September 9 – 15: “What are high stakes and why are they important?”

We hear the phrase “high stakes” quite often when it comes to writing and storytelling, but what does it really mean. This week we’re joined by ITW Members DiAnn Mills, Reece Hirsch, J. H. Bográn and Joanna Davidson Politano as they define high stakes and explain why they are so important. Scroll down to the “comments” section to follow along. You won’t want to miss this!

Joanna Davidson Politano writes historical novels of mystery and romance, including her debut Lady Jayne Disappears. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone’s story. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure? Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

Reece Hirsch is the author of five thrillers that draw upon his background as a privacy attorney. His first book, THE INSIDER, was a finalist for the 2011 Thriller Award for Best First Novel. His next three books, THE ADVERSARY, INTRUSION and SURVEILLANCE, all feature former Department of Justice cybercrimes prosecutor Chris Bruen. Reece is a partner in the San Francisco office of an international law firm and cochair of its privacy and cybersecurity practice. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation (VADFoundation.org).

J. H. Bográn is an international author of novels, short stories and scripts for television and film. He’s the son of a journalist, but ironically prefers to write fiction rather than facts. His genre of choice is thrillers, but he likes to throw in a twist of romance into the mix. He currently divides his time as resource development manager for Habitat for Humanity Honduras, teaching classes at a local university, and writing his next project. He lives in San Pedro Sula, Honduras with his wife, three sons and a “Lucky” dog. His motto is “I never tell lies, I only write them!”