The Big Thrill http://www.thrillerwriters.org/ The home of International Thrillerwriters Inc en Copyright 2008 Sat, 10 May 2008 06:20:00 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Announcing ThrillerFest 2008 registration1.jpg

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Hot.jpg David Baldacci, Steve Martini, and R.L. Stine
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]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/05/announcing-thrillerfest-2008.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/05/announcing-thrillerfest-2008.html Home Sat, 10 May 2008 06:20:00 +0000 The May Edition of the Big Thrill is here! 4-book-may.jpgThis month's BIG THRILL is loaded with a record-breaking number of thrillers ranging from exciting debut authors on up to the top names in international bestsellers. And we've included a BETWEEN THE LINES in-depth interview with the first of our three 2008 ThrillerFest Spotlight Guests, Eric Van Lustbader. So check out this month's amazing selection and then head for your favorite bookstore with your May Big Thrill reading list compiled for you by the best thriller writers on the planet.

There's a thrilling month of reading ahead from your friends at the International Thriller Writers
Joe Moore
Editor

]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/05/the-may-edition-of-the-big-thrill-is-her.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/05/the-may-edition-of-the-big-thrill-is-her.html Home Sat, 10 May 2008 06:15:00 +0000 ITW ThrillerFest Scholarship Program scholarship.jpgAre you a debut author with a book out in 2008 or 2009? Would you love to attend ThrillerFest in New York City but haven't quite figured out how to pay for it?

ITW is offering two scholarships for debut authors to attend ThrillerFest 2008 in New York City July 9-12. The scholarship is for the conference registration fee, CraftFest, and any ITW sponsored meals (including the Thriller Awards Dinner.) Lodging and transportation is not offered as part of the scholarship.

Criteria

You must have a debut novel published or scheduled to be published in 2008 or 2009 by an ITW recognized publisher. Individuals previously published by non-ITW recognized publishers or in a short story format (under 40,000 words) are eligible provided that the novel to be published in 2008 or 2009 is their first full-length novel published by an ITW recognized publisher.
]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/05/itw-thrillerfest-scholarship-program.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/05/itw-thrillerfest-scholarship-program.html Home News Wed, 07 May 2008 17:55:00 +0000 Two-Books-in-One-Day: Author Launches Cutting Edge Social Networking Site WCS-Dying Breath.jpg
NEW YORK CITY - When New York Times bestselling thriller author Wendy Corsi Staub realized she would havetwo major novels published on April 29, the dynamo promoter knew she'd need to work some magic to get readers' attention at this critical point in her career.

With DYING BREATH (Zebra Books), a mom-in-jeopardy thriller, and LILY DALE: BELIEVING (Walker), a young adult paranormal, Wendy and her husband, Mark--who met when they were both working for a Manhattan advertising agency--had a challenge on their hands: two books with two different reading audiences. How could they simultaneously reach both without spending Madison Avenue-type promo bucks?

"We knew social network sites like MySpace and Facebook are the hot ticket these days," Wendy said. "But we wanted to build an exclusive environment to engage my readers, where they could express themselves, discuss the books, and actively participate with me and each other. My husband, along with former advertising agency colleagues, came up with an innovative concept in Internet promotions: the first--we think--author specific social networking site, where readers can see a bit more than the usual About the Author page. Please check it out," she said enthusiastically, "on www.WendyCorsiStaubCommunity.com and let us know what you think." ]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/twobooksinoneday-author-launches-cutting.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/twobooksinoneday-author-launches-cutting.html News Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:49:10 +0000 Bobbie Faye's (kinda, sorta, not exactly) Family Jewels by Toni McGee Causey bobbie-faye.jpgAccused of one man's murder, Bobbie Faye goes on the run, trying to stay ahead of the pack of thieves, murderers, and criminals who are all after missing mysterious diamonds. She has to find the gems and figure out the motives of the dead sexy FBI agent who's pressing her for more than just the jewels, all the while sidestepping her steamy (and steamed) detective ex-boyfriend.

Bobbie Faye Sumrall is back in fighting form in this latest installment of her crazy, wacky adventures through Cajun country.
 
"Toni McGee Causey doesn't just write. She takes prisoners. She grabs you by the heart and the funny bone and carries you off into a world of captivating characters, that are a whole bunch of crazy and twice as much fun. Don't try to sleep -- you'll be laughing too loud." -- Marshall Karp, author of Bloody Thirsty

"If you're a fan of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, this is a treat for you. Bobbie Faye is another wise-cracking gal with a knack for getting in trouble. The novel is fast paced, while the mystery keeps you guessing. If you're up for a fast-paced book, however, this is one you won't want to miss." -- Romantic Times (4 stars)

causey-toni.jpgToni McGee Causey lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She and her husband, Carl, are licensed general contractors, and, in order to support her writing addiction, they run their own civil construction company. You can visit Toni and Bobbie Faye at www.bobbiefaye.com.
]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/bobbie-fayes-kinda-sorta-not-exactly-fam.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/bobbie-fayes-kinda-sorta-not-exactly-fam.html Latest Books Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0000 The Rosetta Key by William Dietrich rosetta-key.jpgIn The Rosetta Key, American adventurer Ethan Gage and Napoleon Bonaparte continue the harrowing race to recover an Egyptian book of power that could tilt the struggle for mastery of the world. Set during Napoleon's 1799 invasion of the Holy Land, this epic tale continues the tale of "Napoleon's Pyramids," which sold into 24 languages. Can the secret stolen from the Great Pyramid be recovered in the tunnels and ruins of Palestine? Can an unlikely alliance and Ethan's fledgling knowledge of electricity thwart the French siege of Acre? And will the hero learn the fate of lost love Astiza? An electrifying combination of battles, exotic landscapes, and colorful characters who really lived.

"Ever the incorrigible gambler and all-around scamp, Gage makes an irresistible antihero. The ending promises more volumes in what one hopes will be a long series." -- Publishers Weekly

"Historical fiction meets thriller here, with plenty to interest fans of both genres. The action is nearly nonstop, the humor is plentiful, and the intrigue is more than enough to keep the pages turning." -- School Library Journal

dietrich-bill.jpgWilliam Dietrich is the author of 11 books that combined have been translated into 26 languages. He is also a lifelong journalist who shared a Pulitzer for coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and a teacher of writing and the environment at Western Washington University. Dietrich is a Washington state native who wears two literary hats. He has written and spoken extensively on the environment and science, writing four books on Pacific Northwest environmental history. He is also a novelist who puts his heroes and heroines in thrilling predicaments in exotic environments, from the South Pole to Roman Britain, and from the desolation of the Australian Outback to the temples and pyramids of the Middle East. He is presently working on a series of novels featuring American adventurer Ethan Gage during the Napoleonic wars. ]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/the-rosetta-key-by-william-dietrich.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/the-rosetta-key-by-william-dietrich.html Latest Books Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0000 May 2008: Shaken, Not Stirred This month we come over all Peculier, find a literary author indulging in some (James) Bondage, and someone at Hodder's hunting down the next big debut...
 
After technical difficulties last month, we're back with more international news from the world of crime and thriller fiction. The months do fly by at this time of year, so I do hope you haven't missed me too much.
 
Oh, you didn't miss me at all?
 
Well, never mind.  Onwards and upwards:

A MOST PECULIER AWARD
 
crime-festival.jpgBarely seems like two minutes since Allan Guthrie won last year's Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, and already the latest longlist has been announced. There are a few familiar faces on the list, including previous winners Mark Billingham (Buried) and Val McDermid (The Grave Tattoo), as well as previously shortlisted authors such as Simon Kernick (Relentless) and Stuart MacBride (Dying Light).
 
Presented at the Harrogate International Writing Festival (chaired this year by the ever charming and slightly dangerous Simon Kernick), the awards have become a major part of this bookseller's (and I assume many others) crime calendar.  And as ever, I shall be at Harrogate this year to raise my pint of Theakston's in honour of the winner. Before falling over along with everyone else who's been gulping beer at the bar in the awards hall.]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/may-2008-shaken-not-stirred.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/may-2008-shaken-not-stirred.html International Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0000 Maberry completes supernatural trilogy with Bad Moon Rising bad-moon.jpgWhat began with Ghost Road Blues and continued with Dead Man's Song reaches its terrifying climax in Jonathan Maberry's Bad Moon Rising. This supernatural thriller will solidify his award-winning reputation and bring new readers seeking their thrills with chills.  

What was your inspiration for the trilogy?
 
The trilogy started off as an experiment that grew out of my nonfiction writing.  I've been a nonfiction guy for thirty years now, and after doing about a dozen books on martial arts I took a left turn into writing about occult and paranormal folklore.  My grandmother (who died in 1978 at 101) told me as a boy about the myths and legends - or as she called them 'beliefs'-- of the supernatural, so I grew up knowing about the European legends of vampires, ghosts and werewolves.  The legends, by the way, are substantially different than the depictions seen in popular fiction and film.

vampire-universe.jpgAs I was writing my second book on spooky folklore (Vampire Universe - Citadel Press, 2006), I began to speculate about how real people would react/respond if they encountered the supernatural.  And these would be real people with modern pop culture sensibilities, so they would know about stakes and crosses and all of that.  But since none of that stuff is in the folklore (the novelist Bram Stoker added much of what we now consider vampire lore) the characters would be confronting evil that they truly would not understand or know how to stop. 

So I took a swing at writing a story.  As I outlined it I realized that the story I wanted to tell was a BIG story.  Lots of characters, lots of threads that would allow me to explore the different facets of folklore and the dynamics of human reaction to the known and unknown.  So I outlined what came to be known as the Pine Deep Trilogy.

]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/maberry-completes-supernatural-trilogy-w.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/maberry-completes-supernatural-trilogy-w.html Features Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0000 Writing between the lines with Eric Van Lustbader btl-logo.jpgThere are some novelists who write with a common theme, a "what" that drives their fiction. Others discover the "what" as they go along.

International bestselling author Eric Van Lustbader doesn't so much write with a "what" in mind, but a "who."

He calls this The Outsider.
    
eric-lustbaer.jpg"Since I'm an Outsider myself," Lustbader explains, "all my protagonists are Outsiders, as well, starting with Nicholas Linnear [of the Ninja Cycle novels].  Being half-Asian, half-Western, he belongs in neither world.  He stands apart and, like all Outsiders, is more qualified to comment on society.  Because he has no biases, no axes to grind, his observations are neutral, therefore balanced, most truthful and thought-provoking."

In addition to his numerous creations, Lustbader has also carried on the saga of Jason Bourne, in cooperation with the Robert Ludlum estate. The same Outsider motif drew Lustbader to Bourne.

"Many's the time Bob Ludlum and I would discuss our respective prototypical heroes," says Lustbader, "remarking on how similar in makeup they were: loners yet fiercely loyal, they were walking, talking oxymorons, which made them special not only to the two of us, but to our millions of readers.  Because aren't human beings, by nature, paradoxical?  Think about it.  How many times have you found yourself experiencing two opposite emotions simultaneously? We wonder how we can love and hate someone at the same time, but that's rational thinking; emotions like love and hate are irrational, not subject to the artificial 'laws' humans have imposed on society, in a futile attempt to turn chaos into order."

]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/writing-between-the-lines-with-eric-van.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/writing-between-the-lines-with-eric-van.html Features Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0000 Killer Heat by Linda Fairstein killer-heat.jpgSuccess can never be guaranteed in every case Alexandra Cooper prosecutes, but for once the odds are with her for putting away a serial rapist for a crime he committed over twenty years previously, but outside the courtroom another predator is at large. His first victim was a call-girl, a cat-o-nine-tails discovered near her body, and it seems as though Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace need to look amongst her clients for the killer, but the discovery of other corpses, the modus operandi remarkably similar to the first, turns the investigation into a hunt for a random and viciously sadistic murderer. A part of his signature is that in the humid heat of summer he leaves his victims' remains in some of the least populated parts of New York - a derelict office building, an abandoned fort on an island below Manhattan. Alex fears it may be another twenty years before they can identify this monster, each day bringing the dread of news of another killing, then she, Chapman and Mercer get lucky and are able to give a name to their target. But that's not the same as putting him safely behind bars: to do that they are going to have to get close to him, much too close for Alex's own safety ...

"Fairstein delivers a scorcher of a crime novel --her hottest yet." -- Library Journal

"Fairstein's nail-biting 10th legal thriller... manages to both entertain and educate." -- Publisher's Weekly

"Intriguing... fans will love the result." -- Kirkus

"Fairstein proves what a fantastic legal mind she has." -- The Mirror

fairstein-linda.jpgLinda Fairstein, one of America's foremost legal experts on crimes of sexual assault and domestic violence, ran the Sex Crimes Unit of the District Attorney's Office in Manhattan for more than two decades. Her first novel, FINAL JEOPARDY, which introduced the character Alexandra Cooper, was published in 1996 to critical and commercial acclaim. Her nonfiction book, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, was a New York Times notable book in 1994. She lives with her husband in New York and on Martha's Vineyard. ]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/killer-heat-by-linda-fairstein.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/killer-heat-by-linda-fairstein.html Latest Books Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0000 Rollins novelizes the latest Indiana Jones btl-logo.jpgSummer means big blockbuster titles and big blockbuster movies. One of the most anticipated films coming out this summer is the latest movie in the Indiana Jones franchise, titled Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.  And one of our own ITW members--James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Judas Strain--was hand-picked to write the novelization to the upcoming blockbuster, due out May 22nd.  He sat down with The Big Thrill to answer a few questions.

cyrstal-skull.jpgSo how were you chosen to write the novelization to Indy 4"?

Well, over the years, my books have been critically compared to Indiana Jones.  I think mostly due to the historical or archaeological nature of the novels.  In fact, one reviewer of my book, Map of Bones, described it as a cross between Indiana Jones and the The Da Vinci Code.  To this day, I'm still not sure if that reviewer was insulting me or complimenting me.  But I personally take any comparison to Indy as a compliment.  And such reviews did eventually draw the attention of Random House who obtained the adaptation rights to the upcoming film.  After that, my name got submitted, and I got the thumb's up. 

]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/rollins-novelizes-the-latest-indiana-jon.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/rollins-novelizes-the-latest-indiana-jon.html Features Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0000 The story behind the story in Tell No Lies tell-no-lies.jpgJulie Compton's debut novel, Tell No Lies, is the story of a family man's obsession and the price he's forced to pay. When assistant DA Jack Hilliard finds himself simultaneously seduced by a dream job and a tempting woman, he soon learns how easy it is to compromise his values and comfortable life for ambition and desire. But when the object of his obsession is charged with a heinous crime, and Jack alone can prove her innocence, he must choose between saving her by speaking out, or saving his marriage and career by remaining silent.

In Tell No Lies, the reader gets a glimpse of the differences between private law firms and the district attorney's office. As someone who has worked in both the private and government legal sector, which do you prefer?
 
On the private side, I worked at two larger law firms, and then a smaller, boutique firm, before becoming a stay-at-home mom for several years. When I returned to practice, I accepted a position with the US Trustee's Office, part of the Department of Justice. It was my dream job. Although I worked with great people at all my jobs, there's no denying that at private firms, an attorney has the constant pressure to bill more hours, bring in clients, become a partner, etc. I didn't have these same pressures at my government job, which made it easier to just enjoy the purely legal aspects of the practice.
]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/the-story-behind-the-story-in-tell-no-li.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/the-story-behind-the-story-in-tell-no-li.html Features Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0000 Steve Wilson reveals a city of conspiracies in President Lincoln's Spy president-lincoln.jpgAfter turning out three World War II military thrillers, author Steven Wilson took a step backward in time to embrace his other professional interests-the Civil War. His newest novel, President Lincoln's Spy, is the first in a contracted series featuring Captain Fitz Dunaway, a discredited army officer turned spy. Conveniently, Wilson works as the curator and assistant director of the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum on the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee.

Of the new novel, Wilson says, "It's about a discredited army officer who is given the opportunity to redeem himself only if he agrees to act as a spy for the Assistant Secretary of War. Being a military man, he thinks that spying is distasteful, but he also wants to get back in the fight and he wants a regiment, which is what's offered to him if he will only take on the role of the spy."

]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/steve-wilson-reveals-a-city-of-conspirac.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/steve-wilson-reveals-a-city-of-conspirac.html Features Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0000 Black Out by Lisa Unger black-out.jpgAt first glance, Annie Powers seems a happy, wealthy woman living a perfect life in Florida with her husband Gray and their daughter Victory. But Annie is not what she seems. Soon, however, we see Annie's demons beginning to creep up on her, triggering unfamiliar and frightening memories. Once upon a time Annie was Ophelia March, a young woman who escaped a troubled home only to find herself in the thrall of a killer. Annie thought she left that girl behind - the night Ophelia died in a fiery crash. She's wrong. After a series of terrifying events, Annie quickly realizes she must piece together these memories to finally make sense of who she was, who she is and, ultimately, to save herself and her daughter.

"Black Out is riveting psychological suspense of the first order. If you haven't yet experienced Lisa Unger, what are you waiting for?" -- Harlan Coben

"I read Black Out in one hungry gulp, and spent the rest of the night trying to calm my jangled nerves. This is a stunning, mind-bending shocker with moments of sheer terror-one of the best thrillers I've read this year!" -- Tess Gerritsen

"Twisty, riveting, and enormously exciting. Lisa Unger is a powerful and elegant writer, and Black Out is her best novel yet." -- Joseph Finder

unger-lisa.jpgLisa Unger is the New York Times bestselling author of BEAUTIFUL LIES and SLIVER OF TRUTH. Her novels have been published in 26 countries, receiving rave reviews and appearing on bestseller lists around the world. BEAUTIFUL LIES was a finalist for the ITW "Best Novel" Award in 2007.

]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/black-out-by-lisa-unger.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/black-out-by-lisa-unger.html Latest Books Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0000 Ghost Moon by Rebecca York ghost-moon.jpgGhost Moon, the next book in award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Rebecca York's popular Moon series, tells the story of Quinn, a woman who comes from a universe parallel to our world on a mission to save a friend's life. She's stopped in her tracks by a ghost, Caleb Marshall, killed 75 years ago by his cousin. Caleb's stayed on earth to avenge his death. Although he and Quinn are powerfully drawn to each other, she's terrified that he will wreak vengeance on her friends, the Marshalls; and she sees no future in a relationship with a phantom. Everything changes when Caleb acquires the body of a murder victim. But can he and the Marshalls work together to foil a diabolical plot aimed at the heart of the U. S. government?

"Rebecca York delivers page-turning suspense." -- Nora Roberts

"Riveting, passionate, breathtaking are all perfect descriptors for Rebecca York's latest Moon series book: Ghost Moon. It has everything--a storyline ripped from today's headlines, fascinating characters, paranormal elements, and a fast moving pace." -- sensual.ecataromance.com

york-rebecca.jpgEver since she can remember, Rebecca York (aka Ruth Glick) has loved making up stories full of adventure, romance and suspense. As a child she corralled her friends into adventure games or acted out romantic suspense stories with a cast of dolls. ]]> http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/ghost-moon-by-rebecca-york.html http://www.thrillerwriters.org/2008/04/ghost-moon-by-rebecca-york.html Latest Books Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0000