Writers

This is not a shortcut. This is a launchpad.

Suspense Club is built for writers who are tired of shouting into the void, done wondering if their story will ever find an audience, and ready to build something real — a fanbase, feedback loop, and future.

We’re not here to hand you a deal. We’re here to help you earn one.

Why We’re Building Suspense Club

Because writing a book shouldn’t feel like building IKEA furniture…
Blindfolded. With missing screws. While the manual’s in Swedish.

When I started writing Escape From Somalia, I knew I had something.
A story with teeth. With fire.
But the process? Brutal.
No feedback. No readers. No way to tell if I was crafting a thriller…
or just typing my way into a very heavy, very boring doorstop.

I was this close to quitting.

Then I stumbled on the story of Andy Weir, the brain behind The Martian.

No big-name publisher.
No Hollywood agent.
No six-figure advance.

Just a blog.
And the guts to post his story one chapter at a time—
inviting readers in, asking for feedback, and building something together.

And then?

Readers showed up.
They left comments.
They shared it.
And before he knew it, 10,000 loyal fans were strapped in for the ride.

Then he dropped it on Amazon—and boom. It blew up.

Why?
Because success hits different when 10,000 people are already shouting your name.

He got the book deal.

Then Hollywood came knocking.
The Martian launched into orbit—starring Matt Damon in a NASA suit.
His next novel? Project Hail Mary — now a movie with Ryan Gosling at the helm.

That story?
It lit a fuse in me.

Because what if every thriller, mystery, crime, and horror writer had that kind of momentum?
What if you didn’t have to beg for permission from agents or wait three years for gatekeepers to maybe say yes?

What if you could build your fanbase while you write—just like Andy did—but with jet fuel?

That’s why we’re building Suspense Club:
A rebel-powered, feedback-fueled story engine where writers don’t wait to be discovered…
They ignite.

Who’s Behind Suspense Club?

Hi, I’m Thomas Mai — founder of Suspense Club.

Before I started writing fiction, I spent two decades deep in the trenches of the film industry.
I produced eight indie features (yep, even Sundance Competition).
I ran Lars von Trier’s international sales company —
helping launch Oscar winners, Cannes darlings, and Berlinale bangers onto the global stage.

I’ve raised millions through crowdfunding.
I’ve built communities from the ground up.
And I’ve seen one truth over and over again:
When creators connect with their audience before the creation is finished, magic happens.

Not gatekeeper magic. Not algorithm voodoo.
Real, raw, fan-powered momentum.

Now? I’m bringing that same fire from film… straight into fiction.

Escape From Somalia is the very first story going live on Suspense Club — and it’s mine.
Written chapter by chapter. In real time.
No polish. No filters. Just me, a blank page, and readers riding shotgun.

I’m walking the same road as every writer on this platform.
And I built Suspense Club so none of us have to walk it alone.

Because storytelling doesn’t need gatekeepers.
It needs guts, feedback, and a crowd that gives a damn.

Let’s build it together.

The Mission

We’re not here to replace publishers.
We’re not trying to take down Amazon.

We’re here to flip the script—
To help writers build so much buzz, the publishers start chasing them.
To give indie writers the power to walk onto Amazon’s battlefield with ammo, not anxiety.

Here’s how we do it:

Build a loyal fanbase, one cliffhanger at a time
Get real, unfiltered feedback—while it still matters
Prove (to the world and yourself) that your story hits

This isn’t about hype. This is about heat.
We want to help a few of those wild, weird, wonderful stories become the next Martian.
Not because they went viral—but because a crowd believed in them before the gatekeepers did.

The Harsh Reality for Writers Today

1. Amazon Is Flooded

Every. Single. Day.
3,000 to 5,000 new books get dumped onto Amazon.
EVERY SINGLE DAY
Most of them? Swallowed whole by the algorithmic abyss.
No readers. No reviews. Just silence.

It’s not a launchpad.
It’s a sinkhole—and it doesn’t care how good your story is.

Suspense Club isn’t here to feed the void.
We’re here to fight it.

We filter for quality, not quantity.
No slush. No spam. No disappearing acts.
Just gripping, high-stakes fiction from writers who want to rise above the noise—and stay there.

2. Publishers Move at the Speed of Snails

You wait months just to get ghosted.
Teams are overworked. Budgets are underwhelming.
And unless you’ve already gone viral, they won’t touch you with a ten-foot pole.

But here’s the plot twist:
Show traction on Suspense Club, and suddenly…
they’re the ones chasing you.

And let’s be real—
Getting courted is a hell of a lot more fun than begging for a seat at the table.

3. Traditional Deals Are Traps

Lose your rights.
Lose creative control.
Maybe even lose your soul to a paragraph buried on page 37.

From royalty statements that read like riddles
to publishers who vanish once the ink dries—
the “dream deal” often feels more like a velvet cage.

Suspense Club flips that script:

You keep 100% of your rights
You can leave anytime, no strings attached
You’re free to publish anywhere else
We’re here to empower—not extract

This isn’t a trap.
It’s a launchpad.
Because your story doesn’t belong to a contract—it belongs to you.

4. Writing Feels Lonely

Let’s be honest—writing can feel like shouting into the void.
You pour your soul into a story that keeps you up at night…
and the world just keeps scrolling.

Your friends don’t get it.
Your family asks, “Still working on that book?” with polite confusion.
You start to wonder if you’re crazy for even trying.
Because while everyone else is chasing “normal,”
you’re chasing characters, cliffhangers, and the perfect plot twist.

You’re not broken. You’re just a storyteller.

But the truth?
Being an outlier is brutal when you’re doing it alone.

That’s where Suspense Club comes in.

We’re not some echo chamber.
We’re a community of fellow misfits, dreamers, and creative chaos-makers—
here to give you real-time feedback, early readers, and a space where people actually care about your story.

You don’t have to write in isolation.
You don’t have to guess whether it’s good.
You don’t have to carry the weight of your words in silence.

Because here, you’re not just understood—you’re celebrated.
And that lonely outlier version of you?
They just found their people.

5. There’s No Map

Most writers start their journey like this:
Blank page. Big dream. No compass.
No idea where to go, how to get there, or who might care.

You write in circles.
You Google things like “how to get published” at 2 a.m.
You wonder if you’re good enough, or if this is all just a very elaborate daydream.

And the worst part?
There’s no one showing you the path—just a thousand different opinions and a wall of silence.

Suspense Club is the map we never had.
But we’re not drawing it alone—we’re building it with you.

Inspired by the Andy Weir method—
Post your chapters, get real-time feedback, grow your fanbase while you write—
we’re giving you the tools to build traction, earn trust, and launch with momentum.

You’re not just writing a story.
You’re testing it. Tuning it. Making it stronger with your readers by your side.

And when it’s time to publish?
You won’t be crossing your fingers.
You’ll be launching with a crew at your back, fans at the ready, and proof that your story already works.

This isn’t just a writing platform.
It’s the blueprint we wish we had.
And now—it’s yours.

From Realization to Revolution

I’m writing Escape From Somalia—chapter by chapter, in real time.
So trust me when I say: I know what it feels like to write in the dark.
To question everything.
To wonder if anyone will ever care.

But I realized I wasn’t the only one.
There are thousands of writers out there, just like me—
with stories worth telling and nowhere to truly be seen.

And that’s when it hit me:
If we bring our voices to one platform, we don’t just stand out—we rise together.

In Denmark, we say:
“Den der har evnerne, har også pligten.”
The one who has the ability, has the duty.

I’ve spent two decades helping storytellers reach the world.
Now I’m using everything I’ve learned—from film to fiction—to build a space where we can lift each other.

That’s Suspense Club.
A rebel writer’s home.
A place to be seen, supported, and successful—together.

An Invitation to the First 50 Writers

This isn’t a submission form. It’s a call to arms.

I’m inviting 50 bold writers to help build Suspense Club from the ground up.

If you’re one of them, here’s what you’ll get:

Personal feedback on your drafts from me, Thomas the founder of Suspense Club
Featured placement on the site and in our newsletter
A spotlight interview on our podcast
Lifetime access to every premium writer tier—free, forever

Why?
Because you’re not just joining—you’re founding this.
A pioneer.
A wave-breaker.
One of the fearless few willing to beta-test a revolution.

Will there be bugs? Absolutely—think rainforest in monsoon season.
Glitches? 100%.
Moments of “What did we just break?” Oh, for sure.

But perfection’s not the point.
Progress is.
And if you’ve ever felt sidelined by the system, misunderstood by publishers, or drowned on Amazon—this is your signal flare.

We’re not asking you to play the publishing game.
We’re handing you the damn joystick.

If you’re ready to write publicly, grow a fanbase, and help shape the future of fiction—
Welcome to Suspense Club.

How It Works (Step by Step)

Step 1: Apply

Fill out a short form with 10 simple questions, like:

– Who you are
– What you’re writing
– A short synopsis
– (Optional) Your first chapter

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about potential.

Step 2: Personal Review

I (Thomas) personally read every submission — yep, every single one. If it’s a no, I’ll do my best to give you constructive notes you can actually use… or, you know, completely ignore while muttering “what does this guy know anyway” and ride off into your own publishing sunset. Either way, I’ve got your back

Step 3: 1-on-1 Story Workshop

If approved, we’ll refine your concept, strengthen your hook, and sharpen your arc.
You still own everything 100%. We just help you make it stronger. This is about curation, not quantity. Readers expect to read unputdownable stories

Step 4: You’re In

You get your profile, your upload tools, your space to grow.

– Readers follow your journey
– You get real-time reactions
– You build momentum with every chapter

Step 5: Grow + Monetize

Once live, you can:

– Launch crowdfunding
– Sell pre-orders
– Offer early access
– Start reader memberships (like Patreon)
– Build a fanbase that publishers & producers can’t ignore

And again: **you keep 100% of your rights. Always.**

💥 How You Make Money (and How We Stay Alive)

As your audience grows, you unlock premium writer tiers—but here’s the twist:

🚫 You can’t buy your way in.
✅ You have to earn it.

No subscriptions. No hidden fees.
Just real rewards for real traction.

But first—let’s answer the obvious:

📺 How We Make Money From Readers

Readers on Suspense Club can enjoy stories for free.
But they’ll see a few ads.

On average, each reader generates about $2.35 per year through ads.
That may not sound like much…
But if Suspense Club has 10,000 readers or more?
That turns into real income that keeps the platform running without charging writers a dime.

🧼 About 2% of readers will say, “No thanks to ads—I’ll pay instead.”

Those readers can choose to become Premium Members for $5/month, or grab an annual discount if they pay up front.
That support fuels everything we do—so most of your fans can keep reading for free.

🪜 Tier 1: The Next Chapter

Unlocked at 5,000 followers with strong engagement & high chapter ratings.

Most platforms would charge $49/month for this tier.
We charge $0.

Once you hit Tier 1, monetization opens wide:

Launch pre-sales for a digital special edition of your book
Offer limited edition audiobooks (read by you, or with our help)
Sell signed, collector-edition print copies
Activate monthly fan memberships (like Patreon)
Start crowdfunding campaigns—$5K, $50K, even $100K to take time off and write full-time

This isn’t trickle-down royalty nonsense.
It’s your audience, your income, your rules.

🧠 Tier 2: The Authorpreneur

Unlocked at 10,000 followers with strong engagement, consistent chapter ratings, and substantial pre-sales or crowdfunding momentum.

Typical SaaS platforms charge $99/month for this.
Not us.

Here’s what you unlock:

Sell on Amazon through Suspense Club’s publishing account
We handle cover design, editing, layout, metadata & launch prep
Access advanced sales tools like analytics, A/B testing, and real-time feedback dashboards
Boosted visibility through platform-wide promotions

If you’ve built a fanbase of 10,000+ readers, with high scores and sales to match,
you shouldn’t be begging for shelf space—you should be owning it.

🔥 Tier 3: VIP Author Invitation

By invitation only, for breakout books that are lighting up the platform.

When your story is roaring, we roll out the next level.

At Tier 3, Suspense Club steps in as your creative partner and literary agent:

Position you for publishing deals with traditional houses
Pitch your story to Hollywood producers and film studios
Connect you to top literary agents and decision-makers
Help you navigate deals so you don’t sign your rights away for a sad sandwich and a free tote bag

We don’t just cheer from the sidelines—we kick doors open and walk you through.

💰 Our Cut? Only When You Win

We don’t charge for any of these tiers.
Not $49/month. Not $99/month. Nothing.

But had we been like every other platform?
You’d be paying up front—just to be seen.

We take a simple 20% cut of any income you generate through Suspense Club.
That covers:

Credit card & merchant fees
Platform upkeep, development, and support
And keeping the lights on without selling your soul

You keep 80%.

Compare that to traditional publishers who take 85–95% and your rights, and… yeah.
We’ll let that speak for itself.

🤝 Our Non-Negotiables

We’ll never:

Sell your information
Spam your inbox
Exploit your work
Or play dirty with data

Life’s too short. Stories are too sacred. Trust is everything.

We’re not just building a platform.
We’re building a movement—for writers who want to write freely, publish boldly, and win on their terms.