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Thrillerfest 2006 Thrillerfest, the International Thriller Writers’ first-ever annual conference, brought together some of the world’s biggest authors for a long weekend in Phoenix. Thursday kicked off with a series of panels and a reception to recognize the release of THRILLER, an ITW fund-raising anthology that earned a six-figure advance and contained 32 original stories. Proof that even household names are not always well-recieved, a copy of a negative New York Times review was pinned to a board and hosed down with a squirt gung by participating authors. ITW also announced that its membership now had a mere 1.7 billion copies of books in print worldwide. The conference was well-organized, with a sense of calm excitement pervading the panels and mass signings. Sandra Brown summed up the atmosphere by saying, “It’s exciting to meet other authors I read and admire,” she said. “Most writers are also fans.”
Technothriller author Gary Braver was more blunt: “Many thriller writers have been marginalized by the MWA (Mystery Writers of America) and we’re no longer disenfranchised,” he said, adding that the difference was a thriller is where “something bad is going to happen,” while in a mystery, “something bad happens, then you figure it out.” He said thrillers often are more concerned with the psychological aspects of a threat rather than the solving of a crime. Lee Goldberg, producer and writer for “Diagnosis Murder” and “Monk,” among others, is also a novelist, what his wife calls his “badly paying hobby.” “Thriller writers often get lost in the mix,” he said. “These people are not considered for Edgars (awards given by MWA). I think it’s great they’ve carved out their own niche, and it’s great to see them get the recognition they deserve. I’m 70 percent fan and 30 percent professional author.” Scott Beggs, who attended as a fan and aspiring writer, said thrillers are the perfect books for long plane flights. “A thriller is the best way to pass the time and lose yourself in the plot,” he said. “There’s certainly a constellation of talent here that’s hard to match anywhere else.” Blake Crouch said he was able to meet some idols like David Morrell and Lee Child. His agent, Linda Allen, was also on hand, but she crossed out the “agent” on her name badge so she wouldn’t be deluged with manuscript pitches. Alexandra Sokoloff said Thrillerfest was the most organized conference she had ever attended. Sokoloff, a successful screenwriter who has turned her hand to novels, said, “I’m used to going to Hollywood premieres, but the people in these rooms are gods and goddesses.” Jeffrey Anderson, whose novel SLEEPER CELL was a nominee for best paperback original, said, “I just like meeting interesting people.” He describes his work as straddling science fiction and science thrillers, but says ITW is a better fit for him than the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).
The highlight of the event
was the first-ever ITW awards ceremony, with Clive
Cussler given a Lifetime Achievement Award for his more
than 20 bestselling novels. Other award winners included: The “Killer Thriller band” closed out the event with a rocking set from a line-up that included the Killerettes: Heather Graham, Alexandra Sokoloff, and Harley Jane Kozak on vocals; Michael Palmer on vocals, congas, and harmonica; Daniel Palmer on vocals and harmonica; John Lescroart on acoustic guitar and vocals; David Morrell on keyboards; F. Paul Wilson and Blake Crouch on drums; David Simms and Nathan Walpow on guitar, and yours truly on bass. J.A. Konrath, author of the “Jack” Daniels series and an original ITW member, said it was good to hang out with old friends and added, “This conference conclusively proves that thriller authors can drink just as much as horror writers.” ITW was founded two years ago largely on the efforts of co-presidents Morrell and Gayle Lynds. More information on the organization is at www.thrillerwriters.org. (Copyright 2006 by Scott Nicholson) Back to Articles
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Scott Nicholson
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Brown also acknowledged the
ITW created an umbrella fro a diverse group of writers
who might be hanging on the fringes of other writing
organizations and genres. “Each writer has his or
her own voice and specialty,” Brown said.
“Medical, legal, technological, it’s a very
diverse group, even though we all fall into the larger
category of ‘thriller.’”
R.L. Stine, who was a
speaker at a luncheon, gave a warm and humorous
interview, saying his early love of scary comics led to
his interest in combining horror and humor. He said his
“Goosebumps” series was the first to appeal
widely to both girls and boys. “I found something
kids like,” he said in a bit of an understatement.
He also said he’d been described as “a literary
training bra for Stephen King.”