In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, I’m joined by Westley Smith, author of They Came at Night, to talk about blending psychological thriller and action, and how lived experience shaped the emotional core of the novel. We talk about writing characters shaped by trauma, balancing tension with restraint, and why some stories aren’t built from research alone. Westley shares how personal loss influenced his approach to story, and what he hopes readers carry with them after the final page. This conversation explores endurance, resilience, and the ways dark fiction can become a form of processing rather than escape. Westley Smith's book They Came At Night: https://a.co/d/aGFreg3 Follow Westley Smith online: https://westleysmithbooks.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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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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