Expanse, Colorado. A mountain town at 7,000 feet. Population 313. Most of them are hiding from something.
Including Annie Wolfe and her twelve-year-old daughter, Coral.
Years ago in Miami, Annie did something she can’t outrun. Since then, she’s been waiting. New names. No friends. No social life. Homeschooling for Coral. A safe room with a steel hatch.
Two days before Christmas, her past finally catches up.
Only it’s not what she expected.
The people who show up during a blizzard aren’t there for her. A father and his two adult children. All of them on the run. They don’t think they’re fugitives. They believe they’re on a migration. Devoted to something primal. Dangerous. And they’ve come to Expanse hunting the man they believe ruined their lives.
They’ve got the wrong house.
Over the next five hours, inside a remote mountain cabin cut off by snow, only one story is going to survive.
I’m beyond thrilled to introduce you to my 11th thriller, When They Find Me. It’s out everywhere on November 10th. You’ll be hearing a lot more from me about this book, but go ahead and pre-order now! Every time you pre-order a book, an angel gets its wings (and a demon gets punched in the nuts).
New episodes of my podcast Making It Up are out! Over the past month, I chatted with:
Episode 227: Michael Kardos
Award-winning author of multiple novels and a Pushcart Prize–winning short story writer, Michael and I talked about his path from music to writing, craft books, and why writing a novel often means sitting with discomfort. We closed by making up a strange story inspired by Kristen Perrin’s How To Solve Your Own Murder.
Episode 226: Amy Meyerson
Internationally bestselling author of The Bookshop of Yesterdays, Amy and I talked about using audiobooks to sharpen your writing, being intentional with language, and her move into psychological suspense. We wrapped by making up a story inspired by Stephen Graham Jones’s Mongrels.
Episode 225: Ryan Steck & Simon Gervais
Ryan, founder of The Real Book Spy, and Simon, a former federal agent and bestselling thriller author, joined me to talk about outlining, co-writing with different voices, and writing in a second language. We ended by making up a dark story inspired by Matt Goldman’s The Murder Show.
Episode 224: Jen J. Danna
Author of multiple thriller series and a former infectious diseases researcher, Jen and I talked about the long road to writing full-time, managing a high-output schedule, and revisiting earlier work. We closed by making up a story inspired by John Jakes’s Love and War.
All episodes are available on my website, my YouTube channel, and wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Here’s where you can find me in the next couple of months! Check my website calendar for all my events and latest updates. All listed times are local.
April 24-25, 2026
Bookapalooza
Speaker/Panelist
Mooresville, North Carolina
May 5-9, 2026
Thrillerfest
Speaker/Panelist
Craftfest Instructor
New York, New York
May 26, 2026 5:30PM
In Conversation with Joshua Moehling
Tattered Cover Aspen Grove
Littleton, Colorado
June 5-7, 2026
Big Ohio Book Con
Headlining Author
Medina, Ohio
June 17, 2026 4PM-6PM
Lighthouse Lit Fest
Instructor: “Writing Thrillers”
Denver, Colorado
REVIEWS
On the Screen
I’m watching SO MUCH SHIT right now. Of course I’m reading as well, but wanted to do a rapid-fire review session of all the goodness on my screen.
Task (HBO)
I’m really enjoying this one. It’s a limited series that on paper feels familiar, but Mark Ruffalo is so good, and the cast around him elevates everything. The story leans more into emotion than action, which gives it weight and makes it a surprisingly strong watch.
Survivor Season 50 (CBS/Paramount Plus)
Have I ever told you how obsessed I am with Survivor? It’s my go-to when I want to shut my brain off, and I’ll even throw on old seasons just to relax. I thought season 50 would be total camp, and it is at times, but it’s also the most I’ve seen a cast and host genuinely enjoying themselves. Worth a watch.
Paradise (Season 2) (Hulu)
I mostly enjoyed season one of Paradise, even if a couple characters made me want to bite through sheet metal. I wasn’t sure I’d stick with season two, but it’s been a pleasant surprise, especially with some of the side stories and performances. That said, every time they cut back to certain characters, my blood still boils. If you watched season one, it’s worth continuing so far. (update since I wrote this: just watched the episode titled “Jane” and I’m back to hating this show.)
Jury Duty: Company Retreat (Prime)
This is a gem. I loved Jury Duty so much I’ve watched it twice, and this keeps that same setup where one person has no idea the whole thing is staged. This time it all plays out at a company retreat, which somehow makes it even more uncomfortable. If you love awkward, this is a must-see.
Untold: Chess Mates (Netflix)
I just watched this and loved it. It’s a tight, hour-and-fifteen-minute look at a cheating scandal that rocked the chess world, which doesn’t sound that exciting, but it really is. In the end, it reminds you that every story still comes down to people, and every story has a hero and a villain. And, in this story, anal beads.
Roof Man (Netflix)
Based on the true story of a fugitive who hid out in a Toys “R” Us, this sounds like a fun, ridiculous premise, but it goes deeper than you’d expect. Channing Tatum is fantastic, and the film ends up being more emotional than the title suggests. Not quite the light watch you might expect, but still worth it.
Photo of the Month
I was in NYC and stopped to take a photo of this ginormous stuffed cat. Then when I looked later I saw an ICE agent in the photo. Then a friend pointed out it’s just an electrical worker from an unfortunately named company. Weird picture all around.
Update from my Kids
This is a self-serving post, but my daughter was also in NYC (an unrelated trip from mine) and texted me to say she spotted my book in Strand Book Store. So prestigious!
Update from my Pets
Look. Just look at that seething rage.
Programming Note
I’ve just refreshed my website ahead of the new book, thanks to the brilliant web-development team at Xuni.com. I tend to update the look and feel with each release, and they absolutely nailed this one.
I’ve also added a new section focused on my work as a speaker, interviewer, and teacher. If you’re looking for someone for an event, workshop, or conversation, I’m now booking across all three.
Humor of the Month sent to me by a friend
I’ll be teaching The Visible Writer in person at CraftFest during ThrillerFest in New York City, and I’m also offering it as a live online workshop on May 30th if you’re not able to make it out there.
For a long time, writers were told the work should speak for itself. That idea doesn’t hold up anymore. Readers follow voices they connect with, and in a crowded, content-heavy world, what stands out is the person behind the work. The way you show up matters!
This class is about figuring out how to do that in a way that feels natural to you. We’ll talk through practical ways to build visibility without forcing it, including how to use newsletters and your website to create real connection, how to lean into conversation and curiosity to open doors, and how to get more comfortable speaking in public without sounding scripted. If you’re trying to build something long-term as a writer, this will give you a clear direction for how to show up and be seen.
May 30, 12–2pm MT. $75.
That’s it for now!
Just a reminder to subscribe to my newsletter for more content and access to contests and giveaways. Oh, and if you follow me on social media you’ll see a lot more pictures of my goddamn pets. Until next month…
