Finding the Thrill: On Morally Gray Characters, Building Suspense, and Finding Persistence as a Writer with Jessica Clem

In this episode, we discuss the grueling, beautiful, and ultimately rewarding journey of bringing a debut novel into the world. Jessica Clem is the debut author of the domestic thriller This Never Happened. She shares her multi-year journey through rejection and rewrites, how she uses her background in user experience (UX) design to approach editing, and the unique blend of smut, murder, and poetry that makes up her new novel. Plus, we discuss the power of community, writing unlikable and morally gray characters, and how she approaches building suspense in her work.  Show Notes & Links HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS Cornelius Eady at the Loft (Nov 20): https://loft.org/events/cornelius-eady-author-talk-reading-conversation-2026-mcknight-judge-poetry-and-spoken-word Year-Long Writing Projects at the Loft (registration now open): https://loft.org/year-long-writing-projects Loft Writing Network: https://loft-lit.circle.so/Loft-Writing-Network BOOKS TO PURCHASE This Never Happened by Jessica Clem: https://books2read.com/u/mdeKkW Send us a voice note about the podcast Support the Loft Support Our Community: Become a Friend of the Loft: https://loft.org/join-support Join the Loft's free Digital Community, the Loft Writing Network: https://loft-lit.circle.so/Loft-Writing-Network