November 18 – 24: “Holidays and Thrillers, how can we combine the two concepts to up the ante in our writing?”

With Thanksgiving on the horizon we turn our focus to the holidays and thrillers. This week we ask ITW Members Karen Harper, Matthew Quinn Martin, Harold Bernard, Amy Lignor and Don Helin how can we combine the two concepts to up the ante in our writing?

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As the daughter of a career librarian Amy Lignor grew up loving books; ‘Patience & Fortitude’ at the NYPL were her heroes. Her Tallent & Lowery series has been a huge hit with readers – and is growing with each new puzzle she offers. Working as an editor in the publishing industry for decades, she’s now the Owner/Operator of THE WRITE COMPANION along with a new publishing company that will begin in November of 2013. A reviewer and writer for many, Amy contributes to SUSPENSE MAGAZINE, AUTHORLINK, THE FEATHERED QUILL and many others.

H. W. “Buzz” Bernard is a writer, retired Weather Channel meteorologist and USAF veteran.  His debut novel, EYEWALL, became a number-one best seller in Amazon’s Kindle Store in 2011. His second novel, PLAGUE, was published in 2012 and ascended to Kindle best-seller status last month. His third novel, SUPERCELL, a fast-moving drama set against tornado chasing on the Great Plains, was released earlier this month. Buzz is vice president of the Southeastern Writers Association.

Karen Harper is the NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of contemporary suspense and historical thrillers. Her most recent suspense is UPON A WINTER’S NIGHT, which has a holiday theme and is set among the Ohio Amish. A former university and high school English teacher, Harper has been published since 1982. Her books are also available in e-editions and audio as well as many foreign languages. She and her husband divide their time between Ohio and Florida.

Matthew Quinn Martin was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and raised in New Haven, Connecticut. However, it wasn’t until he moved to Manhattan that he realized he was a writer. These days, he lives on a small island off the North Atlantic coast of the United States where it gets quiet in the winter…perhaps too quiet.

During Don Helin‘s time in the military, he spent seven years in the Pentagon. These assignments have provided him background for his thrillers. His first novel, THY KINGDOM COME was published in 2009. His second, DEVIL’S DEN has been selected as a finalist in the Indie Book Awards. Don lives in central Pennsylvania where he is working on “Secret Assault,” to be published in Spring 2014.