An Interview with Author Maggie Giles
- Donna Carbone
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Episode 77
What if one of the biggest obstacles to writing compelling fiction became your greatest creative strength? In this episode, we sit down with thriller author Maggie Giles to explore her unconventional path to becoming a suspense writer, why thrillers came more naturally than romance, and how years of experimenting across genres helped her discover her unique voice. Maggie also shares how she balances a full-time career with writing—and offers a fascinating look at creating immersive stories while living with aphantasia, a condition that prevents her from forming mental images. Whether you're searching for your writing voice, struggling to make time for your craft, or curious about the many ways creativity works, this conversation is packed with inspiration and practical insights you won't want to miss.
SHOW NOTES:
Bio
Writing Process
Books
Writing Life
Rapid-Fire Questions
BIO:
Maggie Giles is a Canadian author who writes suspenseful women's fiction and thrillers. Her debut novel, The Things We Lost, was named a 2023 distinguished favourite in Women's Fiction by the Independent Press Awards. Maggie is a member of the International Thriller Writers and currently works in marketing. She dove into writing a novel head first despite having aphantasia, a condition where one lacks a visual imagination. Maggie lives in Ontario with her mastiff-mix, Jolene, and spends most of her days enjoying the outdoors, from swimming to hiking to skiing in the winter. She is the author of the Twisted Truth Series, and her fourth book, The Art of Murder came out June 2025.
WRITING PROCESS
You began writing after backpacking through Europe and experimented with many genres. What was that journey like, and when did you finally feel you’d found your voice?
You’ve said you “fell into” thriller writing because it was easier to kill characters than make them fall in love. Why do thrillers feel more natural or easier for you to write?
You juggle a full-time marketing job, writing, and life outside the desk. Walk us through a typical writing day. How do you carve out and protect writing time?
You write despite having aphantasia. How do you craft vivid scenes and characters when you don’t visualize them in the usual way?
BOOKS
THE THINGS WE LOST, 2022
TWISTED, 2023
WICKED, 2025
THE ART OF MURDER, 2025
The Things We Lost, your debut in 2022 earned a Booklist starred review, Independent Press Award recognition, and other honors. How did that early recognition land for you? Did it change your approach to writing or the business side?
Twisted was your second book, tell us a little about this book, and why you decided to write a thriller for your second book, stepping away from Women’s Fiction and how did your publisher react?
Your third book, Wicked scales the series from a city crime to a nationwide pharmaceutical conspiracy. Give us a little glimpse into the plot and why did you write a sequel?
Your fourth book, The Art of Murder moves to a small town where loyalty and justice collide. Why choose a small-town setting for this moral thriller?
WRITING LIFE
You’re known for twists that keep readers guessing. Are you an outliner or a discovery writer when plotting those turns?
What does your writing life look like now? What’s next?
Based on your full time job in marketing, what is its influence on your relationship with social media?
What’s something you’ve learned the hard way?
After a reader finishes one of your books, what do you most hope they take away emotionally?
RAPID-FIRE QUESTIONS
Do you prefer writing early in the morning or late at night?
What’s your all-time favorite book?
What’s your favorite book genre to read?
Do you prefer a quiet room or some background noise while you write?
What’s your go-to snack while working on your manuscripts?
If your most recent work was adapted to film, whom would you like to play the major characters?
What’s your favorite character from one of your books?
SOURCES & LINKS
Website: https://maggiegiles.com/
Authors Talking Bookish https://www.authorstalkingbookish.com
Hope Gibbs, author of Where the Grass Grows Blue https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/
Donna Norman-Carbone, author of All That is Sacred & Of Lies and Honey https://www.donnanormancarbone.com
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