO NIGHTS IN LISBON; and THE DOORMAN, a New York Times Notable Book of 2025. His novels have appeared on all the major bestseller lists and have won or been shortlisted for Edgar, Anthony, Strand, Macavity, and ThrillerFest awards, among others. Chris worked in publishing for nearly two decades and ghost-wrote a couple of nonfiction books.

Among other things, Chris and Carter discuss working in publishing in New York City in the early 90s, why the first page of your manuscript is so important, and how a move to Luxembourg inspired Chris’s first novel. At the end of their conversation, they make up an emotional story using a line from Jeffrey Konvitz’s The Circus of Satan.

“(The CIA) redacted my height and weight. I kid you not—they redacted the color of the sky.” —I.S. Berry

I.S. Berry spent six years as an operations officer for the CIA, serving in wartime Baghdad and elsewhere. She has lived and worked throughout Europe and the Middle East, including two years in Bahrain during the Arab Spring. I.S. Berry is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, International Association of Crime Writers, and the Association of Former Intelligence Officers.

Among other things, Carter and I.S. discuss I.S. 's experiences with foreign affairs and her path to the CIA, writing a memoir to make sense of her experiences, and playing around with pacing and action in your novels. At the end of their conversation, they make up a suspenseful story using a line from Wendy Walker’s Blade.

“He’s psychotic, you know. That really messed me up… but I think it was good to do—to delve into what is the point of view of someone who’s psychotic.” – Kika Dorsey

Kika Dorsey is an author and an English lecturer at the University of Colorado, Boulder. While finishing her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, she performed her poetry with musicians and artists. She currently writes and publishes fiction and ghostwrites fiction and nonfiction books and articles. Her poems have been published in The Denver Quarterly and The Columbia Review, among numerous others. She is the author of four poetry collections and has won the Colorado Authors’ League Award.

Among other things, Kika and Carter discuss the reality of making money as an author, writing unreliable narrators, and why it can be so challenging to get an agent nowadays. At the end of their conversation, they make up a beautiful story using a line from Angie Kim’s Happiness Falls.

“I wrote the first book to try and give my mother comfort and closure. But halfway through, I realized—I wasn't just telling her story anymore. I was telling mine.” – Casey Sherman

Casey Sherman is a New York Times Bestselling Author of 13 books including The Finest Hours (now a major motion picture starring Casey Affleck & Chris Pine), Boston Strong (the basis for the film Patriots Day starring Mark Wahlberg), Animal & Hunting Whitey. Sherman is a contributing writer for TIME, Esquire, Washington Post, Boston Herald and Boston Magazine and has appeared as a guest an analyst on more than 100 television news programs.

Among other things, Casey and Carter discuss Casey’s personal inspiration behind his decades-long investigation into the Boston Strangler case, his approach to investigative journalism for his non-fiction works, and his involvement in Peacock’s recent documentary on the Boston Strangler. At the end of their conversation, they make up a fascinating story using a line from Ben Macintyre’s Operation Mincemeat.

“Is it a good idea that I write in both horror and spy thrillers? No. I think it’s a crap idea. But Hollywood really loves the spy stories.” —Alma Katsu

Alma Katsu is a NYT bestselling author whose books have been nominated for and won multiple awards including the Stoker, Goodreads Readers Choice, and International Thriller Writers, among others, and appeared on numerous Best Books lists. She has over 30 years’ experience as an intelligence professional at CIA and NSA, and has written two spy novels. The Hunger was named one of NPR’s 100 favorite horror stories and was on numerous Best Books of the Year lists. Her first book, The Taker, was named one of the top ten debut novels of 2011 by Booklist.

Among other things, Alma and Carter discuss the pre-publication review process within the CIA, writing in two different genres, and having your book optioned for film/TV. At the end of their conversation, they make up a fast-paced story using a line from Carlene O’Connor’s You Have Gone Too Far.

“You’re trying to beat on these doors in the publishing world… and suddenly this door you didn’t even know was there opens up and says, ‘Hey, come in.’”
—Andrew Bourelle

Andrew Bourelle is the critically-acclaimed author of Shot Clock, 48 Hours to Kill, and Heavy Metal, as well as a coauthor with James Patterson of the Rory Yates series. Publishers Weekly described him as “a writer to watch”. He teaches creative writing at the University of New Mexico.

Among other things, Andrew and Carter discuss referencing cinema and tv when teaching writing, why you should always be working on your next project, and working with James Patterson. At the end of their conversation, they make up a suspenseful story using a line from C.J. Box’s Battle Mountain.

“The whole concept of working together started when we were in a writer's room—a Hollywood production company writer's room—and we learned how to create cliffhangers.” – Christina Baker Kline

Christina Baker Kline is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, including Orphan Train, The Exiles, Please Don’t Lie (with Anne Burt), and the forthcoming The Foursome (May 2026). Published in more than 40 countries, her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, among others.

Anne Burt is the coauthor of the thriller Please Don't Lie. Anne’s debut novel, The Dig, was an American Booksellers' Association Indie Next pick and the Strand Bookstore's mystery selection of the month. Her essays and fiction have appeared in numerous publications including Salon and NPR, and she is a past winner of Meridian’s Editors’ Prize in Fiction.

Among other things, Christina, Anne, and Carter discuss how their friendship and writing relationship formed, trying to write with a unified voice in a co-authored novel, and balancing thriller “tropes” with realistic plots. At the end of their conversation, they make up a descriptive story using a line from Wendy Walker’s Blade.