The call came unexpectedly last fall from Tom Colgan, my superb, longtime editor at Putnam. They'd asked Clive if he'd be interested in doing another series, Tom explained.  Would I be interested in having my name thrown in the hat as a potential co-author?

Dumbfounded, I interrogated him: Was this a joke?  No joke, he assured me. And we're talking about the Clive Cussler, correct?  Author of dozens of bestsellers stretching back decades; his work published in over 40 languages in more than 100 countries; 125 million faithful fans; 160 million copies of his thrillers in print. Yep, that's him, Tom replied.

Satisfied this was neither a joke nor a case of mistaken identity, I still had to think long and hard about Tom's proposal -- okay, that's not true.  I mulled it over for approximately 1.378 seconds, and said Yes.

Fast-moving, suspenseful, memorable--sounds just like a thriller, right? 

It's also a perfect description of the two live auctions planned, one during CraftFest and one during ThrillerFest. ITW authors, associate members, and friends of the organization have graciously donated unique items. Learn how you can participate, and what the exciting lineups are!

Hi, everyone, it's Shane Gericke writing from International Thriller Writers. (That's me on the right, holding an example of how not to dress for success.) I'm the chairman of AgentFest, the speed-pitching portion of ThrillerFest 2008.

Some of you have been asking for an event timeline, what you should wear, what the agents are like, how long each pitch is supposed to be, and other nitty-gritty questions. So I put together this handy field guide. So, with no further ado, here's what I know . . .

When is it again?

The afternoon of Thursday, July 10, 2008.

And where?

Same place we're throwing the rest of the convention: the Grand Hyatt Hotel, next to Grand Central Station in Manhattan. When July 10 is closer, I will let all the participants know exactly where to meet.

Is the cost of AgentFest included in my ThrillerFest registration?

No. AgentFest is a separately paid event--it is not included in what you pay for ThrillerFest and/or CraftFest. Each of the three Fests requires a separate ticket, as does the Saturday night awards banquet.

Detailed Conference Schedule

Jeff: How did you get involved in the International Thriller Writers Organization?

Elizabeth: ThrillerFest is a major undertaking. In 2007, the Board realized they needed someone full-time on the job, and lucky me got drafted. I had the time, and really wanted to do it, so I think it's worked out great for everyone.

What exactly does your position of Executive Director entail?

It involves 6-8 hours every day, usually 6 days a week, overseeing committee chairs and volunteers. We have superb people working on this year's ThrillerFest - who by-the-way do the vast majority of the work - I'm simply the point person. Together, we plan and execute every detail, and hopefully learn how to make the 2009 event even better. There's a lot that goes into putting on ThrillerFest. I didn't realize how much, but after almost a year on the job, I now understand. The old cliche is true - the devil is in the details. Absolutely.

What were your duties at last year's Thrillerfest?

I came on board during the last 60 days to assist Diane Vogt. So basically, I did whatever Diane told me to do. It was a great apprenticeship.

What was your most memorable moment at last year's conference?

ThrillerFest 2008 will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. There are limited rooms available at our conference rate. As soon as you register, please make your hotel reservation--don't wait! Once our block of rooms is filled, there will be no space available at the conference rate. You must be registered for the conference before making a hotel reservation. 

Latest news 06/05/08: ALL CONFERENCE RATE ROOMS ARE SOLD OUT. Please call the hotel at 800-233-1234 to check for availability of rooms at a non-conference rate.

• What interests them
• What authors they represent
• Recent titles sold
• Background
• Personal Remarks

Terrorism, Weapons, Bombs and Intelligence are great fodder for thrillers today. So, we're bringing in the experts to feed the curiosity of our readers and provide authors with the real scoop.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) will be our distinguished guest at ThrillerFest 2008.

Several Special Agents will demonstrate the weapons and tools the ATF uses in day-to-day operations. See and handle weapons used by law enforcement plus confiscated street guns and trafficking handguns! Learn about explosives and more! Get answers straight from the experts. (Hover cursor over weapons for identification.)

When Joseph Finder signed up to attend Thrillerfest in 2007, he had no idea how his life would change over that single weekend. His novel, Killer Instinct, won the best thriller of the year award. This year, he was a head judge for the contest and will be teaching two classes at Craftfest.

How has your life and writing changed as a result of winning best thriller?

Well, my writing life hasn't changed a bit -- I still go into the office every day and plug away at a new book. But winning the award was a huge lift -- and I'm still jazzed from it. I keep it on my desk right next to my computer monitor. It reminds me, when I need a little bucking up, that maybe I actually know how to do this. I forget sometimes.