The October 2015 Edition of The Big Thrill

Read the stories that were in the October edition of the Big Thrill.

The October issue contains a number of exciting firsts. This month Sue Grafton makes her debut in The Big Thrill, with a candid conversation on the craft of writing. In the first outing of the column “Turning Point,” Karin Slaughter reveals what’s different about her new novel, Pretty Girls. “Trend Watch” will report on changes in suspense publishing, and Dawn Ius writes about horror making a resurgence in YA, taking its darker cue from what’s on TV these days. In “Guided Tour,” Peter Tonkin gives a first-hand account of exploring Dahab, an Egyptian town on the coast of the Sinai Peninsula, which became the setting of his new novel.

Lee Child gives an exclusive interview to The Big Thrill on finding the boundaries of Reacher’s world. C.M. Elliott talks about writing books set in Zimbabwe and Viktor Arnar Ingolfsson about the writing life in Iceland. Don’t miss our other interviews with Jon Land, Kristi Belcamino, Rick Mofina, Richard Godwin, Leigh Perry, James Hankins, Allen Eskens, Kira Peikoff, and many more.

Hot off the press:
Click on the book title below to read the feature story or click here to scroll through all of this month’s articles.

• Between the Lines with Sue Grafton on X, interview by Nancy Bilyeau
• International Thrills: An interview with Viktor Amar Ingolfsson, by Layton Green
• Turning Point: An interview with Karin Slaughter, by E.M. Powell
• Africa Scene: An interview with C.M. Elliott, by Joanne Hichens
• Trend Spotting: The fear factor in YA, by Dawn Ius
• Guided Tour: Peter Tonkin on Dahab
• Make Me by Lee Child
• Wrong Crowd by Richard Godwin
• The Backlist by Eric Beetner and Frank Zafiro
• Strong Light of Day by Jon Land
• The Prisoner’s Gold by Chris Kuzneski
• Death, Taxes, and a Chocolate Cannoli by Diane Kelly
• Shattered by Cynthia Eden
• Every Second by Rick Mofina
• Give Us This Day by Tom Avitable
• Deadlock by DiAnn Mills
• The Third Place by J. Sydney Jones
• The Right Wrong Thing by Ellen Kirschman
• Blessed Are Those Who Mourn by Kristi Belcamino
• The Guise of Another by Allen Eskens
• Pane and Suffering by Cheryl Hollon
• Die Again Tomorrow by Kira Peikoff
• The Prettiest One by James Hankins
• The Skeleton Haunts a House by Leigh Perry
• The Horse Hide by J. R. Scott
• Charlotte’s Story by Laura Benedict
• The Survivors by Robert Palmer
• Fighting Chance by B. K. Stevens
• Good Earl Gone Bad by Manda Collins
• Primordial by Toby Tate
• Wonderland by Jennifer Hillier
• Warpath by Ryan Sayles
• Coast to Coast by Paul D. Marks and Andrew McAleer
• Mother of Demons by Maynard Sims
• Guaranteed Heroes by William Lashner

Coming Next Month

The latest thrillers from Tess Gerritsen, Jeff Lindsay, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, David Baldacci, Allison Brennan, Lisa Scottoline, Mark Leggatt, Austin S. Camacho, Alan Jacobson, C. Joseph Greaves, Paul McGoran, Elizabeth Edmondson, Toby Tate, Cathy Clamp and many more!

New E-Releases from ITW Members

• Luring Shadows by Kristina Rienzi
• Thor Bunker, A Short Story by Lynn Sholes & Joe Moore
• Speak the Word by Justin Bog
• Cat in a Zebra Zoot Suit by Carole Nelson Douglas
• Project Hyperion (A Kaiju Thriller) by Jeremy Robinson
• Hidden Sins by Alison Joseph
• The Morisot Connection by Estelle Ryan
• Tempus: The Phoenix Man by Matt Hilton
• Aim to Kill by Allison Brennan
• The Tomorrow Heist by Jack Soren
• The Girl in Red Pajamas by Chris Birdy
• The Advocate’s Geocache by Teresa Burrell
• Death Do Us Part by JG Faherty
• The Horse Hide by JR Scott
• Convalescence by Maynard Sims
• Light by Paul Dale Anderson
• The Other Side: Melinda’s Story by Starr Gardinier
• Nation of Enemies by H.A. Raynes

New Audio Books from ITW Members

• Calvin’s Head by David Swatling
• The Girl in White Pajamas by Chris Birdy
• Midnight Vengeance by Lisa Marie Rice
• Midnight Secrets by Lisa Marie Rice
• Cat in a Zebra Zoot Suit by Carole Nelson Douglas

ThrillerFest XI: Early Bird Registration is Open!

Your ThrillerFest team is already hard at work planning for next July’s conference where we’ll feature 2016 ThrillerMaster Heather Graham and bestselling authors C.J. Box, Gillian Flynn and Walter Mosley. The 2016 Silver Bullet will be announced shortly. Like a compelling page-turner, we need to keep you in suspense, so stay tuned for more details!

Master CraftFest:  Don’t miss this opportunity to study with the Masters of the genre in a one-day intensive workshop to take your writing to the next level. Everyone is welcome, from beginning writers to well-established authors. The instructors this year will be Steve Berry, Grant Blackwood, David Corbett, Meg Gardiner, Heather Graham, Andrew Gross, Richard Krevolin (Screen Writing) and Gayle Lynds.

CraftFest:  Director D.P. Lyle, M.D. is already recruiting talented teachers to broaden your knowledge about the craft of writing as well as experts in fields like forensics and firearms so you can get the facts right in your novel.

PitchFest:  PitchFest is dedicated to pitching your project face-to-face to agents, editors, and producers. It’s an unprecedented opportunity for writers looking to get or change agents. Check out some success stories! 

ThrillerFest:  We’re planning some phenomenal panels, always trying to innovate and entertain. Join us for the spotlight interviews, cocktail parties, workshops, and fabulous networking opportunities. Please check the volunteer box during registration, as it’s a great way to make new friends and help out ITW.

Register Today!

ITW’s Third Annual Online ThrillerSchool!

Starts March 14th, 2016!

Seven Weeks! Seven Bestselling Authors!

Join Lee Child, Meg Gardiner, David Corbett, James Scott Bell, Peter James, Hank Phillippi Ryan and F. Paul Wilson.

In this seven-week program, which begins March 14nd, 2016, the craft of thriller writing will be front and center. Each instructor will teach an aspect of craft though a podcast, written materials that include further reading and study suggestions, and an entire week of online Q&A with the registered students. The goal is simple: To make each student a better writer.

Like the past two years, the online school will fill up very quickly, so register soon. Visit ITW’s Online Thriller School for more information.

The Thriller Roundtable

Whether you’re a fan or an author, you’ll want to join the Thriller Roundtable discussions at The Big Thrill website, where each week a new group of authors discuss everything from what they love about writing thrillers, to what they’ve learned, and more.

Check out what’s in store for October. You won’t want to miss it!

September 28 – October 4: “Must a thriller prompt fear in readers? Can a plot work without that emotion?”
October 5 – 11: “Some editors make big changes in a manuscript. What is the best change you ever received from an editor? The worst?”
October 12 – 18: “Trends tend to emerge among thrillers. Should a writer try to stay current, anticipating these trends or avoid trends altogether?”
October 19 – 25: “Does the layout of your home or those of friends or acquaintances make appearances in your novel?”
October 26 – November 1: “As an author, do you find it more difficult to just read for pleasure?”

Authors, don’t miss this promotional opportunity! Participate in the Thriller Roundtable by contacting J.H. Bográn.

The Neverending Book Giveaway

If you’re a thriller fan who likes to win free books, be sure to check out the Neverending Book Giveaway on The Big Thrill website. Sign up for as many of the contests as you like! Just post a reply, and you’re entered!

Don’t forget to scroll down the list of contests or CLICK HERE for more contests and giveaways so you don’t miss any. (Tip: to shorten the display, click “Toggle Comment Threads.”) And because this book giveaway is “neverending,” be sure to check back often to enter the latest drawings!

Monthly Giveaway

Congratulations to Christopher Castoro, the winner of this month’s BIG THRILL giveaway. Christopher will receive an assortment of signed thrillers including Slaughter by John Lutz, Anne & Henry by Dawn Ius and Coast to Coast: Murder From Sea to Shining Sea edited by Andrew McAleer and Paul D. Marks.

All subscribers to THE BIG THRILL online magazine are automatically eligible for the monthly drawing.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to the BIG THRILL email.