February 15 – 21: “As a thriller writer, do you read or write in other genres?”

You write what you read, or so the old saying goes. This week ITW Members Michael E. Rose, Suzanne Redfearn, Paul McGoran, Rita Carla Francesca Monticelli, Ken Newman, Magnolia Smith, Carol Goodman, Jodi McIsaac, Bernard Maestas, Bill Schweigart and Michael Byars Lewis discuss whether they, as thriller writers, read or write in other genres?

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Carol Goodman is the author of fourteen novels, including The Lake of Dead Languages and The Seduction of Water, which won the 2003 Hammett Prize, and, under the pseudonym Juliet Dark, The Demon Lover, which Booklist named a top ten science fiction/fantasy book for 2012. Her YA novel, Blythewood, was named a best young adult novel by the American Library Association. Her books have been translated into sixteen languages. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family, and teaches creative writing at The New School and SUNY New Paltz.

Paul McGoran lives and works in Newport, Rhode Island. His first novel was the noir thriller MADE FOR MURDER. He began writing crime fiction after a long career in marketing. His favorite thing about writing is disappearing into the mind and thoughts of his characters. He is convinced that writers like him have a form of multiple personality disorder–without the alarming clinical symptoms.

Bernard Maestas lives in paradise. A police officer patrolling the mean streets of Hawaii, he has a background in contract security and military and civilian law enforcement. When not saving the world, one speeding ticket at a time, and not distracted by video games or the internet, he is usually hard at work on his next book.

Bill Schweigart revives a bit of forgotten lore from the shadow of Washington, D.C. in his last novel, THE BEAST OF BARCROFT, which finds a devilish creature stalking the residents of Arlington. Its sequel, NORTHWOODS, will be available February 16, 2016. Bill is a former Coast Guard officer who drew from his experiences at sea to write the taut nautical thriller, SLIPPING THE CABLE. Bill currently resides in Arlington, VA.

With a father who was a former member of the Vietnam-era 82nd Airborne, a cousin who was a Green Beret in the eighties and nineties and a brother who is currently in law enforcement, is it any wonder that Magnolia grew up to marry a US Marine and write romantic suspense? Born and raised in North Carolina, Magnolia has always been an avid reader of detective and espionage stories of all types beginning as a child with Nancy Drew and continuing with Brad Thor and Vince Flynn. Magnolia is a member of International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America.  She is represented by Holloway Literary.

Ken Newman is author of four novels, the latest being the paranormal thriller Forsaken, released by Black Opal Books. Due for publication in summer of 2016 is his upcoming supernatural, detective thriller Lost Souls, released by Evidence Press. When not writing, he enjoys sculpting, cheesy monster movies, and building the occasional trebuchet. A member of the International Thriller Writers Association, Ken lives in East Tennessee with his wife Christian and their three daughters.

Rita Carla Francesca Monticelli was born in Carbonia, Italy. She has lived in Cagliari since 1993, earning a degree in biology and working as a writer, researcher, scientific and literary translator, and freelance web copywriter. Monticelli has authored L’isola di Gaia (The Isle of Gaia), Affinità d’intenti (Kindred Intentions), Per caso (By Chance), and the science fiction series Deserto rosso (Red Desert), which is also available in English. The Mentor is her sixth book.

Michael E. Rose is a Canadian author and journalist. He is also the former Chief of Communications for Interpol at the agency’s global headquarters in Lyon, France. His usual genre is spy thrillers, with the Frank Delaney series winning new readers year after year. He has now written a satire about Interpol, a big departure for him from his thriller writing.

Suzanne Redfearn lives in Laguna Beach, where she and her husband own a restaurant called Lumberyard. Her debut novel Hush Little Baby was a Target Recommends selection, and RT Book Reviews nominated it as Best Mainstream Fiction for 2013. Suzanne’s second novel No Ordinary Life was chosen as a Target Emerging Author selection and was chosen by RT Book Reviews as a Top Pick. Prior to becoming an author, Suzanne was an architect.

Jodi McIsaac grew up in New Brunswick, Canada. After stints as a short-track speed skater, a speechwriter, and a fundraising and marketing executive in the nonprofit sector, she started a boutique copywriting agency and began writing novels in the wee hours of the morning. She loves running and whiskey and is an avowed geek girl. She lives with her husband and two feisty daughters in Calgary.

Michael Byars Lewis is a former AC-130U ‘Spooky’ Gunship Evaluator Pilot with 18 years in Air Force Special Operations Command. A 25-year Air Force pilot, he has flown special operations combat missions in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. His first novel, SURLY BONDS, won three awards and his second novel, VEIL OF DECEPTION, will be released on April 19th.