What is the title of your latest release?
WHEN THEY FIND ME
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
One day I found myself thinking about home invasions, because that’s how my thriller-writing brain works. I started wondering what would happen if a group of home invaders had a specific target in mind but broke into the wrong house. Then I thought, what if the people in that house were actually scarier than the invaders? That got my pulse going. From there, I wanted to trap everyone together, so I added a blizzard and set the story two days before Christmas. I don’t outline, so I didn’t know what would happen after that, but I knew I had the setup for WHEN THEY FIND ME.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I knew I was going to make up the location, and I knew it had to be somewhere remote and isolated in the middle of winter. So I chose my home state of Colorado, a place I rarely write about but knew was perfect for this story. I even knew the population before I knew much else about the town. That’s how I created Expanse, Colorado, population 313.
Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
Absolutely, but Annie is a little bit scary. She’s not particularly social, and she’s wary of any stranger in her presence, so it would take a long time to build trust with her. I’d still hang out with her. I’m just not sure we’d have much to talk about.
What are three words that describe your hero?
I’m not sure I would necessarily consider Annie a hero, but three words that describe her: resilient, relentless, devoted.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
This was the first time I’d written a book that takes place over such a short period of time, in this case only five hours. Because I don’t outline, about halfway through I started worrying that I wouldn’t have enough story. But I just kept asking myself: What happens next? What happens next? What happens next? Lo and behold, I ended up with a full manuscript without much trouble. I learned that a story can take place over a very short period of time and still have a fully fleshed-out beginning, middle, and end.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I resist editing as I draft because I think it can become an excuse not to move forward, and sometimes it’s a hallmark of fear. I’d rather plow ahead and get the story down. I will go back and reread what I’ve written from time to time, mostly to remind myself what I put in there, but the real editing comes later.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
If we’re talking about a foodie indulgence in terms of going out of my way to make something special, I’ll spend days making beef Wellington for Christmas dinner. If we’re talking about something I simply can’t resist, it’s Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Therapy.
Describe your writing space/office!
I have to get out of the house to write, so I go to the same Starbucks every day and sit in the same chair. I’m there for one hour. That’s my writing routine: one hour a day, seven days a week.
Who is an author you admire?
So many. I read everything from thrillers to literary fiction to nonfiction, but nonfiction tends to blow me away. All that research, all the fact-checking, and then the ability to turn it into a story that can be as pulse-pounding as a thriller. If I had to choose one author, I’d say Ben Macintyre. To me, he’s the benchmark for great nonfiction.
Is there a book that changed your life?
I’m not sure a book has changed my life, but Cormac McCarthy’s THE ROAD changed the way I think about how words work. When I read it, the words almost seemed to disappear and what was left was this incredible mood, created through fragmented sentences, run-on sentences, and words I didn’t even know. Somehow, it all worked. His writing is so lyrical that it feels like something beyond simply stringing words together.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published). Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
WHEN THEY FIND ME is my eleventh published novel, and it’s still a thrill every time my publisher wants something new I’ve written. But I specifically remember the call from my agent about my first book selling back in 2011. We’d gone through three full manuscripts that never sold and eight years of waiting. It was a tiny advance from a tiny publisher, but hearing that somebody was finally willing to take a chance on my work is etched in my memory.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
I’m going to have to say nonfiction. I read a ton of thrillers and love the genre, but my nighttime pleasure reading is usually nonfiction. It could be anything from the voyages of Captain Cook to true espionage stories to something like THE FEATHER THIEF. I’m constantly amazed by how bizarre real life can be.
What’s your favorite movie?
Picking a favorite anything is incredibly difficult for me, so I think about it this way: What movie could come on that I couldn’t resist watching at least half an hour of, even if I’d seen it a hundred times? The answer I keep coming back to is The Shawshank Redemption.
What is your favorite season?
It has to be fall. I’m a massive Halloween guy, and every year I convert my garage into a different themed experience for trick-or-treaters. This year it’s spiders, and we’ll get about 400 kids coming through. Add in the start of football and the changing leaves, and fall is by far my favorite season.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I honestly don’t put too much thought into my birthday, and many years I find myself traveling during it. But as long as I get a chance to spend time with my partner and at least FaceTime with my kids, I’m a happy man.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I finally got around to reading Clemence Michallon’s debut novel, THE QUIET TENANT, and I was completely enthralled by it. Clemence has such a natural storytelling voice, which is an incredibly difficult thing to achieve. Writing never feels like it’s trying to impress you. It just pulls you into the story.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Has to be Mexican. I was born in New Mexico and have a lot of family there, any my blood runs salsa red.
What do you do when you have free time?
I love lots of different things. Working out, cooking, going into the sauna, spending time with family, and, of course, constant trips to the park with my dog.
What can readers expect from you next?
My next novel, WHAT SHE MADE ME DO, comes out in August 2027. It’s about a man in his mid-thirties whose wealthy mother dies by suicide in her mansion, and he soon discovers that if he wants his inheritance, he’ll have to play an elaborate game she designed before her death. It’s a game that will test everything he thought he knew about his family, his life, and even reality itself.
Some secrets don't fade. They hunt.
Expanse, Colorado. Population 313. A town so remote it barely exists on a map—the perfect hiding place for Annie Wolfe and her daughter, Coral. Their cabin is nearly off the grid, and Annie has done everything to keep them safe. Everything. But she knows the people hunting her don't forget. And they don't forgive.
Riven knows about survival. She and her family have lived off the land for years, moving like shadows through the wilderness. Now her father has led them to this forgotten town, tracking the man he swears destroyed their lives. The plan is simple: strike fast, take revenge, and disappear.
But when Riven knocks on Annie's door, their worlds collide. What follows is darker, stranger, and more dangerous than either woman ever imagined—because the hunt isn't just for vengeance. It's for the truth. And in Expanse, Colorado, the truth can kill.
Thriller [ Poisoned Pen Press, On Sale: November 10, 2026, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781464272684 / ]
Carter Wilson is the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of eleven standalone psychological thrillers. His stories focus on ordinary people pushed into situations where survival and morality collide, and every decision has consequences. His 2025 novel Tell Me What You Didwas a national monthly pick by Barnes & Noble, and his work has been optioned for film and television. He hosts the podcast Making It Up, where he has candid, unscripted conversations with fellow authors about what it actually takes to build a writing life. He also founded Unbound Writer, where he works closely with writers through coaching, immersive retreats, and live workshops. A sought-after speaker and moderator, Carter is known for conversations that feel honest, engaging, and a little unpredictable. He lives in Erie, Colorado and travels frequently to teach, interview, and speak. To learn more please visit him on his website.
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