SAILING TO THRILLERFEST!

I am thrilled to be going to ThrillerFest 2007 in 8 weeks - but I'm just flying up to NY from south Florida. Ho hum.

Author Christine Kling had a better idea. She's sailing from Fort Lauderdale to ThrillerFest! She's trying to leave this weekend via Grand Bahama Island if the winds behave, otherwise she'll head up on the Intracoastal. Either way, she's going to be blogging about her trip, posting pictures along the way, and also working on her new stand alone thriller so she'll be blogging about that too. Check it out: http://www.sailblogs.com/member/kling/

Pick up a copy of her latest book, WRECKER'S KEY, where heroine Seychelle Sullivan finds some danger on the high seas....

As Chris likes to say, Fair Winds!

THRILLERFEST - FOR FREE!?!

Are you a debut author with a book out in 2007 or 2008? Would you love to attend ThrillerFest 2007 in New York City but haven't quite figured out how to pay for it?

ITW is offering two scholarships for debut authors to attend ThrillerFest 2007 in New York City July 11-15. The scholarship is for the conference registration fee, CraftFest, and the Thriller Awards Dinner. Lodging and transportation is not offered as part of the scholarship.

CRITERIA: You must have a book published or scheduled for publication in 2007 or 2008 by an ITW recognized publisher. You do not have to be an ITW member to apply.

To apply, you must send the following information to the Scholarship Committee Chair, Allison Brennan at allison@allisonbrennan.com:

NameContact information (address, phone number and email)
Pen Name (if any)
Book Title
Publisher
Editor
Release date (tentative is okay)
Brief synopsis (one page or less)
Essay telling the committee in 500 words or less why you would like to attend ThrillerFest and what you hope to gain from the experience.

All submissions are blind. Only the committee chair will have the identity of the author; the synopsis and essay will be sent "blind" to the committee for review and discussion. The deadline for applications is May 31, 2007. The two scholarship winners will be notified by June 7, 2007. If you have any questions, please email the committee chair at allison@allisonbrennan.com.

THE OVERLOOK

Michael Connelly's latest is just proof that good things come in small packages. Reviewed on the webiste (hint: it's fabulous!) here are some bonuses for after you've read it --

Extra goodies - Connelly posted an additional chapter - a new last chapter, if you will, on his website. But don't go reading it until after you've read the book! SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!
http://www.michaelconnelly.com/Bonus/bonus.html

Now this is really fun. The publisher has come up with some cool stuff too - since the investigation never leaves one page of the Thomas Guide map, they created a trivia game.
And here's some language that might help you out: Explore the scene of the crime as The Overlook by Michael Connelly jumps off the map. Test your Los Angeles knowledge and earn your LAPD rank!
http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/features/overlook/overlook.html

Have fun!