What happens when a real encounter sparks the opening of a psychological thriller? In this episode, USA Today bestselling author Melissa F. Miller explains how she built Cut Off from Sky and Earth around memory, trauma, and the dangerous weight of past relationships. We get into how she blended the feel of a fairy tale with a tense, grounded narrative, why she stepped away from legal thrillers for this story, and how she writes three POVs without outlining. With more than fifty books behind her, Melissa shares the instincts she trusts, the tension she chases, and the character choices that shaped this novel. If you’re writing psychological suspense or juggling multiple POVs, this episode is packed with takeaways. Melissa F. Miller's book Cut Off From Sky and Earth: https://a.co/d/c5VEcU6 Follow Melissa F. Miller online: https://melissafmiller.com/ Join the After Show on Patreon and get early access to episodes, bonus after-show segments with guests, and my free novella Cognitive Breach. You’ll also be able to support the show and help me keep bringing on great thriller authors. https://patreon.com/markpjnadon Today's Sponsor Mark P.J. Nadon's novels including his psychological action tech thriller, The Genesis Project: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers Authors: Want to be a guest? Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon: • https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/ Follow on Social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

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