Resources
Welcome to my curated collection of books, tools, and the best resources for writers that have shaped my writing journey. As someone with degrees in both Forensic Psychology and English, I’ve selected these based on their practical value for writers, especially those interested in psychological depth, character development, and authentic storytelling.
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Table of Contents
Essential Reading
Writing Craft
On Writing
by Stephen King
A mix of memoir and masterclass where King shares his writing journey alongside practical advice on craft, style, and persistence.
Story
by Robert McKee
A deep dive into the principles of storytelling and narrative structure, used by screenwriters and novelists to shape compelling stories.
The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White
A timeless classic on clarity, brevity, and writing with precision.
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
A step-by-step breakdown of story beats tailored for novelists.
Creativity
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Exposes the invisible force of resistance and how to overcome it.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
A funny, candid meditation on the writing life and finding creative flow.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Encourages a fearless, joyful approach to living a creative life.
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
Shows how borrowing, remixing, and reimagining ideas fuels originality.
Psychology
The Psychopath Test
by Jon Ronson
A witty investigation into psychopathy and how society labels “madness.”
The Writer’s Guide to Psychology
by Carolyn Kaufman
Breaks down complex psychological concepts into accessible explanations, helping writers create authentic characters without falling into clichés.
The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene
A sweeping guide to understanding hidden motives, power dynamics, and why people behave the way they do.
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
A powerful exploration of resilience and purpose through psychology and lived experience, showing how meaning shapes survival and growth.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks
Fascinating case studies that reveal the mysteries of the human brain.
Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Explains the psychology of optimal experience and deep concentration.
Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini
A classic on the principles of influence and human behavior.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
Reveals how our brains use two systems of thought, shaping every decision we make.
Forensic Psychology
Forensic Psychology For Dummies
by David Canter
An approachable guide to the field, covering criminal profiling, courtroom psychology, and the psychology of offenders.
Inside the Criminal Mind
by Stanton Samenow
A classic text exploring the thought patterns and behavior of criminals, dispelling myths about what drives crime.
Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit
by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker
A gripping look inside the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, revealing how criminal profiling was developed to catch the world’s most dangerous killers.
Behind the Murder Curtain by Bruce Sackman, Michael Vecchione, Jerry Schmetterer
A chilling true account of how a VA inspector uncovered serial killers hiding in hospitals, exposing the dark world of medical murderers.
The Anatomy of Violence by Adrian Raine
Explores the biological and psychological roots of violent crime.
Criminal Behavior: A Psychological Approach by Curt & Anne Bartol
A comprehensive academic text on criminal psychology.
Police Procedure & Investigation: A Guide for Writers by Lee Lofland
An insider’s guide to the realities of law enforcement, offering writers accurate details on investigations, arrests, and crime scene work straight from a veteran detective.
Forensics: A Guide for Writers by D.P. Lyle
A comprehensive guide to crime scene science, showing writers how real forensic techniques, from fingerprints to autopsies, can bring authenticity to their stories.
Personal Growth
Atomic Habits by James Clear
A practical system for building and sustaining life-changing habits.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
A foundational book on personal and professional growth.
Mindset by Carol Dweck
Explains the power of adopting a growth mindset to unlock potential.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
A spiritual and psychological guide to living in the present moment.
Crime Fiction
The Silence of The Lambs by Thomas Harris
The iconic psychological thriller featuring Hannibal Lecter.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
A twisty, modern thriller exploring marriage, lies, and manipulation.
In the Woods by Tana French
A literary psychological mystery about memory, trauma, and crime.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
A dark mystery blending corporate corruption and psychological intrigue.
True Crime
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
A chilling reconstruction of a Kansas family murder that pioneered narrative nonfiction.
Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi
The definitive account of the Manson murders and trial.
The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
A gripping memoir of knowing and reporting on serial killer Ted Bundy.
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
A captivating blend of history and crime following serial killer H.H. Holmes during the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
Philosophy
Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche
A provocative challenge to morality and conventional thought.
Being and Nothingness by Jean-Paul Sartre
Existentialist philosophy exploring freedom and responsibility.
Critical Thinking
Superforecasting by Philip Tetlock
Shows how expert forecasters think differently to predict outcomes.
The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan
A defense of science and skepticism against pseudoscience.
How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler
A guide to deep reading, comprehension, and analysis.
Writing Tools & Software
Writing Software
ProWriting Aid
An advanced editing tool for grammar, readability, and style that doubles as a writing coach.
Coming Soon!
Scrivener
The ultimate long-form writing software, perfect for organizing novels, screenplays, and research.
Listening Resources
Listening Products
Kindle Paperwhite + Audible Sync
Switch seamlessly between reading and listening with Amazon’s Whispersync technology.
Web Services
Elementor
A drag-and-drop builder for designing custom WordPress pages with no coding required.
Coming Soon!
Kit
An intuitive, AI-driven email marketing platform that helps creators build, automate, and personalize campaigns without the complexity of traditional marketing tools.
My Published Works
Deadly Sins
A gripping anthology that dives into the psychology of temptation, guilt, and morality, exploring what drives people to cross the line between virtue and vice.
Story Prompts: Romance
A collection of heartfelt and imaginative prompts designed to spark passion, tension, and authentic emotion in every love story you write.
Story Prompts: Comedy
A playful set of humor-driven prompts to help writers craft witty dialogue, clever scenarios, and stories that leave readers laughing out loud.
Story Prompts: Horror
A chilling toolkit of dark and eerie prompts meant to awaken your imagination and tap into the deepest psychological fears behind every great horror tale.
Upcoming Works
8-Bit
What if an 8-bit game held the key to solving a real-life murder? My upcoming novel, 8-Bit, is a techno-thriller about a video game streamer uncovering a chilling link between an 8-bit game and a real-life murder, racing against time to prevent another death.
The Devil's Disciple
Just when you think things couldn’t get worse, your family faces an unimaginable tragedy. My next novella, The Devil’s Disciple, will explore the Faustian bargain in a new way. A decorated NYPD detective who sells his soul to protect his family, only to uncover a chilling connection to a cold case involving a missing teenage girl.
Free Resources
20 Non-Fiction Prompts
I’ve created a free downloadable guide with 20 personal writing prompts to help you build your non-fiction writing habit. They’re perfect whether you want to journal, blog, or simply explore your own story in private.
Newsletter
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