The December 2016 Edition of The Big Thrill

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

In this month’s issue, cover subject James Rollins reveals how he balances the demands of action and character in his bestsellers. Andrew Peterson explores the driving force of a hero in “Off the Page.” And Simon Wood, Larissa Reinhart, and Carter Wilson share stories of their craft. We take you behind-the-scenes with authors working in fascinating places: the fiercely intelligent writing of Poland’s Zygmunt Miloszewski and the delightfully inventive mysteries of South Africa’s Paige Nick. Closer to home, Karen Harper shares her thriller-worthy Floridian locales in “Author Guided Tour.”

A seasonal treat: If you thought suspense fiction was holiday-immune—wrong. In “Trend Report,” Dawn Ius writes on how thrillers can throw tinsel with ease—and help everyone survive the season too!

Other engrossing interviews: Amanda Lee, Mark Edwards, Tim Washburn, 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.

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Between the Lines:  James Rollins by Dawn Ius
• Author Guided Tour: Karen Harper Explores Florida
• International Thrills: Zygmunt Miloszewski by Layton Green
• Africa Scene: Paige Nick by Michael Sears
• Off the Page: Andrew Peterson
• Debut Spotlight: Shannon Kirk Interviews Robert Rapoza
• Trend Report: Thrillers Take a Holiday by Dawn Ius
• Larissa Reinhart by Beth Terrell
• Carter Wilson by Dawn Ius
• Simon Wood by April Snellings

INTERVIEWS

• Beach Kill by Phyllis Smallman
• Walk Into Silence by Susan McBride
• And Then He Was Gone by Joan Hall Hovey
• The Naked Nymph in the Dark Flickers by Ray Dyson
• Storey by Keith Dixon
• Better Off Thread by Amanda Lee
• The Yeti by Rick Chesler and Jack Douglas
• Cataclysm by Tim Washburn
• This Is Our Story by Ashley Elston

NEW RELEASES

• Renting Silence by Mary Miley
• Above the Paw by Diane Kelly
• Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig
• The Devil’s Work by Mark Edwards
• No Good Deed Left Undone by Ginny Fite
• The Blackest Crimson by Debra Webb
• Painted Doll by Jonelle Patrick
• Dead by Midnight by Suzanne Robb
• Dark Fissures by Matt Coyle

Coming Next Month

The latest thrillers from Gregg Hurwitz, Thomas Perry, Blake Crouch, Adrian Magson, T. C. Lotempio, Ian Rankin, Laura Joh Rowland, Gigi Pandian, A. J. Davidson, Nichole Christoff, Linda Lee Kane, Patricia Smiley, Alexandra Ivy, Larry D. Sweazy, Melinda Leigh, Ritter Ames, Angel Luis Colón, Vincent Zandri and many more!

ThrillerFest XII: Early Bird Registration is Open!

Your ThrillerFest team is already hard at work planning for next July’s conference where we’ll feature 2017 ThrillerMaster Lee Child, 2016 ThrillerMaster Heather Graham, 2017 Silver Bullet Award recipient Lisa Gardner, 2016 Silver Bullet Award recipient John Lescroart and MATCH UP (ITW Anthology) authors: Lara Adrian, Steve Berry, C.J. Box, Sandra Brown, Lee Child, Nelson DeMille, Diana Gabaldon, Andrew Gross, Charlaine Harris, Lisa Jackson, Peter James, J.A. Jance, Michael Koryta, Gayle Lynds, Val McDermid, David Morrell, Kathy Reichs, John Sandford, Lisa Scottoline, Karin Slaughter, and Eric Van Lustbader.

Like a compelling page-turner, we need to keep you in suspense, so stay tuned for more details!

Master CraftFest: An extraordinary opportunity for writers and authors to meet and learn from the best in the industry in a full day of teaching and review of sample writing on Tuesday.

CraftFest: A host of industry experts or phenomenal teachers helping writers and authors improve their craft or assist in advancing their careers in classroom-type settings of hour-long sessions throughout the day Wednesday and Thursday morning.

PitchFest: An incredible opportunity for writers to pitch their manuscripts to as many of the best agents, publishers, and editors in the industry as they want on Thursday afternoon. (Note: Registration for PitchFest is an additional cost to either CraftFest or ThrillerFest and cannot be purchased as a stand-alone event for writers.)

ThrillerFest: A wonderful opportunity to meet the most successful and bestselling thriller authors in the world, starting with the Opening Night Cocktail Party on Thursday evening, and continuing with panels, interviews, and autograph sessions on Friday and Saturday.

The Thriller Awards Banquet, which is an added feature on the registration options, provides attendees a chance to see authors recognized by their peers for their work on Saturday night, the closing event. This is an amazing experience for both the readers and authors and should not be missed.

Register Today!

ITW’s Fourth Annual Online ThrillerSchool!

Starts March 13th, 2017!

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 13th, 2017, 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 December. You won’t want to miss it!

November 28 – December 4: “Stop taking care of the house or the yard, drop friends, abandon families? Discuss how writers can make more time for writing.”
December 5 – 11: “Are our stories about “save the world” or can we work at a microcosm level with everyday routines and human exchanges?”
December 12 – 18: “Your New Year’s resolutions for 2017, writing and thrillers?”
December 19 – 25: HOLIDAYS. NO ROUNDTABLE.
December 26 – January 1: HOLIDAYS. NO ROUNDTABLE.

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 Sue Griffith, the winner of this month’s BIG THRILL giveaway. Sue will receive an assortment of signed thrillers including Chasing Shadows by Karen Harper, Black Moon Rising by Ann Simas, Rage and Redemption in Alphabet City by Amy Grech, Walk Into Silence by Susan McBride, Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig, Love You Dead by Peter James, Cracked to Death by Cheryl Hollon, Anne + Henry by Dawn Ius, Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon, Blood on the Tracks by Barbara Nickless and Undercover Protector by Elizabeth Goddard.

All subscribers to The Big Thrill magazine are automatically eligible for the monthly drawing. CLICK HERE to subscribe to The Big Thrill.