The April edition of the Big Thrill is here!

29 new thrillers this month from ITW Members, plus a Between the Lines interview with Andrew Peterson by Brett King, the Top Ten Firearms Mistakes in Fiction by Chris Grall and News from South Africa by Michael Sears. Go behind the scenes as seven bestselling authors tell you about their courses at ITW's first-ever Online Thriller School. Have you registered yet? There are still a few spots left. Classes start April 7th!

You are here: Home » Thriller Roundtable

Thriller Roundtable

April 14 – 20: “Is fact really stranger than fiction?”

Is fact really stranger than fiction? This week, ITW Members Daniel Suarez, Laura Griffin, Phillip Donlay, Tom Wilde, Michael McBride, Colin Campbell, Paige Dearth, Tim Waggoner and Kathleen George will answer that question while exploring how weave the two to make a really compelling story.

April 7 – 13: “What are the dangers of modeling characters after people you know?”

This week we’re discussing the dangers of modeling characters after people you know. Join ITW Members Brian Poole, Tom Wilde, Richard Mabry, Colin Campbell and Paige Dearth as they discuss when they, as authors, resort to using this device.

March 31 – April 6: “Do characters speak to you?”

In a recent article in the Huffington Post, author Karen Dionne elaborated about how characters speak to some authors, to the point that it is almost like taking a dictation. Does this happen to you? What kind of characters do this and describe the process? This week ITW Members Connie Di Marco, Colin Campbell and Paige Dearth will weigh in on whether characters speak to them.

March 17 – 23: “Moral protagonists: rebels, or visionaries?”

This week Keith Deininger, Amy Shojai, and J.H. Bográn are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and talking about protagonists: “Protagonists often have a strong moral code that does not dovetail neatly with that of their society. Are they rebels or visionaries?”

March 10 – 16: “What can thriller writers learn from the movies?”

This week ITW Members W.D. Gagliani, William P. Wood, Keith Deininger, Amy Shojai, Chris Pavone, Don Helin, Julie Lindsey and Bernard Maestas go from the notebook to the big screen, as they answer the question: “What can thriller writers learn from the movies?”

March 3 – 9: “With the huge numbers of books published, is it possible to identify the “best”?

The awards season is in full swing and ITW Members Brad Parks, Keith Deininger and Amy Shojai are playing along too as they answer the question: With the huge numbers of books published, is it possible to identify the “best”?

February 24 – March 2: “How do news events shape your plots?”

This week join ITW Members Stephen Carbone, Lisa Von Biela, Daniel Suarez, Barry Eisler, Reggie Ridgway, William Lashner and J.T. Ellison as they discuss how news events shape their plots and answer the question that everyone is wondering: “How closely should thriller writers follow the news?”

February 17 – 23: “Is deception an essential feature of thrillers?”

This week we’re talking about deception! Join ITW Members Stephen Carbone, Lisa Von Biela, Jennie Mortimer and Brian C. Poole as they discuss whether or not deception is an essential part of thrillers and try to answer the question: “Would they otherwise be adventure stories?”

February 10 – 16: “Is travel essential to portray a setting? Is research ever enough?”

This week we join ITW Members Jean Harrington, Dan Mayland, Stephen Carbone, Lisa Von Biela, Patrick Lee, Jennie Mortimer, Chris Knopf, Marc Cameron, Don Helin and John Howard Swain while they discuss travel vs. research: “Is travel essential to portray a setting? Is research ever enough?”

Feb 3 – 9: “When were you first inspired to write?”

“When were you first inspired to write?”

Join ITW Members Stephen Carbone, Lisa Von Biela, Kelly Parsons, William Lashner and Marc Cameron as they reminisce about the what first inspired them to write.
more »

January 27 – February 2: “What’s the best advice you can give to a beginner writer?”

We have a full house this week, with ITW Members Mark Pryor, Lissa Price, Jaye Wells, David O’Neil, Don Helin, Lisa Von Biela, J. M. LeDuc and Terry Shames answering the question: “What’s the best advice you can give to a beginner writer?” You won’t want to miss it!
more »

January 20 – 26: OPEN FORUM: “Could Our Man in Havana be written today?”

This week the Thriller Roundtable is an open forum: all readers of the BIG THRILL are invited to comment as we discuss Our Man In Havana. Could it be written today? What other modern device might substitute for his elaborate plans? We look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts!
more »

January 13 – 19: “Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what type?”

This week we’re rockin’ out with ITW Members Melissa Groeling, Lisa Von Biela and J. H. Bográn while discuss music and writing and asnwer the question: “”Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what type?”
more »

January 6 – 12: “Why do you read and write thrillers?”

Start off 2014 in style! Join ITW Members Alma Katsu, Elizabeth Heiter, David O’Neil, Lissa Price, Kathleen George, Alison Joseph, L. J. Sellers, Brian C. Poole and Lisa von Biela as they answer the question on everyone’s mind: “Why do you read and write thrillers?”
more »

December 16 – 22: “The untraceable murder – is it possible?”

We have a full house this week and we’re talking murder! Coincidence? Probably not! Join ITW Members John Foxjohn, Quentin Bates, Lisa Black, Richard Godwin, Don Helin, Joseph Amiel, Amy Lignor and C.E. Lawrence as they answer the question on everyone’s mind: “The untraceable murder – is it possible?”
more »