November 2008 Archives

Can you say "overachiever?"

Stephen Coonts, author of 15 New York Times bestsellers, grew up in a coal-mining town of 6,000 on the western slope of the Appalachian mountains. After graduating from West Virginia University in 1968, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy.

He received his Navy wings in 1969 and made two combat cruises aboard the USS Enterprise during the final years of the Vietnam War. He left active duty in 1977 and got a law degree from University of Colorado School of Law in 1979.

After a few years of law practice he wrote his first novel, Flight of the Intruder, which was published by the Naval Institute Press in 1986. It spent twenty-eight weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and was made into a movie released in 1991.

Pause for breath.

That first novel enabled Coonts to turn to writing full time. Which he does now, in Colorado, when he isn't flying planes with his wife, Deborah.

What if You Don't Even Realize You've Snapped?

In Nate Kenyon's haunting sophomore thriller, The Reach, Jess Chambers finds herself in the middle of a battle over one of the most explosive genetic discoveries in the history of mankind when she is assigned to work with Sarah, a schizophrenic child housed in a children's psychiatric ward.  Helix, a shadowy biotechnology company, has been studying Sarah's remarkable genetic gift for years, enhancing and manipulating its effect, twisting something miraculous into something evil. But their plans have gone terribly wrong, erupting in an inferno of fire and blood, and Sarah has withdrawn deep inside her mind to a place no one else can reach.

Now Helix is growing desperate, and every move Jess makes draws her deeper into a complex web of deceit, making her question her own strength and resolve, until finally she must make a choice; walk away from yet another young child she has come to see as her responsibility, or fight overwhelming odds to stop those who see the girl as nothing more than a tool that must be kept and controlled no matter what the consequence.

ITW United Kingdom Chair Michael Jecks recently chatted with 2007 Thriller Award winner Nick Stone about his new thriller, The King of Swords.

You've had phenomenal success with your first novel - did that come as a shock?

More like a sense of grateful bewilderment.  Gratitude that so many people liked what was basically a dark and bleak book with a not entirely sympathetic protagonist to root for - and bewilderment that they did.  

What was it that stopped you from writing after school?

Not many writers start out writers, surely?  They fail at others things first, don't they?

I wanted to write from the age of 11 or 12, I think.  Crime fiction too.  Call me precocious, a pioneer even, because the first thing I wrote was a crime-horror hybrid where all the characters - including the hero - turn into vampires.  

You were a headhunter in FMCG, I believe?

Yes, for my sins.  Wretched job, wretched people.  Imagine Sartre's No Exit - for morons.  Nothing stopped me from writing, exactly.  I tried to write and hold down a full time job for twelve years.  Never pulled off the combination - largely because I never found a job I particularly enjoyed, until I stopped looking.  When I was writing Mr Clarinet, I worked as a part-time paralegal at the London criminal courts.  That was bliss. Working murder trials.  Liaising between criminals, lawyers and cops.  The real deal, in other words.

I'd imagine your father was delighted when you began to write?

He's very supportive, yes. He used to be an Oxford Professor, but he got fed up with the mixture of petty bureaucracy and dire penury that characterizes the British academic system.  He also thought British students were mostly dumb, ignorant, semi-literate and - above all - boring.  

Dad had a choice between following his peers and pupils to well-paid jobs in the US, or going to Turkey.  He picked Turkey because you can still smoke there.  Dad is what Tom Wolfe would call "a champion smoker".  Plus his students actually want to learn, which makes a huge difference.

Sometimes life prepares us for the places we will go. Take, for instance, H. Terrell Griffin. A trial lawyer for more than 35 years, Griffin has an undergraduate degree in history. Then, after practicing law for about three years, he took a creative writing course at the University of Central Florida. Even then he was thinking he had a novel in him - and, perhaps, more than one -- but as an increasingly busy trial lawyer, he could never find the time to write creatively. That changed earlier this decade as Griffin approached retirement, finally finding himself with enough time on his hands to realize his lifelong dream of writing a book.

Griffin knew early on that the book would have to be set in his adopted home state of Florida, a place he adores. "I've lived in the state most of my life," Griffin says. "I love its quirkiness, its bigger than life reality, its polyglot of people, each with his or her own backstory."

Griffin's first novel, Longboat Blues, was published in 2005. That book became a regional bestseller pretty much out of the gate, introducing the world to Matt Royal, the character one reviewer described as "Travis McGee with a law degree." Griffin doesn't rush to disagree. "I'm not sure there's anything I don't like about Matt. The beauty of writing fiction is that you can fashion your hero in the image that you want, imbuing him with traits that you'd like to see in yourself. If Matt has weaknesses, they're the human frailties that infect us all, and he strives mightily to overcome those that possess him."

Contributing editor Jonathan Maberry recently chatted with bestselling author Wendy Corsi Staub about her third thriller in the Lily Dale series.

Your bio leads off with 'author of over seventy novels'.  How do you keep it all fresh, focused and fun?

It's all about passion and positive energy. When you find yourself living your dream--I've wanted to become an author since I was in third grade!--against unimaginable odds, you don't take a single moment for granted. I'm grateful to be making a living doing something I love, and wherever I turn, I see new stories waiting to be told. Every day when I sit down at my desk, I feel as though something exciting is going to happen--and it usually does.

With Lily Dale: Connecting what can readers expect on their third visit to the very strange town?

In Lily Dale, our teenaged heroine, Calla, has found herself not only living among people who can communicate with the dead, but she's learned that she's one of them. The spirits have secrets to share with her, and now she's getting the hang of figuring out what they're trying to tell her. I spent the first two books setting up a series-long story arc surrounding the death of Calla's mother. In book three, a crucial mystery involving her mother is going to be solved--but it will open the door to another mystery, one that involves Calla's future as well as her past.  The answers to that will come in next year's Lily Dale: Discovering.

Many readers know you as a romance or YA author.  Tell us about Wendy the thriller author.

Suspense is my first love, going right back to childhood: Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew.  So for me, there's nothing more fulfilling than having earned a reputation for writing the kinds of books I've always loved to read: page turners that keep people guessing right to the end.  My readers are loyal and smart, and it's getting more and more challenging to stay one step ahead of them. They know I like to hide secrets in plain sight, mask killers behind familiar faces, and keep the twists coming. I work hard to do that with every thriller I write. 

Steve Berry is no stranger to fans of the historical thriller.  The heir apparent to Dan Brown, Berry regularly hits the New York Times bestseller List with his mix of historical facts and contemporary thrills.  His new book, The Charlemagne Pursuit, the fourth in his Cotton Malone series, was selected as one of Library Journal's Five Best Thrillers of the year.  Berry talked to contributing editor Jeff Ayers about his new novel and being Co-President of the organization.

What are the origins of Cotton Malone?  Did you envision him launching a series?

He was born in Copenhagen while I was sitting at a café in Højbro Plads, a popular Danish square.  I love that city, so I decided Cotton would own a bookshop right there. I wanted a character with government ties and a background that would make him, if threatened, a formidable opponent. Since I personally love rare books, it was natural that Cotton would too, so he became a Justice Department operative turned bookseller who manages, from time to time, to find himself immersed in trouble. I also gave him an eidetic memory, since, well, who wouldn't like one of those? At the same time, Cotton is clearly a man in conflict.  His marriage has failed; he maintains a difficult relationship with his teenage son; he's lousy with women; and he's tired of the risks that seem to follow him, even in retirement.

The other day a book ended up on my desk called One Life 6 Words What's Yours?  Apparently it had been inspired by Ernest Hemingway's response to a challenge to write a story in six words.  He produced the poignant: 'For sale: baby shoes. Never worn.'

This seemed a great idea so I emailed the South African ITW contingent asking for contributions.  I also tapped David Hewson and Ken Bruen to add some international flavour.  The only variation on the original concept was a one-word title.  The stories came flooding in with great enthusiasm, some writers even contributing by cellphone.

These stories now constitute what has come to be called "Kort Krimis - a season of nastiness" on the blog Crime Beat.  It's been on the go since early November.  What's fascinating about so many of the entries is how close to home the murder and mayhem gets.  Seems we like to keep things in the family.

Called to Dublin, Ireland, because an old family friend, Sean O'Riley, has fallen ill under mysterious circumstances, Zach Flynn then acts as a guardian when they return to Sean's mansion in Newport, Rhode Island. But back in Newport, Sean's partner has disappeared under even more mysterious circumstances. Caer Cavannaugh, Sean's Irish nurse, has returned with them as well, and when Sean's partner is discovered dead, Zach knows she can't be guilty, no matter how bizarre her behavior seems at times. There's a third partner in the picture, his wife, Sean's bitter daughter, and Sean's own trophy wife. But the key to it lies in old Eire, and when he flew from Ireland to the US, Zach brought back much more than met the eye. A classic battle of good and evil must be fought before Christmas day if any one of them is to survive the magic of the holidays.

New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham has written more than a hundred novels, many of which have been featured by the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and translated into more than twenty languages. Heather enjoys her south Florida home, but loves to travel as well, to locations such as Cairo, Egypt, and even to her own backyard, the Florida Keys. Heather is a member of many writing groups, including RWA, HWA, Ninc, MWA, and International Thriller Writers. Originally a theater person/back-up singer/bartender, she is very proud to be a Killerette in the Killer Thriller Band, along with many fellow novelists she greatly admires. She is also the founder of the Slush Pile Players who do a facsimile of entertainment for many venues. Heather hosts Writers for New Orleans each Labor Day, and is happy to hear from readers. Visit her at theoriginalheathergraham.com, heathergraham.tveheathergraham.com, or her myspace page.

Here's what was featured in the January Edition of the Big Thrill

Hot Off The Press
Click on a book title to read the feature story

• SIX SECONDS by Rick Mofina
• BREAKNECK by Erica Spindler
• JUDAS KISS by J.T. Ellison
• BURIED STRANGERS by Leighton Gage
• THE LAST DAY by John Ramsey Miller
• NEMESIS: FINAL CASE OF ELIOT NESS by William Bernhardt
• SKIN AND BONES by Tom Bale
• WHAT TIME DEVOURS by A.J. Hartley
• KRONOS by Jeremy Robinson
• THE PRESIDENT'S HENCHMAN by Joseph Flynn
• CAT SITTER ON A HOT TIN ROOF by Blaize Clement
• GREASING THE PIÑATA by Tim Maleeny
• CALLING MR. LONELY HEARTS by Laura Benedict
• VAMPIRE APOCALYPSE by Derek Gunn
• FIND ME by Debra Webb
• PERFECT COVER by E.J. Rand
• DEAD AND KICKING by Geoff McGeachin
• SWITCH by Grant McKenzie
• MOUNTING FEARS by Stuart Woods
• RUNNER by Thomas Perry
• BETTER THAN BULLETPROOF by Kay Thomas
• THE ILLUMINATION by Jill Gregory & Karen Tintori
• There's News from international contributing editors Russel McLean in the UK and Mike Nicol in South Africa
• Plus Between The Lines interviews with bestselling thriller author Joseph Finder and literary publicist Tom Robinson

Monthly Book Giveaway

Congratulations to Karen West, the winner of this month's BIG THRILL giveaway. Karen will receive an assortment of signed thrillers including Greasing the Piñata by Tim Maleeny, Trigger City by Sean Chercover, Sniper Bid by Rick Robinson, Vampire Apocalypse: Descent Into Chaos by Derek Gunn, Sudden Death by Allison Brennan, Face of a Killer by Robin Burcell, Judas Kiss by J.T. Ellison, The Murderers' Club by P.D. Martin, Body County by P.D. Martin, The Reach by Nate Kenyon, Bloodstone by Nate Kenyon, and Space Wars; The First Six Hours of World War III by William B. Scott, Michael J. Coumatos and William J. Birnes.

All subscribers to THE BIG THRILL webzine are automatically eligible for the monthly drawing. Click here to subscribe to the BIG THRILL email.

Leighton Gage may be ITW's most worldly author - speaking six languages, traveling on every continent except Antarctica. He comes from a polished career in advertising, yet writes gritty police procedurals with tortured characters and dark plots set in the jungles and slums of Brazil.

In a starred review of Buried Strangers, Booklist calls Gage "South America's Kurt Wallander."

When Gage travels the globe, he doesn't just look at the scenery, he looks at the politics and the people. He's visited Spain in the time of Franco; Portugal in the time of Salazar, South Africa in the time of apartheid; Chile in the time of Pinochet; Argentina in the time of the junta; Prague, East Germany, and Yugoslavia under the Communist yoke. With such a keen eye and unsettling itinerary, it's no wonder his prose haunts.

You have created a very exotic hero in Chief Inspector Mario Silva, tell us about him.

Brazil is a big, larger than the continental United States. Brazil is also a place where many murderers, thieves, drug runners and other felons have day jobs as policemen.  Silva, unlike many of his colleagues, is an honest man, outraged by the criminality that surrounds him.  And he's very hard, not above violating the law in the pursuit of justice. Indeed, given the corruption that marks the Brazilian justice system, he has learned that violating the law is often the only way to achieve justice. 

By Ed Gorman

The flood that decimated a good share of Cedar Rapids, Iowa has left the national news, even though many people are without their homes, some of them still sleeping in shelters.

The central library was a total loss, so much so that it will take at least two to three years before a new library can be built or remodeled. Think of this - between 200,000 and 300,000 books were lost forever. Several news services said that this was probably the greatest loss of books in our country's history.

I am asking for your help. While FEMA has promised money for the reconstruction, there is NO money available for replacing books. In order to raise money I hope all you who are able will send us signed copies of your books, manuscripts, DVDs that can be auctioned off or sold on the internet. Anything that you think might be of value to readers or collectors. Please sign things "For Cedar Rapids Library Flood Relief."

Mystery Cat Books of Cedar Rapids first proposed this idea and is willing to be the delivery site for anything you send. They will provide mylar covers and take care of anything that needs framing. Here is their address:

Mystery Cat Books
112 32nd St Dr SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
52403
319-363-2179

To give you some sense of scale our library carried an "A" rating and was the largest in the area. It is now operating out of two mall storefronts.

Thanks for taking the time of reading this. I hope you can help us out.

Jordan Dane's debut novel NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM was announced as Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year for 2008. Dane's debut novel was one of five books selected in the mass-market category by the prestigious national reviewer. PW stated, "Dane crafts this debut murder mystery with tight plotting and smooth prose, and adds a few sparks to create a story that appeals to mainstream thriller readers as well as romantic suspense fans." Dane is a member of the International Thriller Writer debut program, class of 2007/2008.

Visit www.JordanDane.com for more information on Dane's novels and a preview of her next release EVIL WITHOUT A FACE (Feb 09, Avon), the start of her Sweet Justice series. The women in this new series give Lady Justice a whole new reason to wear blinders.

M. J. Rose faced the marketing dragon and decided to slay it on her own.  When her first novel, Lip Service, was turned down by several houses because they didn't know how to "position" it, Rose self-published. Because she had a story that needed telling.

"All of my books start with a theme that matters to me, even if my readers don't ever focus on the theme," Rose says. "Why women close their eyes to reality and allow themselves to be swept through life instead of walking through it on their own is both a symptom of our society and a description of Julia Sterling at the beginning of the novel."

Rose spent two years writing Lip Service, while working in advertising. "I was scared the whole time that I would fail at creating the characters I could see move and think and speak in my mind, and would fail at pacing the book so that it moved and didn't get bogged down in ideas. Most of all, I was afraid I would fail in telling the truth about this woman and what she goes through."

But the result pleased both Rose and her early readers. "I have been told many times in the ten years since it was published that the book is brave and unflinching, and that is something I'm most proud of."

David Morrell, co-founder and past co-President of ITW, is a master of the modern thriller. His latest, The Spy Who Came For Christmas, explodes from the first page and will be remembered as one of the best thriller books that occurs during the holiday season. Set where Morrell lives, the novel invokes a feel for the city he loves amidst the chaos.  He was kind enough to chat with contributing editor Jeff Ayers about his new book.

What sparked the idea for The Spy Who Came For Christmas?

A couple of years ago, I was a guest author at "Much Ado about Books," an event sponsored by the library in Jacksonville, Florida. Some library patrons arranged for a waterfront cocktail party at their home. I happened to cross paths with an author I'd not met before, Mary Kay Andrews, who showed me an ARC for her upcoming novel, Blue Christmas, a charming holiday mystery set in historic Savannah, Georgia.  We discussed various ways that the book could be promoted. Then Mary Kay suggested, "Why don't you write a Christmas book?" I reminded her that the creator of Rambo wasn't exactly known for the cozy atmosphere of the holidays. "Why does it need to be cozy?" she responded. "Why can't you write a Christmas book that's filled with action?" All kinds of possibilities suddenly occurred to me. We were next to a beach where a boy was playing with a dog while a sailboat drifted past, but in my mind, I was in a snowstorm, wounded, holding a precious object under my coat, while three very angry men pursued me. The first scene literally came to me that fast, as did the title, The Spy Who Came for Christmas.  

Even Secret Service agents sometimes have to go home, but working a case amidst your childhood haunts is something no one should have to do. Maybe that's why Agent Jo Harper seems so irritated since being drawn into a search for a missing teenager in her hometown of Black Falls, Vermont. That's Elijah Cameron's theory anyway--and he's known (and been at odds with) Jo since they were kids. All Elijah's military and mountain-rescue training, however, tell him that somewhere in these rugged Green Mountains a young girl isn't just lost . . . she's on the run.

With more than 10 million books in print worldwide, Carla Neggers has penned 54 novels, including 12 that have scored on the New York Times list since 2000. With her trademark blend of pulse-pounding action, romantic suspense and adventure, Carla's thrillers have been translated into 22 languages, including Russian and Japanese.  In between radio interviews, she took time to sit down and answer a few questions for contributing editor, Christine Goff.

I know you started writing at a young age. Have you always written "fast-paced romantic suspense" or did you migrate there after some trial and error in other genres? Tell us a little bit about how you went from notebooks and pencils in a tree to the New York Times list.

I've always loved to write. I come from a family of great storytellers! I began my career as a journalist specializing in arts and entertainment stories, but I always had a novel or short story I was working on--having fun with, really.