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I’m thrilled to welcome back Bianca Marais, acclaimed author and the brilliant host of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast, to Freelance Writing Direct. Bianca and I have long supported each other’s work (I was honored to be a guest on her show—listen to our episode here), and she spoke to me about her previous novel, The Witches of Moonshine Manor in this episode.
This time, I got to turn the tables once again and ask her all the questions.
We dive into her latest novel, A Most Puzzling Murder—a wildly original, genre-blending mystery filled with magic, royal intrigue, choose-your-own-adventure chapters, and puzzles that readers can actually solve. It’s a locked-room murder mystery like you’ve never read before, told through over a dozen POVs and packed with interactive clues that invite you to email for bonus content.
Bianca’s latest literary confection: A Most Puzzling Murder
Bianca shares how she structured this ambitious story, how she uses curiosity to hook readers early, and why crafting flawed, relatable villains is so satisfying. We also talk about the creative choices behind multiple POVs, pacing, story arcs, and what writers can learn from the mechanics of puzzle-making.
Whether you’re a mystery lover, an aspiring author, or simply curious about how interactive fiction works, this conversation is a craft deep-dive you won’t want to miss.
In This Episode
- How Bianca designed an interactive novel that readers can play and puzzle through
- The role of puzzles, alternate endings, and bonus chapters in fiction
- Craft tips on managing multi-POV narratives and character arcs
- Keeping the pacing of a story and how to do it well
- Building a strong foundation for a story
- The “five-minute rule” that can transform your draft
- Why flawed, relatable villains are more powerful than perfect ones
- How to balance creativity with market awareness, without losing your voice
Whether you’re a mystery fan, an aspiring novelist, or just curious about how interactive fiction works, this episode is a masterclass in creativity, craft, and reader engagement.
Watch on YouTube
About Bianca Marais
Bianca Marais cohosts the popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, which is aimed at helping emerging writers get published. She teaches creative writing through the podcast and was named a winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies. She lives in Toronto, where she loves playing escape-room games and writing about strong female protagonists.
Connect with Bianca
Episode on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Where Bianca and CeCe talk about Bianca writing her book
Don’t forget to check out my episode on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Talking All about How to Get Your Writing Noticed, Pitching, Publishing and More.
And if you haven’t yet—please watch my TEDx Talk:
🎥 How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond
In my TEDx Talk, I share how a chaotic moment with the beloved children’s character, Thomas the Tank Engine became the spark for my message on standing out—on the page and beyond, and share the successful tips and tricks and strategies I cover in my teaching guaranteed to get you noticed.
And check out episode #145 Where I talk about how to shape a TEDx Talk, in the first of several episodes related to my Talk
About Estelle
Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, author of Writing That Gets Noticed (named a “Best Book for Writers” by Poets & Writers), and host of Freelance Writing Direct—2025 Podcast of the Year (Education), American Writing Awards. A Contributing Editor for Writer’s Digest and adjunct instructor at NYU, she’s written for over 150 outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP: The Magazine, and has served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines.
✨ Explore More:
📚 Writing That Gets Noticed – Buy the Book | Listen to the Audiobook
📬 Subscribe on Substack – Craft tips, pitch advice & exclusive podcast extras. Latest post Stop Counting Your Words. Start Shaping Your Story and How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen
🎧 Freelance Writing Direct – Interviews, insights & behind-the-scenes publishing tips
Follow Estelle:
📸 Instagram | 🎵 TikTok | 🐦 Twitter | 🌐 BlueSky
