Launch your suspense story to real readers. Be one of 50 VIP founding authors.
A rebellion for writers who are done waiting for permission.
So you have a suspense story...
The kind that keeps you up at night.
The kind that could grip readers by the throat - if they ever got to see it.
Right now you have no platform, no fanbase, and no agent calling you back. You are told to build a brand, start a newsletter, post on TikTok, run Amazon ads - all before you even figure out your ending. The odds of breaking through are almost zero. The game is broken.
Suspense Club flips the table
No barriers. No fees. No fluff. Publish chapter by chapter, build a fanbase, and monetize when your story takes off. Keep your rights and prove your story works with real readers - not executives.
What Suspense Club is
- A writer-first movement led by film producer Thomas Mai.
- A free platform to post chapters and grow a fanbase.
- A path to monetize via presales, crowdfunding, and reader-powered publishing.
- A community where your rights stay yours.
What Suspense Club is not
- Not a graveyard where stories go to die.
- Not a content farm chasing quantity over quality.
- Not a monthly-fee money trap.
- Not run by bots or faceless suits.
Inspired by the Martian blueprint
Andy Weir didn’t strike gold by luck. No agent, no publisher, no industry connections - just a story and a strategy.
He released The Martian chapter by chapter for free on his site. Readers caught mistakes, begged for more, and built a fanbase of 10,000.
Then he priced it at 99¢ on Amazon. Those same fans showed up - bought it, reviewed it, shared it - and it rocketed to #1.
Publishers called. Matt Damon signed on. Ridley Scott directed. It all began with proof, one chapter at a time.
Suspense Club is your fan-building machine. No luck. No barriers. Just real readers fueling your launch.
Build proof first. Launch with traction, not hope.
Become a Writer for FREE
Not everyone gets in - and that is the point
We accept only suspense: thrillers, mysteries, crime, horror. Stories must have a killer hook. Half-finished drafts and average ideas will not pass. If your story is ready, we can take it further than you dreamed.
This is a curated platform, not a dumping ground for half-finished drafts and average ideas. If your story’s not ready, we’ll tell you. If it is, we’ll help you take it further than you thought possible.
Become a Writer for FREEAbout Me – Thomas Mai
I'm Thomas Mai, writer of Escape from Somalia, producer of eight indie films, and Suspense Club’s first lab rat.
25+ years in entertainment: hundreds of films financed and sold, including titles that have won Oscars, Cannes and Berlin awards.
From napkin scribbles to global distribution deals. I’ve read 1,000+ scripts and workshopped stories from pitch to production.
I know the ingredients of a gripping narrative - and what it takes to sell.
My Hollywood network of producers, agents and buyers demands traction, not promises.
I’m hunting the next breakout: a story with a hook that can’t be ignored, backed by a fanbase.
Could that be your story?
What Happens After You Apply
If your story shows potential, I'll personally review it and decide if it's ready for Suspense Club.
If you're approved, I'll help you refine your hook and workshop the outline so your story lands hard from page one. We go deep, one-on-one - no fluff, no filters.
If it's not ready yet, I'll tell you why - honestly and clearly. Yes, you can reapply with a stronger draft or a brand new story. This isn't a one-shot audition; it's a challenge to bring your best.
Let's build your story. Let's build your audience. Let's build a reader-powered publishing system.
Apply Now - It Doesn't Cost a Cent, But It Could Change Everything
Submit your first chapter. I'll read it and decide.
If it has legs, I'll help you shape it, sharpen it, and grow it into a real fanbase - maybe even a book deal or a movie.
If it doesn't yet, I'll tell you why - and give you the shot to come back stronger.
This is the test. This is the moment.
Here’s How You Earn Your Way Up
At Suspense Club, you don’t pay to advance - you prove it. Build readers, not receipts, and unlock each milestone on your terms.
You own your story and keep your rights. We only share the pie when there’s actually a pie to eat - no earnings, no cut.
You win first - then we win with you. And here’s what that looks like:
5,000 Followers
Monetization Unlocked
- Pre-sell your book
- Crowdfund your readers
- Sell digital, audio & print copies
- Get real fan feedback & sales insights
First fanbase earned. Now turn readers into revenue.
10,000 Followers
Amazon Publishing Access
- We fund your editing
- We design your cover
- We publish via our Amazon channel
- You keep 100% ownership & profits
You bring the story. We bring the publishing firepower.
Beyond 10K
🎯 Studio & Publisher Deals
- Land major publisher & studio deals
- Get introduced to producers & execs
- We negotiate on your side - never own your work
We’re here to take your story farther than you imagined.
Why Become A Writer Right Now?
Because this isn’t just the launch of a platform - it’s the birth of the stories that will define it.
We’re looking for pioneers. The bold few who go first. The ones who’ll be remembered as the reason readers showed up.
Imagine being the very first author on a brand-new stage. No noise. No competition. Just your story in front of the first wave of readers.
Once those stories are live, we’ll open the gates to readers - free to read, ad-supported. The first 1,000 readers get ad-free access for life.
And the first 50 writers? You’ll receive something no one else ever will: a Lifetime VIP plan - free, forever. No fees. No hidden charges. No bait-and-switch.
Right now, it’s still just us. I’m personally workshopping every writer who gets in. No interns. No form letters. No fluff. Just you, me, and your story - raw, unfiltered, ready to be shaped into something great.
Only 50 writers will get in. After that, the door shuts. No exceptions. No waitlist.
If you want to be one of the first - this is the moment.
Become a Writer for FREEThis is for
- Suspense writers with a killer hook
- Writers eager for honest feedback
- Creators ready to post chapter by chapter
- Authors willing to earn their success
This is not for
- Pay-to-play hopefuls
- Overnight success chasers
- Anyone afraid of feedback or community
- Algorithm-first content mills
How we make money
Easy: If you succeed, we succeed.
We take 20% - and only when you start making money. No upfront fees. No subscriptions. No pay-to-play. No “free trial” that never ends. Just a fair cut - when (and only when) you win.
Traditional publishers pocket 80–95% of every dollar - after cherry-picking a tiny handful of “marketable” writers.
Frequently asked questions
How fast will I hear back?
Do I keep my rights?
What genres do you accept?
Can I keep publishing on Amazon or Wattpad?
How does the 20% cut work?
When do I start earning money?
How is reader feedback collected?
Writer Application Form
Submit your first chapter. If it has legs, we build it together. If not, we tell you how to strengthen it.