Thrillerfest Summary

Okay, I am going offline until Friday, on vacation, so I wanted to summarize Thrillerfest, and I'm sure I'll forget something, so feel free to ask questions.

John Lescroat
One of the "writing" tips that stuck with me the most was one I heard Sunday at the John Lescroat brunch. His best advice for writers was "just get to the end." In other words, quit obsessing about each page and each word and finish the book, then go back. He is a very funny man, very open and honest, and he showed a very human side when he thanked his wife and got a little emotional.

Clive Cussler
Dr. Cussler spoke during his award at the banquet, and he is funny, quick-witted and he told some great stories. The best ones were those he told about trying to sign his books when he saw people reading them, and their responses. Most of them didn't believe him. It reminded me of the time I went into Albertson's and I asked to sign their stock. The guy asked me how he was supposed to know that was me, and I was thinking, "What, is there a crime spree of people signing other people's books? Is this a big problem?" Cussler is JUST as sharp as ever, and what a thrill to see him in person and hear him speak.

Gayle Lynds
Gayle did a great workshop on the eight points of writing a thriller (I'm sure my wording is off, but it was something like that), and I'm hoping someone took notes. If you did, let me know, and I'll post it. Gayle is very sweet and open, and she did a great job with all of her duties.

David Morrell
When you consider that this man CREATED Rambo, you are pretty awestruck, and then you figure out just how cool he really is. I'm really sorry, David. Next time, I will wait until you are through chewing your vegetables before I try to take a picture.

CJ Lyons
CJ was this year's chair, and she did an AWESOME job. I am so impressed. She deserves a round of cyber-applause for all she did. Everything was great, and what fun! It was informative, entertaining, and uplifting

James Born
I attended a workshop put on by Born, who is a Florida police officer with all kinds of credentials (SWAT, DEA, etc.) and he is also an author and damned funny. We got to look at real guns, and hear the big mistakes writers make in books, and how NOT to make them. I also admitted to Tess Gerritsen that the way I avoid making mistakes about gun and ammo is by being vague. And now I'm sure that those words will come back to haunt me, but I want you ALL to know that I held a Glock. Yes, I did. No, it did not have bullets. They are not THAT dumb.

I was SO impressed with SO many authors, I bought way more books than I could really afford, and I can't wait for next year.

The only downside, as far as I can see, was the price of everything at the Arizona Biltmore. Water was $6. "Good, God, don't open that!" Water? Please. Alcoholic drinks were horribly high priced. A Diet Pepsi (like Bill Gates, Pepsi is trying to take over the world. You cannot FORCE us to like Pepsi, Pepsi People!) was $4.25 for a 20 oz. bottle. The bills were pretty messed up, and by the end of the trip I would have had to sell one of my children, had they been with me, to get a cab ride to the airport. Do rich people think that to prove you are rich you must pay more money for things? Pepsi is Pepsi. Paying $4.25 for it does not make it Diet Coke. (Disclaimer: I do not work for Diet Coke, but I'm pretty irked with the Pepsi people and their attempt to convert the world. I think they are taking lessons from the Mormons.)

Last set of pictures

John Lescroat and the Killerettes perform at the Awards Dinner. The Killerettes are AKA Alexa Sokoloff, Heather Graham, and Harley Jane Kozak.



The adorable and young (yet apparently, extremely talented) Marcus Sakey, author of the upcoming (highly raved about) debut THE BLADE ITSELF, learns all about guns. Be still my old heart.



Lee Goldberg on a panel. Lee is still taking slack because of a question his daughter had for RL Stine, at the luncheon. Come on, it was a GOOD question. How can tears run down a mermaid's face if she is locked in an aquarium? Lee swears the question was his daughter's and she backed him up.




Jim Born and Robin Burcell, after Jim's presentation.



Kayla Perrin and Laura Caldwell after one of the panels. (Thanks to Jeff Abbott for telling me who it was. I remembered her face, but I must be getting old, because I could NOT remember her name.)



Heather Graham and moi at the Awards Banquet.



The lovely Erica Spindler on her panel.



Debra Webb, Suzanne Barr and Moi. These ladies were AWESOME and so much fun.



Deborah LeBlanc and Heather Graham.



Look at Deborah LeBlanc! (She is going to kill me for this, I promise you.)



Clive Cussler accepts his award at the banquet. He was so charming, and funny!



Bob and Eileen Hutton. Eileen is the co-owner of Brilliance Audio.



Brad Meltzer doing his Mr. Magoo impression.



The ladies in black.



The Arizona Biltmore.

I'm entirely disappointed I didn't get more "blackmail" type photos. But that would have required me going places I didn't exactly want to go--ya know?

Thrillerfest Winners

Okay, I'm now in Burbank, attending a dance competition with my daughter. This is after a horrific four hours in the Phoenix airport. No thanks. Can I NOT do that again?

I wanted to post the winners of the first annual Thrillers. Since I couldn't remember them all, and didn't want to strain my brain looking at the program, I stole them from the BookBitch site! Thanks, Stacy! FYI, she's not a bitch at all. Quite lovely, really.
The winners of the first ever THRILLER Awards:

Best Screenplay - CACHE (Hidden), screenplay by Michael Haneke

Best First Novel - IMPROBABLE by Adam Fawer (William Morrow)

Best Paperback Original - PRIDE RUNS DEEP by R. Cameron Cooke (Jove)

Best Novel - THE PATRIOT'S CLUB by Christopher Reich (Delacorte Press)

As previously announced, the first ThrillerMaster Award went to Clive Cussler

Thrillerfest Roundup

Today is the final day of Thrillerfest, and although many have already departed, we are getting ready for the final brunch and interview with John Lescroat (Pronounced Le SQUAW--kinda).

Everybody is pretty weary, especially after the late night at the awards banquet, but it was a great time. The award is pretty cool looking, and the winners were really excited. Right about now I can't tell you who they are because I can barely remember my name. In fact, I was on the "Hair of the Dog" panel this morning and I can tell you that I am not the only author who can't remember their own name, let alone anybody else's, so I shall be blogging more about this tomorrow.

I'm about to get on a plane for California, so the loading up of more pictures will have to wait, but I promise they are coming.

For now, I will sign off with the cliched line, "And a great time was had by all."