The January 2018 Edition of The Big Thrill

Read the stories that were in the January edition of The Big Thrill.

To kick off 2018, we’ve produced a truly exciting issue. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child discuss their inspirations and the secret to their harmonious working style, and just as important, the essentialness of making this fun. Finding joy in what suspense authors do is a theme we found over and over in this issue, whether it’s James Rollins telling how finding the perfect location or scientific nugget makes a thriller explode, Hank Phillippi Ryan interviewing Aimee Hix on how she made her debut novel happen, Rick Pullen on crafting a female protagonist with just the right amount of vulnerability, or Laura Joh Rowland on exploring the shadowy delights of Victorian England.

We bring you interviews with A. J. Tata, Thomas Perry, Brad Taylor, Chanette Paul, F. Paul Wilson, Tim Waggoner, Marissa Garner, and many more. And, to top it all off, this month marks the launch of a brand new column, “Inside Creativity,” that goes deep inside the process, with Bryan Robinson penning a deeply inspiring story about the essential nature of resilience, the secret to success for a thriller writer.

From all of us at The Big Thrill, have a great year!

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: Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child by R.G. Belsky
• Off the Page: Creating a Young Female Journalist by Rick Pullen
• Inside Creativity: Secret Weapon for Thriller Writers by Bryan Robinson
• Debut Author Spotlight: Aimee Hix interviewed by Hank Phillippi Ryan
• African Scene: Chanette Paul by Michael Sears
• Up Close: James Rollins by Nancy Bilyeau
• Up Close: Thomas Perry by April Snellings
• Up Close: Brad Taylor by J.H. Bográn
• Up Close: Laura Joh Rowland by Nancy Bilyeau
• Up Close: A.J. Tata by J.H. Bográn

INTERVIEWS

• The God Gene by F. Paul Wilson
• Oath of Honor by Lynette Eason
• Dominic by Mark Pryor
• Sailor Take Warning by William Nikkel
• Beached by Micki Browning
• Written Off by Sheila Lowe
• The Deadly Lies by David C. Dawson
• Her Last Day by T.R. Ragan
• Back Story by Patricia McLinn
• A Map of the Dark by Karen Ellis

NEW RELEASES

• A Reckoning in the Back Country by Terry Shames
• Splintered Silence by Susan Furlong
• The Amendment Killer by Ronald S. Barak
• Darkness, Sing me a Song by David Housewright
• Deadly Deception by Marissa Garner
• The Man in the Crooked Hat by Harry Dolan
• Unnatural Causes by Dawn Eastman
• Honey-Baked Homicide by Gayle Leeson
• The Spy Who Never Was by Tom Savage
• Teeth of the Sea by Tim Waggoner
• The Legacy by S. P. Brown
• Pushing Up Daisies by Penny Clover Petersen
• May by Marietta Miles
• Blackchurch Furnace by Nathan Singer
• Pretty Girls Dancing by Kylie Brant

Coming Next Month

The latest thrillers from Carter Wilson, Alafair Burke, James Grippando, Lisa Black, J. D. Horn, DiAnn Mills, Eric Beetner, Simon Wood, Joseph Badal, Gary Phillips, Simon Maltman, Thomas Pluck, John Lutz, Chris Malburg, Tom Hunt, Ron Parham, Ginny Fite, Bonnie Hearn Hill, Richard Edde, Brendan Duffy and many more!

ThrillerFest XIII: Advance Registration is Open!

Your ThrillerFest team proudly announces that the 2018 conference, held at the Grand Hyatt, New York City from July 10-14, will include:

• 2018 ThrillerMaster George R.R. Martin
• 2018 Silver Bullet Award James Rollins
• 2017 ThrillerMaster Lee Child
• 2017 Silver Bullet Award Lisa Gardner

ATF Pre-Conference Workshop: Presented by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Add authenticity to your thrillers! The pre-conference ATF Workshop is a limited attendance event on the day before the main elements of the ThrillerFest conference. The cost is $150 which includes morning coffee service. Lunch is on your own during a 1.5 hour break. Space is limited and has previously sold out quickly. The workshop will be held at the Grand Hyatt.

Master CraftFest: This one-day intensive writing program allows your instructor to focus on your craft and your story. Everyone is welcome, from beginning writers to well-established authors. Teachers for Master CraftFest 2018 include top-selling members of ITW who will work with you in a small class setting. Instructors this year will be Steve Berry, Gayle Lynds, Grant Blackwood, F. Paul Wilson, Don Maass, Steven James, DP Lyle, and others. Space is limited, so sign up soon.

CraftFest: Learn the craft of thriller writing from the best in the genre! Hone your thriller writing skills on many topics to provide you with the tools needed to take your writing to the next level. Special feature: CareerFest! Now that you’ve written that sparkling manuscript, where do you go from there? You don’t want to miss it!

PitchFest: You asked for a time dedicated to pitching your projects to agents, editors, publishers, and producers – we listened! Face-to-face pitching with top agents who are actively looking for new thriller writer clients. Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity. Purchase an admittance package that includes PitchFest.

ThrillerFest: Spotlight guests, extraordinary programming, author book signings, and camaraderie. Includes the ThrillerFest Grand Opening Reception on Thursday evening.

Thriller Award Banquet: 2018 ThrillerMaster George R.R. Martin will receive his ThrillerMaster Lifetime Achievement award, introduced by 2017 ThrillerMaster Lee Child. 2017 Silver Bullet Award Lisa Gardner will present the 2018 Silver Bullet Award to James Rollins. All Thriller Award Winners will be announced. Fun, entertainment, and before and after cocktail parties!

Register Today!

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 January. You won’t want to miss it!

January 8 – 14: “Do you plot, plan, outline? Or, do you just go where your characters lead you? Why?”
January 15 – 21: “Character names – the first names can date an individual. Do names reflect the character of the character and do they offer their own tensions by defying a time period?”
January 22 – 28: “What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to the next generation of thriller authors?”
January 29 – February 4: “Are literary techniques like symbolism, metaphors and more going by the wayside with fast-paced thrillers of today?”

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 Wendy Heard, the winner of this month’s BIG THRILL giveaway. Wendy will receive an assortment of signed thrillers including Sins of the Fathers by Joseph Badal, Angel Babies by Ann Simas, Penitence by Ann Simas, Holy Smoke by Ann Simas, Writing & Selling Short Stories & Personal Essays by Windy Lynn Harris, Down To No Good by Earl Javorsky, Sacrificed by Chanette Paul, Written Off by Sheila Lowe, The Woman in the Camphor Trunk by Jennifer Kincheloe and Blood Run by Jamie Freveletti.

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