Where Character Serves the Plot: Writing Like a “Gardener” with Lisa Unger

Chapter Chat sits down with New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger to talk thrillers and the creative process behind them. Unger shares why she’s a writing “gardener,” letting stories evolve on the page instead of relying on detailed outlines, and how plot flows from character in her work. She also dives into the research that fuels her suspense, the mix of luck and hard work behind publishing success, and why she believes “failure is the norm” (and nothing to fear). Plus: a candid conversation about introverts and extroverts, and how different personality types help society and storytelling flourish.