Our Thrilling Writing Community

ThrillerFest, Authors Guild Gala, and an Award in NYC!

Jun 06, 2024

Okay, well, you know I’m an introvert, right? But last week at ThrillerFest 2024 I had to get seriously in touch with my extrovert self! And truthfully, it was amazing to be out there connecting with friends old and new, teaching, learning, and being inspired. I think it was maybe the best ThillerFest ever. There was so much wisdom on offer, and so many brilliant and funny moments, magical ones, too. Here are some of my favorites:

From Tess Gerritsen via Lisa Gardner:

“When you’re heading out on book tour, always pack more underwear than you think you’ll need.”

Tess has always been honest about the hills and valleys of her careers, sharing the huge success she’s had, and also never flinching from telling it like it is about the challenges she’s faced, times when she thought her career was over, all the crazy things that can happen to a writer in this business from falling sales, to stolen movie rights. And yet there she was, an icon, someone writing and publishing at the top of her game with more than 40 million books in print. All my career, she has inspired me, supported me, and treated me with such kindness. It was just a joy to honor her and see her shine as brightly as ever.

On our panel about twists and reveals Ruth Ware said,

"A reveal answers the question the reader was asking. A twist answers the question the reader didn’t know she was asking."

And what a panel featuring the amazing talents of Louise Penny, Karin Slaughter, Joshilyn Jackson, Dervla McTiernan, Ruth Ware, S.A. Cosby — and me. We talked about everything from our mothers to writing for the “ideal reader” to what makes an exciting moment for our readers. The takeaway — a twist is great, but it has to be organic and rooted in character. No gimmicks please.

I also had the chance to sit down for a long interview with our Spotlight Guest the brilliantly talented and bestselling Ruth Ware. I feel like we needed another hour to really dig deep into the topics of character, process, the role of technology in her fiction, our librarian mothers, the road from aspiring to published and more. It was a lovely chat and I so enjoyed my time with this superstar.

I’ve heard Dennis Lehane speak a number of times over the years, and twice he’s recommended books that have found their way onto my forever favorites list. The first time was GHOSTS OF BELFAST by Stuart Neville. And this year in his wonderful conversation with co-prez Gregg Hurwitz he recommended the Booker Prize nominated SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE by Claire Keegan which was poignant, dark, beautiful and so propulsive that I read it in one sitting. I do so much reading because I have to. But Dennis reminded me to make to time to read the things I want to read, as well.

Shawn Cosby, who won the Thriller Award for Best Hardcover talked about having drinks in Paris with John Grisham and that moment of shocked cognitive dissonance when you realize you're just kind of "hanging out" with the people who inspired you as a writer. I felt that way, too, when I met Louise Penny, our Silver Bullet Award winner, for the first time this weekend. I was starstruck! She’s such an icon, a rare talent. But I also found her to be warm, exuberant, funny, and joyful. And she gave me a big hug and I thought I would just explode with happiness when I met her.

At the Authors Guild Gala, I had a moment when (the amazing) Adriana Trigiani was talking, and the sun was setting outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Chelsea Piers ballroom, and I was surrounded by people who are my colleagues but more so my dear friends and I was overwhelmed by gratitude for this bookish life, and all the people I am so blessed to know. Big thanks to Douglas Preston who sponsored the International Thriller Writers (ITW) table and made it possible for us to join.

Steph Cha, acclaimed author, former book critic for the Los Angeles Times, and editor of The Best American Mystery and Suspense Anthology, delighted and inspired everyone in her talk with Walter Mosley. I first met Steph years ago at ThrillerFest when she was just starting out and I remember that feeling of instant connection we had, and how it has only grown over the years. Her books are gritty, dark, full of insight and beauty, and if you haven’t read her yet, please do so. You can start with her stellar series about PI Juniper Song, and don’t miss her most recent YOUR HOUSE WILL PAY, a Los Angeles Times Book Prize and California Book Award winner (to name just a few of the accolades), a taut and powerful novel about racial tensions in LA and the aftermath of a decades old crime.

The ITW Debut Authors Breakfast was so joyful and inspiring, everyone brought their A- game, and spoke beautifully (which is not easy!) about the books they have coming out this year. And I met the lovely Mailan Doquang whose fantastic book BLOOD RUBIES I had the chance to read early and loved. I remember being a debut author at my first Bouchercon and meeting Dennis Lehane for the first time and I was so overwhelmed that I cried. (Years later, he gave me the most generous blurb and I still cherish his words.) And this weekend he was sitting across the table from me, being moved as well by these writers at the very beginning of their careers. And I was so grateful that ITW offers support at the beginning of this journey, because there was nothing like that when I started and sometimes I felt very much so on the outside looking in.

I delivered the ITW President’s address with my forever bestie and co-prez Gregg Hurwitz at the Thriller Awards banquet. We worked hard on it, writing it together, and running it through a bunch of times until we felt good about it. We wanted it to be funny but also meaningful about all the things we love about ITW. And we had a blast, and it was wonderful to stand in front of that room of 500 industry folks and realize that many of them we’ve known for years and are good friends.

Then we gave the Thriller Fan Award to one of my favorite people in the business, writer, and book critic Ayo Onatade. And she spoke so eloquently about what thrillers and this community have meant to her as a reader. And it was such a beautiful moment to hand her that award that meant so much to her — and to us!

Afterwards, I sat down, and it was such a relief to feel that we’d done a good job. Phew! I almost forgot that my story UNKNOWN CALLER was nominated for the Thriller Award for Best Short Story, but there were so many fabulous writers on the docket, including pals J.T. Ellison and Chris Bohjalian, that I never even thought I might win — then I DID! And guess what, after all the prep work for the conference, writing and practicing the address, researching and writing my interview with Ruth Ware, I never prepared anything to say in case I won the award. But I just got up and spoke from my heart, and — guess what else, it was fine — What a thrill!

And the night wound on. Lou Berney tried to get me to ride in a bass-pumping neon lit pedi cab, but I saved our lives by refusing. Then he and Daniel Palmer did a strange little dance for me in the AFTER after party at Rosie O’Grady’s (which thank gawd I caught on video) and it was THE BEST. We had a fantastic night out that was way too loud and rowdy, and perfect in every way. But mainly so because of the people — looking around the room I saw old friends, new friends, debut authors, career bestsellers, and everything in between. And we were together, celebrating the business that we love (most of the time) and each other. Then I led a pack of the introverts home around 1 AM which is very late for us these days!

As far as conferences go, I really can’t imagine it being better. I think everyone — from our amazing and iconic ThrillerMasters Dennis Lehane and Tess Gerritsen to our class of debuts just starting out — felt welcomed, safe, included and educated. I think we all connected with each other, made new friends, gleaned wisdom and left feeling inspired. I hope so. I know that’s how I feel as I return to my writing desk. And I’ll add grateful. I feel so grateful for this writing life, for ITW, and for all my friends old (thanks for taking a million selfies with me, R.L Stine!) and new.