Learn how to write a psychological thriller that sustains tension. Explore domestic suspense and Southern Gothic story structure with real examples.

I've been working on a new project for quite some time and now I'm ready to share it. Since I essentially have two careers, teacher and writer, why not combine my teaching experience and my writing experience into something to help others. This is where my idea for writing guides began. Let me introduce you to: The Wright Side of Dark Guides. A set of workbooks: Domestic Thriller, Romantic Thriller, and Southern Gothic.

If you’re here, I’m guessing psychological thriller books speak to you in a way other stories don’t. Not because of jump scares. Not because of shocking twists meant to impress. But because of the slow tension. The unease. The quiet sense that something isn’t quite right, even when everything looks normal on the surface. A place where secrets linger. We’re the readers who don’t just want a plot. We want to understand people. We want to sit inside a mind that’s unraveling and

Greetings from my she-shed It’s been a while since I’ve written here, and if you’ve followed me for any length of time, you probably know...

Below you will find short video clips that will help get you started on writing your first psychological thriller.

The character in the last post was Kevan Renee, the main character.   Character #6     CherAnn:  Can you describe your childhood and...

If you guessed the evil Clyde in the last posted interview, you would be correct. He’s hard to mistake.   Character #5     CherAnn: Can...

If you guessed Marge for yesterday’s character, you would be correct.   Character #4     CherAnn:  What major events or experiences have...

Here is the answer to yesterday’s interview with a character. If you guessed Nathan, you were correct.   Character #3   CherAnn: Can you...

Here is the answer to yesterday’s character interview:  Dorothy. Congratulations if you guessed correctly!     Character Interview #2    ...

Character #1     CherAnn: How do you perceive yourself? Do you think others see you the same way?   Character #1: I believe I'm a person...

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I will be providing you with some insight into the characters of "Where Secrets Stay" and the...

Here is a very short teaser. If you're not already following me on Instagram or Facebook, be sure you do; I'll post more teasers there....

My Road To Get Here Let me first say Hello for those of you that I've never met in person, but hope that I will have the pleasure of...

In the original manuscript of my novel, "Where Secrets Stay," the story unfolds quite differently than it does in the final version of...

Remnants of daylight sluggishly hangs on as the moon above competes, casting a bluish glow. It’s the perfect time of day for Jax to...

A heart-jolting knock on the front door invades Charlie’s Thursday evening lounge in the recliner as he watches his weekly TV show....

The Illusional Crow I open my mouth, wanting to scream, but the dark one enters and steals the sound before it can escape. Shadows move along the walls of the dim room, shaped by the flames in the fireplace. Young Sarah squeezes my hand until my fingertips grow cold and numb. A foul smell seeps into my nostrils, swallowing the scent of the pot roast burning in the oven. Something terrible is coming. It always does when he arrives. The dark one. The one whose eyes shift when h