The July 2018 Edition of The Big Thrill

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

ThrillerFest XIII promises to top itself this year, featuring talks from George R. R. Martin, Megan Abbott, Lee Child, James Rollins, and Lisa Gardner. In this issue of The Big Thrill, Neil Nyren writes about Jeremy Finley’s work, and we feature debut author Ellison Cooper. We interview bestsellers Sandra Block, Alan Jacobson, Riley Sager, William Martin, and more than 25 other novelists, as well as “James Wolff,” who wrote a spy thriller set in Syria using a pseudonym.

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

• Thrillerfest XIII: Conference Lowdown by Nancy Bilyeau
• Thriller Award: Best Hardcover Novel by Dawn Ius
• Thriller Award: Best Young Adult Novel by Dawn Ius
• Thriller Award: Best Short Story by Dawn Ius
• Neil Nyren Spotlight: Jeremy Finley and the Unimaginable
• Debut Author: S.L. Huang Chats with Ellison Cooper
• Author Guided Tour: James Hockenberry Travels to NYC 100 Years Ago
• International Thrills: James Wolf by Layton Green
• Africa Scene: Karin Brynard by Michael Sears
• Up Close: George R.R. Martin by Nancy Bilyeau
• Up Close: Sandra Block by Wendy Tyson
• Up Close: Riley Sager by April Snellings
• Up Close: Alan Jacobson by J.H. Bográn
• Up Close: William Martin by E.M. Powell
• Up Close: Amy Stuart by April Snellings
• Up Close: Susan Spann by Steve P. Vincent

INTERVIEWS

• A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman
• Caged by Ellison Cooper
• Last Year’s Man by Paul D. Brazill
• Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer
• The Glass Girl by Kim Alexander
• The Lonely Witness by William Boyle
• Her Greatest Mistake by Sarah Simpson
• Safe Houses by Dan Fesperman
• Loved By Darkness by Autumn Jordon
• Against the Law by Jay Brandon

NEW RELEASES

• Dive Smack by Demetra Brodsky
• Dirty Who? by Jerry Kennealy
• Like to Die by David Housewright
• The Lost World of Kharamu by Robert J. Stava
• Obsessed by Joseph Badal
• Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey
• The Fall of Grace by Amy Fellner Dominy
• Final Resting Place by Jonathan F. Putnam
• The Amazon Detective Agency by Patrick Oster
• Songs of Innocence by Anne Coates
• The Fifth to Die by J.D. Barker
• 39 Winks by Kathleen Valenti
• Deep Cherry Red by Bob Bickford
• Don’t Believe it by Charlie Donlea
• The Case of the Missing Drag Queen by Michael Rupured
• Murderess on the Loose by R. Barri Flowers
• Beyond Control by Kat Martin
• Proof of Innocence by Patricia McLinn
• The Powder Merchant by David Orange
• Killer by the Road by Ronald E. Hignite
• Irrational Fears by Lee Lindauer
• Plum Springs by Dan Lawton

Coming Next Month

The latest thrillers from Karin Slaughter, Lori Rader-Day, Megan Abbott, A.J. Banner, Sonja Stone, Kellye Garrett, James Hilton, Ronie Kendig, Shari Randall, Kit Frick, David Bell, Rachel Amphlett, Richard Mabry, MD, Lynn Cahoon, Col. David Hunt & R. J. Pineiro, Gray Basnight, Angel Luis Colón, Ray Clark, Frank Zafiro & Eric Beetner, Nick Kolakowski, Connie Di Marco, Heather Redmond, Scott McEwen and many more!

ThrillerFest XIII: There’s Still Time to Register!

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
• 2018 Spotlight Guest Megan Abbott

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 this month. You won’t want to miss it!

July 2 – 8: “How much editing/revisions do you do before sending a new project to a publisher?”
July 9 – 15: “What is the most common mistake writers make in approaching an agent?”
July 16 -22: “Thrillers are known for their grand, loud, all-out climaxes. How do you set them up?”
July 23 – 29: “How do you choose your character’s names?”
July 30 – August 5: “Clues foreshadow how plots unfold and characters react. What is the best clue you have inserted into a novel as a writer?”

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!