Thriller Roundtable
The thriller and horror genres often go hand in hand, but this week ITW members Colin Campbell, Lee Murray, Carole Lawrence, Catharine Riggs, Eric J. Guinard, Sandra Ruttan, DiAnn Mills, Michaelbrent Collings and Andrew Bourelle will be discussing what thriller writers can learn from the horror genre. Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along!
Facebook? Twitter? Instagram? How much value do authors place on social media? This week we’re joined by ITW Members Colin Campbell, Ellen Byron, Lee Murray, Sandra Ruttan and DiAnn Mills as they discuss authors and social media. Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along!
Stand-alone novels vs. series. How does one become the other? This week we’re joined by ITW Members Colin Campbell, Ellen Byron, Lee Murray, Ava Bardley, DiAnn Mills, Kyle Mills and Erica Wright as they describe how and/or why a stand-alone novel would become a series. Scroll down to the “comments” section – you won’t want to miss this!
Sure, Google is the world’s most popular search engine, but besides Google, what’s your most common research tool? We kick off October with ITW Members Colin Campbell, Ellen Byron, Lee Murray and DiAnn Mills as they discuss what tools they use for research. Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along.
George Bernard Shaw said that “all professions are conspiracies against the laity.” This week ITW members Liam Sweeny, Paul D. Marks and Neil Plakcy will discuss how writers invite readers into the conspiracy? Scroll down to the “Comments” section below – you won’t want to miss this!
This week we’re joined by ITW Members Jessica Bayliss, J. T. Ellison, Cheryl Hollon, Paul D. Marks, David McCaleb, Arthur Kerns and Maria Alexander as they discuss the question: “Is the theater standard of a three-act play valid for thriller novels?” Click on the names and bookcovers below to learn more about this week’s authors, and scroll down to the “comments” section below to follow along. You won’t want to miss it!
With so many authors moonlighting as comic book writers these days, the Thriller Rountable couldn’t help but ask: “What can thriller writers learn from the comics industry?” ITW Members Liam Sweeny, Lisa Black, Jeff Mariotte, and J. H. Bográn join us this week to discuss the inevitable overlap between comics and thrillers. Scroll down to the “comments” section and follow along!
This week we’re joined by ITW members James Hilton, Kit Frick, Mysti Berry, David Simms, Frank Zafiro, Ronie Kendig, Connie di Marco and Jonathan Whitelaw, and we’re asking them “How do you raise the stakes to the next level?” Scroll down to the “comments” section and follow along – you won’t want to miss this!
If a mystery is a tale about solving a crime while a thriller is about stopping one, how would you write a blend of the two? That’s the question posed to this week’s all-star lineup of ITW Members: James Hilton, Linda Bennett Pennell, Nick Kolakowski, Mysti Berry, Richard Mabry, David Simms, Frank Zafiro, Dave Zeltserman, R. J. Pineiro, Martin Roy Hill, Ellison Cooper, Arthur Kerns and Alex Lettau. Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along!
Plotter or pantser? Since early man began scratching stories onto the walls of caves, the age-old question has been asked: How do you write, from the seat of your pants or are you a planner? This week ITW Members Ann Simas, James Hilton, Linda Bennett Pennell, Nick Kolakowski, Lynn Cahoon, Charles Salzberg, Kellye Garrett, Mysti Berry, Richard Mabry, David Bell, David Simms, Frank Zafiro, Ronie Kendig and Lane Stone will take a crack at it. Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along!
Whether it’s The Motorcycle Diaries and Midnight in Paris, or Misery and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, writers have always played some of our favorite protagonists. This week we ask ITW members James Hilton, Lynn Cahoon, Mysti Berry, David Bell, David Simms, Frank Zafiro and R. J. Pineiro the age-old question: Do you enjoy films with authors as protagonists? Why? Scroll down to the “comments” section to see how this one plays out!
Clues foreshadow how plots unfold and characters react. This week we’re joined by ITW Members Alan Jacobson, Jay Brandon, Robert J. Stava, Sarah Simpson and David Orange as they answer the question: What is the best clue you have inserted into a novel as a writer? Scroll down to the “comments” section to see how this unfolds!
With ThrillerFest firmly in our rearview mirror and our writing bucket full of inspiration, we turn to ITW Members Alan Jacobson, Patrick Oster, Jay Brandon, Robert J. Stava, Paul D. Brazill, Kim Alexander, Sarah Simpson, William Boyle, David Orange and Lisa Black as they discuss how they choose their character’s names. Scroll down to the “comments” section to see what they have to say!
Post ThrillerFest we’re discussing those grand climaxes so often associated with thrillers. We’re joined by ITW Members Martin Roy Hill, Alan Jacobson, Sandra Block, Robert J. Stava, Sarah Simpson, J.H. Bográn and Carole Lawrence as they answer the question: “Thrillers are known for their grand, loud, all-out climaxes. How do you set them up?” Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along. You won’t be sorry!
With ThrillerFest starting this week and Pitchfest on Thursday we’re honored to be joined this week by literary agents and editors Jill Marr, Chantelle Aimée Osman, Gina Panettieri, Peter Rubie, Ann Leslie Tuttle, Paula Munier and Terrie Wolf as they reveal the most common mistake writers make when approaching an agent. Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along. You really won’t want to miss this!
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SPECIAL FEATURES
- Between the Lines: John Sandford by Dawn Ius
- The Fifteen Minute Miracle: How I Learned to Stop Procrastinating and Start Writing by Kate White
- On the Cover: D. P. Lyle by J. H. Bográn
- On the Cover: Karen Harper by Wendy Tyson
- Trend Report: True Crime Memoirs by Dawn Ius
- ITW Award Nominees: Best Paperback Original Novel
- Up Close: Layton Green by P. J. Bodnar
- Up Close: Janet Evanovich by Dawn Ius
- Up Close: Charles Salzberg by Nish Amarnath
- International Thrills: Ashley Dyer by Dawn Ius
- Africa Scene: Max Annas by Michael Sears
- Up Close: Michael Stanley by Dawn Ius
- Up Close: Ronan Frost by J. H. Bográn
- AudioFile: The Many Mysteries of The Big Apple
- Up Close: Peter Houlahan by Dawn Ius
- Up Close: Jeremy Burns by Rick Pullen
- BookTrib Spotlight: Allison Montclair by Neil Nyren
- ITW Award Nominees: Best E-Book Original Novel
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.
