Thriller Roundtable
How hard do you work to avoid “formula” writing? That’s the question this week for ITW Members Keith Dixon, Alison Morton, Kfir Luzzatto, Holly Seddon, Richard Rowland Billingsley, Billy Lyons, Brian Klingborg and Peter James.
Whether the orchids in Heat of the Night, or the exotic tales of Uncle Charlie in Alfred Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt, why is the combination of villains and beauty so alluring? With ThrillerFest in full swing this week, we’re joined by ITW Members Meg Gardiner, Peter James, S. A. Stovall, Holly Seddon, Alec Cizak, Catherine Finger, Billy Lyons, Ellen Kirschman and Meredith Anthony. You won’t want to miss it!
This week we’re joined by ITW Members Melodie Winawer, Dennis Hetzel and J.H. Bográn as they discuss the advantages of using new media to bridge readers with authors.
Just like Madonna’s song “The Power of Goodbye,” how difficult it is to let go of a character? Is it different in a series vs. a stand-alone? This week ITW Members David Salkin, L.J. Sellers, Karen M. McManus, Melodie Winawer, David McCaleb, Dennis Hetzel and A.J. Kerns will discuss letting go.
Carrie? A Separate Peace? The Road? Rabbit At Rest? This week we’re joined by ITW Members Linda Thorne, Khaled Talib, David Salkin, Alan Drew, Christine Goff, Susan Wingate and Kendra Elliott as they answer the question: “What was the novel that turned you into a writer?”
Do publishers fact-check – or is that the author’s job? This week ITW members Jean Harrington, Elena Hartwell, Ovidia Yu, Alan Drew and Christine Goff will discuss who’s ultimately responsible.
This week ITW Members Dave Edlund, Dana King, Sam Wiebe, Sherry Knowlton, Anna J. Stewart, Sasscer Hill, Jeff Layton, Maris A. Soule, Danny Gardner and Bob Doerr discuss telling the story right: “How accurate must thrillers be to stay plausible, and yet still include imaginative tech or devices not in existence today?”
Some writers love inserting highly specific brand names and editors often pull those out. This week ITW Members Walt Gragg, Dave Edlund, Sam Wiebe, Alan Jacobson, Lynne Constantine and Sasscer Hill discuss what works and when? Is it advertising or are these an instant indicator of one’s personal wealth or whims?
This week we’re talking current events with ITW Members Bonnie Hearn Hill, Lisa Preston, Sam Wiebe, Sasscer Hill, Bob Doerr and A. J. Kerns: Which recent event would you love to include in your next novel and why?
We’ve got a full house to kick off May! This month we’re joined by ITW Members Karen Harper, S.W. Lauden, Sandra Block, Lisa Preston, William Lashner, Sam Wiebe, Sherry Knowlton and Sasscer Hill as they ponder the questions: “What proportion do thrillers represent of your overall reading? As a writer, do you read more non-fiction or genre fiction?”
This week we’re joined by ITW Members Lisa von Biela, John Hegenberger, Vicki Delany, Toni LoTempio, Cara Putman, DiAnn Mills, Lori Rader-Day, Alex Segura and A. J. Kerns who will discuss their favorite books…that they’ve written: “Of the books you have written, which is your favorite? And do your readers necessarily agree?”
This week ITW Members Lisa von Biela, Thomas Pluck and DiAnn Mills will discuss mental illness in thrillers. Is it always the antagonist? And, if not, are social ills always to blame?
Books often focus in on food but what about beverages? This week a full slate of ITW Members, including Lisa von Biela, Maris Soule, David White, Debbie De Louise, Vicki Delany, Toni LoTempio, Sue Owens Wright, Albert Tucher, Jake Bible, DiAnn Mills, Armand Rosamilia and Kate White discuss how thriller writers work coffee, alcohol or water into the lives of their characters.
Fiction can educate – explaining the routines and need for national security, public safety, and other government or corporate operations. This week ITW Members Lisa Von Biela, Susan Froetschel and J. H. Bográn answer the question, “Which thriller writers are skilled at educating the public on otherwise difficult public and business programs?”
Lists, lists and more lists. Does keeping lists help or distract from writing? ITW Members E. C. Ambrose, Charles Salzberg and Nancy J. Cohen weigh in on their list making process this week on the Thriller Roundtable.
Discover Tomorrow’s Hottest Thriller Authors Today on Inside Thrill Radio!
Inside Thrill Radio airs monthly, as host Jenny Milchman takes listeners deep behind the scenes to hear about brand new thrillers and how they came to be.
“Win, Lose, or Draw” is available starting April 19th: Three authors, who between them have racked up Edgar, Anthony, Agatha, Shamus, and Lefty award nominations, talk about their new thrillers! Will they win, lose, or draw at this year’s award ceremonies? Hear about their books and judge for yourself. Featuring guests Matt Coyle, Nadine Nettmann, and Lili Wright.
Click on a book title to read the feature story
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Between the Lines: MatchUp by Dawn Ius
- Africa Scene: Arthur Kerns by Michael Sears
- International Thrills: Israel Centeno by Layton Green
- Up Close: Peter James by Alex Segura
- Up Close: Meg Gardiner by R. G. Belsky
- Up Close: Mark Alpert by April Snellings
- Up Close: Wendy Webb by Nancy Bilyeau
INTERVIEWS
- The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker
- He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly
- Resurrection America by Jeff Gunhus
- Dead Spider by Victoria Houston
- Kill Devil Falls by Brian Klingborg
- Gone Without a Trace by Mary Torjussen
- American Static by Tom Pitts
- Hellmouth by Meredith Anthony
- The Fifth Reflection by Ellen Kirschman
- Persons Unkown by Susie Steiner
NEW RELEASES
- Two Nights by Kathy Reichs
- Don’t Close Your Eyes by Holly Seddon
- Vice City by S. A. Stovall
- Retalio by Alison Morton
- The Dogs of War by John Wayne Falbey
- The Drowned Girls by Loreth Anne White
- Shallow Grave by Brian Thiem
- Murder in Mayfair by D. M. Quincy
- Flashmob by Christopher Farnsworth
- The Sinking of the Angie Piper by Chris Riley
- Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown
- Parent Teacher Association by Jennifer Soosar
- One Punch by Keith Dixon
- The Butcher’s Bill by Martin Roy Hill
- Blood and Needles by Billy Lyons
- Gitmo by Shawn Corridan & Gary Waid
- Exodus ’95 by Kifir Luzzatto
- The Last Good Man by Linda Nagata
- Treble at the Jam Fest by Leslie Budewitz
- Down on the Street by Alec Cizak
- Lockdown by Laurie R. King
- The Inside Dark by James Hankins
- Anchored by Death by Catherine Finger
- A Matter of Trust by Nancy A. Hughes
- Murder of the Doctor’s Wife by R. Barri Flowers
- The Hacker Chronicles by Patrick Oster
- Death’s Footprint by Donna Warner & Gloria Ferris
- Buried to Die by Ann Simas
- Perish From the Earth by Jonathan F. Putnam
- Battle Scars by David M. Salkin
- Trance Logic by Richard Rowland Billingsley
- Final Girls by Riley Sager
