Chapter 4 Discussion: Craft, Character, and Controlled Chaos — with Guest Writer Josh Paulabicke

In today’s post-chapter conversation, I sit down with speculative sci-fi writer Josh Paulabicke to dig into Chapter 4 of Malcolm Karma: Cold Turkey. Though short, this chapter marks a turning point — and Josh brings a sharp editorial eye to what’s working, what raises questions, and how subtle choices shift tension and tone.

We talk about:

• Why Chapter 4 is where “the story really begins”

• Opportunities to deepen Elle’s role

• Word choice: “carnage,” “impossibly white,” and the power of connotation

• Malcolm’s surprising comfort around law enforcement

• Behind the scenes: the original version of the opening line

• Using mystery-style withholding inside a thriller structure

• What the envelope of  ...