An Interview with Kathleen Antrim

Kathleen Antrim is the award-winning author of the political thriller CAPITAL OFFENSE, a columnist for the San Francisco Examiner newspaper, a correspondent for NewsMax Magazine, and a political commentator appearing on radio and television. She can be heard regularly on San Francisco's KSFO HotTalk 560 AM, The Lee Rodgers and Melanie Morgan Show, and has appeared on such shows as the Fox News Channel's Hannity & Colmes.


Kathleen Antrim For the last two years, Antrim has divided her time between working in California and on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Shirley Kennett:
What persuaded you to take on the role of ITW's Vice President-National Events? Do you have experience in heading up a national conference?

Kathleen Antrim: It was a natural fit for me to step up and produce ThrillerFest and oversee ITW's National Events. Besides being a writer, I also own several companies with my husband, so I understand business. And I've developed and run charity events that raise money for children in need. I was a founder of the Ruby Hill Giving Thanks Charity Ball, which raised over 2.4 million dollars for children, and I was President of the Wine Growers Foundation Board, which has raised over 2.5 million dollars for Northern California charities. Since its inception, I've been a member of the board of directors for the San Francisco Writers Conference.

If anyone would have told me years ago that all my experience in raising money and event planning for charity would become part of my work as a writer, I would have laughed. But it's funny how life has a way of coming full circle and experiences tie together.

SK: What were some of the challenges you faced just to get ThrillerFest 2008 off square one?

KA: I think the biggest challenge is knowing that I had big shoes to fill by following in the footsteps of Diane Vogt, who did a fabulous job in creating this event.

SK: It must be hard to fit ThrillerFest planning into your schedule as a writer. Could you explain how you're coping, and what you're currently writing?

KA: It's a full time job that includes a tremendous amount of planning and strategy. It is a matter of staying on top of everything from the beginning and getting things done early. I try to delegate time to each task. It's hard sometimes because I have deadlines to meet for the San Francisco Examiner and NewsMax, and I have to do a lot of show preparation before I go live on the radio. My favorite part of the day, however, is working on my next thriller.

SK: Are you a Big Picture planner or do you like to get down and dirty with the details?

KA: Hmmm . . . I think I'm more of a big picture planner, looking down from the twenty-thousand-foot level type of thing. I like to get systems in place and strategize on how to take the conference to the next level and beyond. But I have to say that there is a lot of satisfaction in getting down into the details and accomplishing things first hand.

SK: Pinning down the programming schedule is a massive job. How's that going?

KA: We'll have an incredible line-up coming together. I don't think any other conference in the world has so many New York Times Best Selling authors all under one roof and accessible to all the fans.

SK: Who comes up with the panel topics, and how?

KA: It's a team effort, with suggestions coming from fans, industry professionals, writers, etc. Our number one priority is delivering what the attendees want to see and hear, so we are always open to suggestions. We want to hear from the fans.

SK: What do you think your biggest concern will be on the opening day of ThrillerFest 2009? Your biggest satisfaction?

KA: Whenever I put on an event my mindset is that everyone is my guest and I've invited them into my home, so to speak, so my biggest concern is that they have a wonderful time, feel welcome, and that they want to come back. My biggest satisfaction will be if I accomplish these goals.

SK: Flip the pages of the calendar ahead to the end of July 2009. What memories do you want fans to take home from ThrillerFest 2009?

KA: I want the fans to feel a part of the writing community. I want them to come to this event and know that we love having them at ThrillerFest, it's our favorite time of the year, we want it to be their favorite event of the year, and they are the reason we all write.

SK: If you could give fans one piece of advice about attending ThrillerFest, what would it be?

KA: Come ready to have a blast! Every writer is equally excited to meet the fans as the fans are to meet the writers, so plan on a busy schedule, making new friends and many wonderful memories.

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ThrillerFest

ITW's annual celebration of the thriller world is the largest event of its kind, a meeting place for authors, readers, budding writers, and publishing industry professionals.

For 2010, we’ll be back in the heart of New York in July with the ThrillerFest conference including CraftFest and AgentFest.

Grand Hyatt NYC

ThrillerFest V will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.

The dates will be July 7-10, 2010. You must register for the conference prior to making hotel reservations. Call the Hyatt at 1-800-233-1234 or 212-883-1234. Ask for the ThrillerFest or International Thriller Writers rate of $199. If you prefer, use the direct online reservation link by clicking here. Conference rates apply July 6-11, 2010. If your stay is longer, please call the hotel to make your reservations.

Would you like to place an ad in the ThrillerFest Program Book or Banquet Book? Please contact us.

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Patrons (Actives)
Clive Cussler*
Dirk Cussler*
Faye and Jonathan Kellerman*
John Lescroart*
Karin Slaughter


Sponsors (Actives)
Kathleen Antrim*
David Baldacci*
Steve Berry*
Gary Braver*
Sandra Brown*
Dale Brown*
John Case*
Lee Child*
Glenn Cooper
Richard Curtis*
Jack F. Du Brul*
David Dun*
Joseph Finder*
Brian Garfield*
Tess Gerritsen*
Leslie Glass*
Vicki Hinze*

Lisa Jackson
Alex Kava*
Deborah LeBlanc
Eric Van Lustbader*
D.P. Lyle, M.D.*
Gayle Lynds*
Steve Martini
Brad Meltzer
David Morrell*
Katherine Neville*
Michael Palmer*
James Patterson*
Andrew Peterson
Douglas Preston*
Christopher Reich*
James Rollins*
M.J. Rose*
JoAnn Ross
Hank Phillippi Ryan
John Saul*
Susan Arnout Smith
R.L. Stine*
Brad Thor*

Supporters (Actives)
Steve Alten*
Ted Bell*
Emily Benedek
Janet Berliner-Gluckman*
Allison Brennan
Jan Burke*
Lorenzo Carcaterra
Lincoln Child*
Stephen Coonts*
Brian DAmato
Eileen Dreyer*
Linda Fairstein*
Vince Flynn*
Chris Fox
Joel Goldman*
Heather Graham*
Thomas Greanias
Humphrey Hawksley


*original member joined
by June 4, 2005

Bonnie Hearn Hill*
Alan Jacobson
Judith Kelman*
Harley Jane Kozak
Jon Land*
Dennis Lynds*
Michael McMenamin
Francine Mathews*
Kyle Mills*
Twist Phelan
Christopher Rice*
James Siegel*
Taylor Smith*
Carl T. Smith*
Mariah Stewart*
Peter Straub*
M. Diane Vogt*
Stuart Woods*

Patrons (Associates)
Tucker Andersen

Sponsors (Associates)
Maria Carvainis
Leisure Books*
Ed Mitchell*
Henry Morrison*
Adrian Muller*
Bill Sewell
Tor/Forge Books*

Supporters (Associates)
Linda Adams*
Brilliance Audio*
Emory Hackman*
Inkwell Management, LLC*
Mario Mastro
L.A. Starks
The Mystery Bookstore