From the January 21, 2010 edition of The New York Times:

In an act of collective creation, 22 thriller writers -- among them best sellers like Lee Child, Lisa Scottoline and Mr. Deaver -- collaborated to create the pair of "serial thrillers" in this book. In both tales Mr. Deaver sets things in motion and then, in a variation on "exquisite corpse," the other writers take up the story. Their shared main character is Harold Middleton, a retired Army colonel turned war-crimes investigator. The book began life in 2007 as an audiobook serial to publicize International Thriller Writers, an industry group (if people who sit at keyboards creating mayhem can be called an industry).

WATCHLIST
Based on an idea by Jeffery Deaver
404 pages. Vanguard Press. $25.95.

ITW mystery novelist and criminologist R. Barri Flowers has signed with Urban Books to write three mainstream suspense novels under the pseudonym Devon Vaughn Archer. The first suspense novel, THE SECRETS OF PARADISE BAY, is about two brothers and the woman that comes between them while a vengeful minded man plots the murder of all three. It will be released as a trade paperback in July 2010, while the second novel, THE HITMAN'S WOMAN, will come out a year later.

Urban Books are distributed by Kensington Publishing. As a criminologist, Flowers has also signed with Praeger to write a hardcover nonfiction book, PROSTITUTION IN THE DIGITAL AGE. It is scheduled for release in 2011.

"I enjoy moving back and forth between writing mystery fiction and crime nonfiction," said Flowers, who recently edited the American Crime Writers League anthology, MURDER PAST, MURDER PRESENT. "It allows me to tap into my creative juices and imagination on the one side, while using my criminology background to bring credibility to my novels and nonfiction projects."

See more about R. Barri Flowers on his website and at CrimeSpace: http://crimespace.ning.com/profile/RBarri

Vanguard Press has released New York Times bestselling author, David Morrell's, THE SPY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS as an innovative iPhone application, that merges together audio, text, and video seamlessly.

With this custom application developed for Morrell's Christmas thriller, readers have a truly multimedia experience.  They can listen to the audiobook while following the text on the screen and audio and video interviews are also integrated as part of the app.  

Roger Cooper, the publisher of Vanguard Press, says, "We're thrilled to release this multimedia book on the iPhone and recognize the huge potential to reach a new, younger generation of readers with this fantastic new technology. The portability and flexibility this platform offers is unprecedented. With THE SPY WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS, beyond all the multi-faceted application components, we are not only offering readers a second book by David Morrell, his New York Times bestseller SCAVENGER, but we are also featuring one of the few Christmas-specific iPhone applications, unique in its promotion of the holiday spirit."

"As an author, I know how important it is to reach readers on new platforms and this iPhone app lets users experience my book in a way that was never before possible," explains David Morrell.

iPhone apps create completely different reading experiences--combining the act of reading with synchronized audio, links to the web, inclusion of stills, use of GPS and mapping, and more.

Everyone remembers their first thrill, their first . . . kill.

Today's best-selling thriller authors all began with that first book, the one that hooked us and made us gasp for more. Tomorrow's bestsellers are no different and Tor/Forge wants to introduce you to this fresh, new crop in an anthology that will keep you turning pages deep into the night.

FIRST THRILLS: stories from the bestsellers of today and tomorrow, will be published by Tor/Forge in June 2010 and will feature contributions from established International Thriller Writer authors combined with stories from twelve members of their incredibly successful ITW Debut Author Program.

International bestseller Lee Child will edit FIRST THRILLS and provide the foreword, while ITW co-president Steve Berry will supply an afterword.

FIRST THRILLS will feature stories from such thriller luminaries as: Ken Bruen, Lee Child, Stephen Coonts, Jeffrey Deaver, Heather Graham, Gregg Hurwitz, John Lescroart, John Lutz, Alex Kava, Michael Palmer/Daniel Palmer, Karin Slaughter, Wendy Corsi Staub.

The debut authors who are already making a name for themselves are: Sean Michael Bailey (1787), Bill Cameron (Chasing Smoke), Rebecca Cantrell (A Trace of Smoke), Karen Dionne (Freezing Point), JT Ellison (Judas Kiss), Theo Gangi (Bang Bang), Rip Gerber (Pharma), CJ Lyons (Urgent Care), Grant McKenzie (Switch), Marc Paoletti (Scorch), Cynthia Robinson (Dog Park) and Kelli Stanley (Nox Dormienda).

As Lee Child says, "This is an incredible lineup of new talent. I'm delighted to be part of their introduction to an eager fan base. Readers will be surprised by just how good they are."

The membership of the International Thriller Writers, Inc. recently voted to fill two vacancies on our board of directors and to confirm a returning director. The vacancies were created due to term limits. We are proud to announce the 2009 ITW board of directors:

Steve Berry, Co-President. One of the founders of ITW, Steve has already served as managing editor of Thriller 1 and as Executive Vice President. He's the bestselling author of seven novels, the latest of which is The Paris Vendetta.

Joe Moore, Co-President. Joe joined ITW in 2005 and has previously served as Vice President, Technology. His international bestselling Cotten Stone thriller series has been translated into 24 languages. He writes full time from his home in South Florida.

Red-hot mystery author Laura Caldwell, who released not one, not two, but three books this summer--to ignite the popular Izzy McNeil trilogy--announced that she has signed with MIRA books to write four more Izzy McNeil novels.  In June, Caldwell published Red Hot Lies, the story of a sassy, red headed Chicago attorney whose fiance disappears on the same day her client is killed.  The book was followed by Red Blooded Murder (July) and Red, White & Dead (August), all of which feature Izzy McNeil against the backdrop of Caldwell's buzzing hometown Chicago.

The books are scheduled to hit stores after the release of Unlikely (tentative title), Caldwell's non-fiction book with Free Press (a Simon & Schuster imprint) about a murder trial she handled which changed her life.  That book is set for September 2010.

"I'm thrilled to write four more books in the Izzy McNeil series," said Caldwell.  "Never before have I felt there was still so much material to cover in the life of this character and those of the people around her.  And the fact that so many readers are writing to share what they liked (and what they didn't; it's okay, I can handle it) makes it even more exciting. 

"Some readers have made the most incredible suggestions that never would have occurred to me.  I have a feeling there will be many readers acknowledged in these books."

While Caldwell has 10 books published, the popular summer mystery trilogy was her first series.

Bestselling crime writer Peter James is to receive an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Brighton
 
The award-winning writer and film producer, Peter James, is to become a Doctor of Letters in recognition of his ongoing contribution to the arts and to the status, infrastructure and culture of Brighton and Hove.

Peter, who lives near Lewes, East Sussex, will receive his doctorate from Deputy Vice-Chancellor, David House, on Thursday, July 30, during graduation ceremonies at the Brighton Dome.

Peter, who is 60, said: "I'm really thrilled to be honored by the university. It has given me an incredible feeling, although I must confess I'm not sure if I deserve it. I was born in Brighton and this has enhanced an already strong bond and love I have for the city."

Peter's publishers Pan Macmillan has agreed to sponsor two academic excellence scholarships, The Peter James Scholarship, to be awarded to the best first and best second year undergraduate students on the BA (Hons) English Language and Literature degree courses for the academic year 2008-09.

Geoff Duffield, Group Sales and Marketing Manager for Pan Macmillan, said: "Pan Macmillan is delighted to be sponsoring the Peter James scholarships at the University of Brighton.

"Our sponsorship brings together two great Brighton institutions, both of which are at the heart of the community."

Carole Blake, Peter's agent said: 'With 31 publishers worldwide for the Roy Grace novels, Peter has made Brighton familiar to an international audience.  It's a wonderful affirmation of Peter's love for his home city that Brighton University should award him this accolade.'

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, David House, said: "We are delighted and grateful to Pan Macmillan for supporting the university in this way. "We are strongly committed to our work in English language and literature and these scholarships, I am sure, will enhance our reputation and provide an incentive and reward to students of excellence."

In the annals of Hollywood lore, there have been many strange ways that movies came to be made, but when cameras start rolling on it, The Flock will be the first picture that came out of a flame war between the producer and the book's author.

It started when producer Don Murphy of Angry Films was checking in on the message board of his friend Eddie Campbell, illustrator of the Alan Moore graphic novel From Hell, which Murphy had produced as a film. On the board, he found some critical comments about the picture that really upset him. Thinking he'd give as good as he got, Murphy discovered that the poster, James Robert Smith, had a book out, so he ordered it, expecting to read a self-published book he could shred publicly.

To his surprise, Murphy found a book that Publisher's Weekly called "an entertaining debut" in which "Smith maps out a complex living environment that makes the flock's continued existence almost believable and depicts human characters who match the killer birds in adaptability." The story of a flock of prehistoric birds hiding in the Florida
everglades until their habitat is sold off to developers grabbed Murphy, and he convinced John Wells that it should be part of a coproducing arrangement between the two Hollywood impresarios. Along with their respective partners Susan Montford at Angry Films and Claire Rudnick Polstein, President of John Wells Productions, they have
optioned the film and are currently working with scribe Travis Milloy on translating it to the screen as a summer tent-pole release, most likely for 2011.

For author Smith, the process seems sometimes less than completely real. A postal carrier by day, Smith has been working away at his writing craft in novels, short stories, and comics for decades. Becoming an "overnight sensation" over an on-line disagreement after all that hard work may not be the proscribed method of success in publishing, but as most writers know, you take your breaks where they come.

For more information, visit Smith's website at http://www.jamesrobertsmith.net/.

Were you at ThrillerFest 2009? Want to relive your favorite author panel or CraftFest workshop? How about catching up on the ones you missed? Or did you miss the conference but still want to enjoy the panels and workshops? No problem. Now you can order DVDs and CDs of your favorite event from VW Tapes. Click here for more info or to place your order.

On the evening of Saturday, July 11th, 2009, the International Thriller Writers announced the winners of their literary awards at a gala celebration in New York City.

ThrillerMaster Award: David Morrell
In recognition of his vast body of work and influence in the field of literature

Silver Bullet Award: Brad Meltzer
For contributions to the advancement of literacy

Silver Bullet Corporate Award: Dollar General Literacy Foundation
For longstanding support of literacy and education

Best Thriller of the Year:
THE BODIES LEFT BEHIND by Jeffery Deaver (Simon & Schuster)

Best First Novel:
CHILD 44 by Tom Rob Smith (Grand Central Publishing)

Best Short Story:
THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN by Alexandra Sokoloff (in Darker Mask)