Ted Galdi is an Amazon #1 bestselling thriller author. He’s been featured by Kirkus magazine, ABC, FOX, iHeartRadio, and many other media outlets. Galdi is a winner of a Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award and a silver medalist in the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards.
For a free book, visit his website.
Latest book release – Black Quiet
A former Special Forces commando takes justice into his own hands after a ruthless gang beats his brother into a coma. Available for Kindle, including Unlimited, paperback, and audio – get your copy.
Why do you write in the genre(s) that you do?
I grew up a big fan of crime-thriller movies and gravitated toward that genre when I started writing books. The genre lends itself to fast-paced, high-stakes stories, which a lot of readers are, of course, into. It also lends itself to weighty themes about things like morality, guilt, and the law.
Crime thrillers have the potential to be page-turning stories that also comment on human nature in an interesting way. I find that combination cool.
Do you keep a notebook of ideas?
I don’t have a physical notebook, but I do use the Notes app on my phone a lot at all sorts of places.
If I have an idea, I pop it into there, just a sentence or two. I try not to pay too much attention to the details at that stage. Then, when I sit down to write, I’ll work out the specifics.
Sometimes I’ll have an idea that has nothing to do with the current book I’m writing but a totally different story. Those go in the Notes app too.
Not all of these ideas eventually make it into my books. Sometimes, after you put more thought into them, they don’t quite fit. But I still think it’s good to get any ideas written down. Phones make it really easy.
Fill in the blank: People will like your book if they like stories about…”
Main characters going on dangerous adventures for things they really believe in.
What are your thoughts on typewriters?
The noises they make are pretty sweet. And a lot of them look awesome. Computers don’t have as much personality, but they do make so much of the things a writer does easier. Maybe someone can invent a hybrid. That can either be great or ridiculous. I haven’t decided yet.
Would you rather own a bookstore or run a library?
Both – I can steal the library’s books and sell them out of my trunk. This is what happens when you write crime thrillers – you can’t help but see these angles.
How do you name your characters? Or, if you write non-fiction and had to change names, how did you change the names?
I go for names that are realistic within the world of the story. What culture is the character part of? Where did he or she grow up? What was the socioeconomic situation there? How old is the person? What are the character’s parents like?
A 25-year-old dude in modern-day Malibu probably isn’t going to have the name Ebeneezer.
How many words or pages do you typically write in one writing session?
Before I even start on a first draft, I put together an outline with a concept for each chapter. This makes the chapter writing go faster.
It also cuts down on editing time. Since you already know what the major pieces of the story are, something likely isn’t going to come up toward the end that forces you to go back and rewrite 50% of the beginning.
On a first draft, I aim for 2,000 words a day. This isn’t always doable, but it’s the target.
What do you like to read? How often do you read?
I read quite a bit in the genre I write in, modern crime thrillers, which shouldn’t be surprising. But I like plenty of genres. Literary fiction from the second half of the 20th century is something I’ve always enjoyed. I read a decent amount of non-fiction books too.
I read pretty often. I also watch a lot of movies, across a bunch of genres.
Have you made any public appearances to promote your book?
Yes. Three days a week, I hang out in the parking lot at my local grocery store and yell at passing people to buy my books. It’s not going well.
Is there a book that somebody gave to you that helped you pave the way to becoming a writer, or is there a book on writing that you recommend all writers read?
I’ve read quite a few books on writing. A lot of the ideas in them are reflected in a free online writing course I put together a few months ago. If you’re interested, you can check it out here.
Once you enroll in the class, you can download a PDF with a list of recommended books.
Though I write thrillers, the course is designed for any genre in fiction or narrative non-fiction, for authors and screenwriters.
Buy it!
Buy a copy of Elixir, one of Galdi’s earlier novels, here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
Is there a piece of writing advice that you learned in school or in a class that stuck?
There’s a lot of good information out there. I tried to get as much of it as possible into my online courses.
One helpful piece of advice is to give the hero of your story a “want” and a “need.” The want is the external goal the hero is after, while the need is an internal emotional issue the character must address to lead a better life.
For example, a character’s want might be to win a car race, while his need is to overcome his abandonment issues from childhood.
How do you measure the success of your book?
Reader sentiment is a big factor for me. Sometimes I’ll get emails from people telling me what they liked in a book. That’s always great. It lets you know your story resonated with someone, which is ultimately what you’re after.
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