Blog – Mark Posey–Crime, Thrillers, Suspense

Curl Up, Warm Up, Read On

Leave a Comment / Day of Rest, Reflections / November 24, 2025 / book lovers, books and reading, cozy reading, fireplaces, hygge, mark posey, reader life, reading rituals, Stories Rule Press, warm drinks, winter reading

There’s a particular kind of magic that happens the moment you sit down in front of a fire with a warm drink and a good book. Suddenly the to-do list fades, the world shrinks to a soft glow, and some ancient part of your brain settles in with a satisfied Yes. Good. Time to read. In that light, mysteries get twistier, romances get swoonier, and even instruction manuals start looking a little seductive. It’s the universal ritual of readers everywhere — curl up, warm up, read on.

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A Thanksgiving State of Mind

Leave a Comment / Reflections / November 17, 2025 / authors life, Canadian author, creative life, Edmonton writers, gratitude, gratitude practice, holiday traditions, holidays, mark posey, Reflection, seasonal post, Thanksgiving, writing life, YEGbooks, YEGwriters

Thanksgiving comes twice a year when you straddle both sides of the border — one quieter, one a full-blown production. But whether it’s turkey, pasta, or chili dogs, the heart of it never changes. Gratitude isn’t about the meal or the decor. It’s about the people at your table — literal and metaphorical — and remembering how lucky we are to have them.

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The Quietest Moments Are the Scariest

Leave a Comment / Other Thrillers, Suspense / November 10, 2025 / Alfred Hitchcock, character-driven suspense, cinematic tension, Fall From Grace, fear and tension, mark posey, psychological suspense, quiet moments, Saving Grace, storytelling, suspense, Thomas Billings, thriller fiction, thriller writing, writing craft, writing tips

Big explosions are fun, but they’re not what makes a thriller truly terrifying. The real fear hides in the silence—the still moments when nothing’s happening, yet you know something’s about to. From No Country for Old Men to Saving Grace, Mark Posey explores why quiet scenes hit harder than gunfire—and why the pause before the door opens is the scariest sound of all.

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How to Disappear in Plain Sight (Without a Q Branch Budget)

Leave a Comment / Other Thrillers / November 3, 2025 / Alias TV series, Angelina Jolie, Captain America The Winter Soldier, character development, disguises, espionage, Fall From Grace, Jason Bourne, Lisbeth Salander, mark posey, Natasha Romanoff, Salt movie, spy fiction, suspense, The Americans, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, thriller authors, thriller writing, writing craft, writing tips

Disappearing isn’t about vanishing—it’s about confidence. From Angelina Jolie’s cool-headed makeover in Salt to Natasha Romanoff’s mall-date sleight of hand, the best spies don’t run; they blend. In fiction, that kind of composure is thrilling to watch—and in Fall From Grace, Thomas Billings is about to need every trick in the book.

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Back in the Trenches: Fall From Grace Begins

Leave a Comment / My Books / October 27, 2025 / action thriller, betrayals, chases, conspiracy thriller, continuing series, espionage, Establishment, Fall From Grace, Grace Washington, high stakes, London, mark posey, new book, political thriller, Saving Grace, series update, the Queen, Thomas Billings, thriller, work in progress, writing update

Back in the trenches: I’ve started writing Fall From Grace, Book 2 in the Thomas Billings thrillers. Thomas and Grace head to London for an audience with the Queen—then get yanked into Establishment crosshairs. Expect chases, betrayals, and the kind of moral gray that leaves even “good guys” guessing.

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The Hazeldean Artisan Market—Wait, When?

Leave a Comment / My Books, News / October 20, 2025 / Alberta writers, author events, book signing, community events, Edmonton markets, Hazeldean Artisan Market, local authors, mark posey, Stories Rule Press, time travel humor, writing life, YEGarts, YEGbooks, YEGmarkets4

Mark reflects on the strange physics of author life—writing about the Hazeldean Artisan Market before it happens, even though you’re reading about it after the fact. Between the smell of coffee, glitter-covered tables, and fellow creatives, he celebrates the timeless joy of connecting with readers and fellow artisans (and maybe bending the space-time continuum just a little).

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Five Thrillers That Ruined Me (in the Best Way Possible)

Leave a Comment / Other Thrillers / October 13, 2025 / author insights, book recommendations, classic thrillers, David Morrell, Dean Koontz, mark posey, must read thrillers, Peter Benchley, psychological thrillers, Robert Ludlum, Stephen King, storytelling, suspense fiction, thrillers, writing inspiration

Mark Posey shares the five thrillers that rewired his brain — from First Blood to Cujo, these are the books that taught him how to build tension, twist morality, and keep readers one heartbeat away from panic.

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Confessions of a Sadistic Author

Leave a Comment / My Books / October 6, 2025 / Billings, character development, conflict in fiction, Fall From Grace, fiction tips, Jacobine series, mark posey, readers and writers, sadistic author, Sister Jacobine, storytelling, tension in fiction, Thomas Billings, thriller writing, thrillers, writing craft

Why do authors put their characters through hell? Because without conflict, there’s no story. In Confessions of a Sadistic Author, Mark explains why Jacobine, Billings, and the rest of his cast are constantly battered and bruised — and why their scars make them unforgettable.

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So, You’ve Spoken (and I’m Listening… Mostly)

Leave a Comment / My Books / September 29, 2025 / action thrillers, assassin stories, book series updates, Credible Threat, Fall From Grace, mark posey, reader votes, Sister Jacobine, spy thrillers, suspense fiction, Thomas Billings, thriller fiction, upcoming releases, writing schedule

The votes are in, the ballots counted, and my writing schedule is now set—thanks to all of you. Fall From Grace is up first (yes, Thomas Billings is about to get shoved off an emotional cliff). Next comes Sister Jacobine #7—because apparently six books of bullets, assassins, and bad coffee weren’t enough for you. And finally, Credible Threat, Season 2 rounds things out. I’ll admit, I briefly considered ignoring the results and writing a cookbook instead—“101 Ways to Kill a Man With Kitchen Utensils” still has a nice ring to it—but you spoke, and I’m listening. Mostly.

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Jacobine vs. Billings: Who’s More Fun to Torture?

Leave a Comment / My Books / September 22, 2025 / author blog, character torture, CIA spook, dark humor, Jacobine, mark posey, nun thriller, reader poll, suspense characters, Thomas Billings, thriller writing, writing process

One of the perks of writing thrillers is getting to torture characters. Jacobine makes me work harder—she’s deadly, clever, and never blinks. Billings, though, is convinced he’s in control…until the floor drops. Who’s more fun to torment: the nun with a gun, or the cocky spook?

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Back to School: The 1970s Edition

Leave a Comment / Reflections / September 15, 2025 / 1970s nostalgia, back to school memories, childhood memories, growing up in the 70s, Holly Hobbie, humor, personal essay, pop culture 1970s, retro school supplies, school days nostalgia, Star Wars lunchbox, Trapper Keeper, vintage lunchboxes

Remember when back-to-school meant fresh pencils, leaky lunchbox thermoses, and polyester outfits instead of Chromebooks and checkout lines? In the 1970s, September was pure chaos and excitement—and we wouldn’t trade it for today’s tech.

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Help Me Decide What to Write Next

Leave a Comment / My Books / September 8, 2025 / Credible Threat, Fall From Grace, indie author, Jacobine stories, mark posey, reader choice, reader poll, Saving Grace sequel, season two, spy fiction, suspense fiction, The Seventh Sister, Thomas Billings, thrillers, writing life

Mark’s got three thrilling projects fighting for attention in his brain—another Jacobine adventure, a high-octane Billings sequel, or a brand-new season of Credible Threat. He’s throwing the decision to readers: which story should he dive into next?

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