Welcome to the Thrillerfest V Blog!

We hope you'll bookmark us, just as you bookmark so many of the hundreds of the International Thriller Writers that participate in our annual conference, held in New York City in July.

ITW is a youthful organization, always ready for a new way of looking at things. You'll find that dynamism here, in blog posts from authors, agents, editors and Thrillerfest attendees, past and present.

And that same excitement you feel from your favorite reads is evident in everything ITW does, and no wonder--the organization, staffing and publicity for ThrillerFest--including this new blog--is undertaken by volunteers, most of whom are ITW authors themselves.

So pull up a chair and stay awhile ... discover the latest news on what Thrillerfest V--the fifth anniversary of the conference--has to offer. Visit old friends, make new ones, ask questions, and hear about the remarkable things in store for the conference.

Whether or not you can come see us in New York--and we hope that you can!--please join us here. It's gonna be ... a thriller!

Kelli Stanley, Thrillerfest Publicity Committee Chair

Thrillerfest Publicity Committee:
Jeannie Holmes
CJ Lyons
Carla Buckley
Grant McKenzie

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Virginity

By Matt Hilton
ITW Debut Author of DEAD MEN'S DUST

I’m a Thrillerfest virgin. The 2009 event in New York City will be my first and I have to say that I am really looking forward to what promises to be an exciting and thrilling experience. Just look for the wide-eyed Englishman who has a passing resemblance to Meatloaf (according to some), John Candy (according to others) and to George Clooney (according to me) and that will undoubtedly be me.

Not many people will know my name as I write this, but hopefully (hands clasped firmly in prayer) by the time Thrillerfest comes around some - or even better many - of you will have read my debut book, DEAD MEN'S DUST. Thrillerfest will be my first real opportunity to gauge people’s reaction to the book in the US and I look forward to hearing their views with a mix of excitement and not a little trepidation. It’s scary stuff, but tempered by this will be the fact that I’ll be reacquainting myself with friends I met at last years Bouchercon in Baltimore and meeting some new friends who until now I’ve only ever talked to via the medium of email and blogs. I’m a member of ITW’s Debut Author Programme and part of the attraction of attending will be to shake hands with some of the nicest, most supportive people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.

This won’t be my first time in NY. But it will be my first opportunity to take a look around a city that grabbed my attention the first time I saw King Kong topple from the top of the Empire State Building (in black and white). My last visit was a quick 2 hour turn around where I got off an Amtrak train at Penn station, came out by Madison Square Garden, took a couple photos on my mobile phone of said ESB sans Kong, then was whisked to a traditional Jewish diner by my US agent. I ate great food, though I’ve no idea what it was, then went directly back to Penn Station and back on a train heading for Baltimore. I only remember New York in a series of disjointed flashbacks, so I’m going to take my time and have a good look around this time. I can’t wait.

I don’t really know what to expect, but that’s all part of the thrill.

http://www.matthiltonbooks.com/

http://www.joehuntervigilante.com

http://matthiltonbooks.blogspot.com
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1 comment:

  1. UnknownFebruary 26, 2009 at 5:08 AM

    Dear Mr Clooney...!

    Nice piece, Matt. You're graduation from quiet Cumbrian bloke to world-renowned author sounds like scarey stuff to me, but I know you'll stay grounded, which will further enhance your reader appeal.

    I hope you enjoy New York and the 'fest.

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