On today's 182nd episode of The Thriller Zone, host David Temple interviews #1 International bestselling author John Katzenbach about his book Jack's Boys.

They discuss the nature of storytelling in thrillers and the importance of creating complete and psychologically attuned characters. Katzenbach also shares how his experience as a criminal court reporter influenced his fiction writing. John also talks about growing up in the shadow of his father, former US Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, and how it shaped his perspective on government and history.

The conversation touches on various topics, including the making of three of John's books that were made into the movies: THE MEAN SEASON, starring Kurt Russell and Mariel Hemingway, JUST CAUSE, starring Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburne and Ed Harris; and HART'S WAR, starring Bruce Willis and Colin Farrell.

David and John discuss other topics such as the impact of climate change in Miami, some of their favorite movies and movie stars, plus the inspiration behind the story, Jack's Boys, the importance of accuracy in thrillers, and the differences in reader reactions across different cultures.

Finally, the two men touch on the use of references to music and films in Katzenbach's writing, and their conversation ends with Katzenbach sharing his advice for writers.

Learn more at JohnKatzenbach.com, TheThrillerZone.com and be sure to subscribe to YouTube.com/thethrillerzone, as well as follow this podcast on X, Instagram and Facebook @thethrillerzone.

The Story Factory is an entertainment company representing some of the best authors in the business.

On today's 181st episode of The Thriller Zone, host David Temple interviews New York Times Bestselling author Eric Rickstad about his book "Lilith."

Lilith explores the theme of school shootings and the emotional impact on the victims and their families. Mr. Rickstad discusses his background as a writer and the influences that shaped his storytelling style. He also shares his thoughts on writing series versus standalone novels and the challenges of addressing previous events in a series.

The conversation delves into the inspiration behind Lilith and the societal issues it addresses, including gun violence and the politicization of tragedies.

In this episode, Temple talks to Eric about the themes of gun violence, mental health, and the role of women in society. Rickstad explains how the character of Lilith, the first wife of Adam, serves as a metaphor for women's struggle for autonomy and the myth of violence in America.

Rickstad wraps by sharing his writing advice, emphasizing the importance of consistency and trusting the creative process.

To order your copy of Lilith, and to learn more about Rick, visit: Rickstad.com

As always, be sure to join The Thriller Zone Podcast via our website: TheThrillerZone.com, FOLLOW us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook @thethrillerzone. You can also listen to the podcast on ALL Podcast Channels, as well as watch the show on YouTube.com/thethrillerzone

The Story Factory is an entertainment company representing some of the best authors in the business.

On today’s 180th episode of The Thriller Zone, host David Temple interviews film director and debut author James Cox about his breakout hit novel, Grand Theft AI.

The conversation covers Cox's background in directing, his influences, and the process of writing the book. They discuss the cyberpunk landscape of the story, the immersive technology called Wetwire, and the future history of the world.

Cox also shares his passion for detail and authenticity in science fiction and the blending of reality and fiction in his work, and shares how he explores the themes of artificial intelligence (AI), human-machine interaction, the impact of AI on labor, and the ownership and control of AI technology.

David and James discuss the novel, which focuses on people trying to navigate a world that has been accelerated by AI, and emphasize how the fear of AI rising up and the idea of machines becoming self-aware and human-like are intriguing.

The conversation concludes with the importance of relationships in thrillers, the role of music in storytelling, and the challenges of building an online presence as a writer.

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• (00:03) - Introduction
• (06:34) - Meeting Shane Salerno
• (18:20) - Inspiration for Grand Theft AI
• (21:54) - The Process of Writing
• (25:30) - Evolution into a Novel
• (26:35) - Screenplay to Prose Transformation
• (28:04) - Painting Future History
• (29:30) - Reality and Accelerated Innovation
• (34:09) - Technology: Good and Harm Perspectives
• (35:07) - Impacts of AI on Employment
• (37:48) - Ownership and Control of AI
• (41:42) - Writing Advice and Process
• (43:02) - Future History and Genre Preferences
• (45:40) - Directing and Collaborating in the Industry
• (48:57) - Serialization and Story Structure
• (50:52) - Relationship Dynamics and Technology
• (56:27) - Influence of Music and Soundtracks
• (58:06) - Online Presence and Branding
• (59:53) - Book Pre-order Details and Release Date

The Story Factory is an entertainment company representing some of the best authors in the business.