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What happens when a nightmare turns into a full-blown thriller novel?

This week on Margs & Manuscripts, we’re joined by Calvin Naraghi, indie author of House Rules, to talk all things thriller writing, horror inspiration, and the very unhinged ways authors come up with ideas.

From waking up in a cold sweat with a fully formed plot to building stories around music and cinematic moments, Calvin walks us through his creative process—and why horror writers might actually be the nicest people you’ll ever meet.

We also get into:

•  The difference between horror vs. thriller vs. psychological thriller
•  Writing plot twists and unreliable narrators
•  Why dark stories can actually be… fun?? 
•  Turning ideas into books (without telling anyone you’re trying 👀) 
•  The reality of indie publishing + social media growth
•  And yes… the absolutely unhinged Google search histories required to write these books 

If you’ve ever wondered how thriller writers come up with their ideas, this one’s for you.

In This Episode

•  How a nightmare became a published thriller 
•  Horror vs. thriller: what’s the difference? 
•  Writing plot twists that actually work 
•  The appeal of unreliable narrators 
•  Indie author marketing + social media tips 
•  Building a story from music and cinematic scenes 
•  Why horror writers are (surprisingly) the happiest people 

About Calvin Naraghi

Calvin Naraghi is an indie thriller author known for his cinematic, twist-driven storytelling. His books blend psychological suspense, horror elements, and high-stakes mystery, with stories that keep readers guessing until the very end.

Links + Resources

•  Follow Calvin on Instagram: @calvinnaraghi_writer
•  Shop his books
•  Join his newsletter

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•  Share the episode with your writing besties 🖤