The beginnings of associations are often lost in the mists of memory and lack of documentation. Time passes. Leadership changes. People die. Since we're writers, it seemed a pity not to record what we remember. Hence, this short history.

International Thriller Writers, Inc., began with a dream. Until ITW, thriller authors had never organized. By nature, we tend to be loners, happy with our work and our families and a few close friends. But at the same time, because we're a relatively small community in the vast world about which we write, we also yearn occasionally for collegiality.

For years, we've said to one another, "Why don't YOU organize us?" At which point, the thought was so overwhelming, the work involved so time-consuming, that we would gaze sadly around the group and shrug. There was no way.

Then in June 2004, Barbara Peters of Poisoned Pen bookstore and press in Scottsdale, Arizona, held the first thriller conference in the United States. She invited seven thriller authors - Lee Child, Vince Flynn, Steve Hamilton, Gayle Lynds, David Morrell, and Kathy Reichs - and one editor - Keith Kahla of St. Martin's Press, Gayle's editor - to give presentations about the various aspects of writing and publishing thrillers. In addition, the dynamic Clive Cussler spoke at the luncheon.