E.J. Findorff's Blog
July 21, 2018
Thrillerfest 2018
Another year, another fantastic Thrillerfest.
This was my fifth year attending this amazing conference. Unlike other writer events, this one has the networking element, with cocktail parties thrown in every night. Being from New Orleans, drinking socially is right up my alley. My network of friends and industry professional get bigger with each year. I'll admit, Pitchfest is still the big draw for me. Putting your face in front of agents and editors is invaluable. But, that happens on a Thursday, the same day I leave Chicago, so I take the earliest flight at 6a.m., landing at LaGuardia about 9:30a.m.SIDEBAR: What the hell is going on at that airport? The place looks like a a bombed out European city during WWII. The roads are like knotted shoestrings or designed by Dr. Suess. It took forever just for the free bus to get us to the subway because the shuttle I usually take had changed its hours. I mean for 360 degrees, every damn structure is under some kind of repair or demolition. As odds would have it, I met a nice Columbian woman going to Grand Central Station where my hotel was, so we chatted along the way.
I got my room, ran into Steve Vincent, author from Australia, and we immediately started the line for Pitchfest. For the next hour we practiced. I won't name names in my pitching journey as they are currently considering my manuscript and I just don't want anyone to know who is really my favorite. But, in my first stop in the "speed dating" setup, because we have gotten to know each other over the past two years, we greeted each other with a friendly hug (yes, face to face is invaluable). Other agents know me by name, also, and it is reassuring that even if/when they pass on my manuscript, it isn't because I was a faceless email they threw into the slush pile.
After pitchiest, I met up with Steve Vincent and Lynne Constantine in the Hyatt bar "where the magic happens." It amazes me how many authors, agents, or editors will cycle in and out of our group, chatting and having a beer or cocktail. LOVE THIS PLACE. Anytime of day during the conference, you could run into and chat with an industry professional.Speaking of which, I ran into Jon Land (who hasn't), and Karin Slaughter. Jon Land proceeded to take this picture where he indicated who is more important. He couldn't hold my cell straight with the beer in his hand. But, at any time you can run into Lee Child, James Rolllins, or even George RR Martin, who was Thrillmaster this year. I was only a "fanboy" with Karin Slaughter.
I had just read The Fourth Monkey and sent J.D. Barker an email message that I'd try to meet him at the fest. He emailed me back, saying, yes, search me out. Well, not only did I meet him. I ran into him at least five other times. He even sat by me at the debut authors breakfast where we chatted a bit. He is on the cusp of greatness. His latest book The Fifth To Die is now out.
Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep, and I drank late every night. There were so many more pictures I could have gotten, but I was too busy enjoying the conference instead of trying to record it. I ran into agent Doug Grad in the Hyatt bar one night and had a nice conversation. He wasn't able to take pitches at pitchiest and I was disappointed, so seeing him in the bar was fantastic. And he remembered me by name. After catching up, he invited me to pitch him again through email. Sweet!(yes, face to face is invaluable).Below are some shots of the great panels, including George RR Martin, Karin Slaughter, Lee Child, James Rollins, Lynne Constantine and Val Constantine, Daniel Palmer, R.L. Stein, Megan Abbott, Steve Berry and many more...
This was my fifth year attending this amazing conference. Unlike other writer events, this one has the networking element, with cocktail parties thrown in every night. Being from New Orleans, drinking socially is right up my alley. My network of friends and industry professional get bigger with each year. I'll admit, Pitchfest is still the big draw for me. Putting your face in front of agents and editors is invaluable. But, that happens on a Thursday, the same day I leave Chicago, so I take the earliest flight at 6a.m., landing at LaGuardia about 9:30a.m.SIDEBAR: What the hell is going on at that airport? The place looks like a a bombed out European city during WWII. The roads are like knotted shoestrings or designed by Dr. Suess. It took forever just for the free bus to get us to the subway because the shuttle I usually take had changed its hours. I mean for 360 degrees, every damn structure is under some kind of repair or demolition. As odds would have it, I met a nice Columbian woman going to Grand Central Station where my hotel was, so we chatted along the way.I got my room, ran into Steve Vincent, author from Australia, and we immediately started the line for Pitchfest. For the next hour we practiced. I won't name names in my pitching journey as they are currently considering my manuscript and I just don't want anyone to know who is really my favorite. But, in my first stop in the "speed dating" setup, because we have gotten to know each other over the past two years, we greeted each other with a friendly hug (yes, face to face is invaluable). Other agents know me by name, also, and it is reassuring that even if/when they pass on my manuscript, it isn't because I was a faceless email they threw into the slush pile.After pitchiest, I met up with Steve Vincent and Lynne Constantine in the Hyatt bar "where the magic happens." It amazes me how many authors, agents, or editors will cycle in and out of our group, chatting and having a beer or cocktail. LOVE THIS PLACE. Anytime of day during the conference, you could run into and chat with an industry professional.Speaking of which, I ran into Jon Land (who hasn't), and Karin Slaughter. Jon Land proceeded to take this picture where he indicated who is more important. He couldn't hold my cell straight with the beer in his hand. But, at any time you can run into Lee Child, James Rolllins, or even George RR Martin, who was Thrillmaster this year. I was only a "fanboy" with Karin Slaughter.I had just read The Fourth Monkey and sent J.D. Barker an email message that I'd try to meet him at the fest. He emailed me back, saying, yes, search me out. Well, not only did I meet him. I ran into him at least five other times. He even sat by me at the debut authors breakfast where we chatted a bit. He is on the cusp of greatness. His latest book The Fifth To Die is now out.Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep, and I drank late every night. There were so many more pictures I could have gotten, but I was too busy enjoying the conference instead of trying to record it. I ran into agent Doug Grad in the Hyatt bar one night and had a nice conversation. He wasn't able to take pitches at pitchiest and I was disappointed, so seeing him in the bar was fantastic. And he remembered me by name. After catching up, he invited me to pitch him again through email. Sweet!(yes, face to face is invaluable).Below are some shots of the great panels, including George RR Martin, Karin Slaughter, Lee Child, James Rollins, Lynne Constantine and Val Constantine, Daniel Palmer, R.L. Stein, Megan Abbott, Steve Berry and many more...
September 24, 2017
Thrillerfest 2017!!
This is my fourth Thrillerfest. 
And this is my fourth time seeing the welcoming projection under that massive head. It's comforting for those that regularly attend, to know what fun awaits.I arrive on Thursday because getting away work is difficult, so I miss the Craftfest, but Pitchfest is a must. This year, my pitching didn't go that well. First off, the agents are supposed to give you three minutes, but many go beyond that. That's great for the writer in the chair, but those in line begin to feel as if they may miss some agents they intended to pitch. I got in a few of these snail paced lines and only saw 2/3 of my targets.Some agents and editors that I've gotten to know through these four years were there and we chatted. That's the best part about attending conferences, getting to know the names and faces of the agents, editors and successful authors. I decided to volunteer this year, to see what that's about. It's a good way to see how things work and to meet the people responsible for the conference. And there's a great chance to talk with industry professionals. Here I am at the audio table, where you can buy the sessions if you miss any.
Yes, I'm having fun!Oh, look, here's Lee Child and Jon Land!
There are loads of author panels to attend and learn from those that have been traditionally published. Heather Graham, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Karen Slaughter, David Morrell, C.J. Box and many more....There's my good friend Lynn Constantine dead center!
I've caught up with many friends I see every year, too. Unfortunately, taking pictures of each other wasn't a big priority, but I did get a few. Great friend and all around cool chick, Editor at The Writer Magazine, Nikki Porter.
And ThrillerBritt!! 
Here's to next year!!
And this is my fourth time seeing the welcoming projection under that massive head. It's comforting for those that regularly attend, to know what fun awaits.I arrive on Thursday because getting away work is difficult, so I miss the Craftfest, but Pitchfest is a must. This year, my pitching didn't go that well. First off, the agents are supposed to give you three minutes, but many go beyond that. That's great for the writer in the chair, but those in line begin to feel as if they may miss some agents they intended to pitch. I got in a few of these snail paced lines and only saw 2/3 of my targets.Some agents and editors that I've gotten to know through these four years were there and we chatted. That's the best part about attending conferences, getting to know the names and faces of the agents, editors and successful authors. I decided to volunteer this year, to see what that's about. It's a good way to see how things work and to meet the people responsible for the conference. And there's a great chance to talk with industry professionals. Here I am at the audio table, where you can buy the sessions if you miss any.Yes, I'm having fun!Oh, look, here's Lee Child and Jon Land!There are loads of author panels to attend and learn from those that have been traditionally published. Heather Graham, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Karen Slaughter, David Morrell, C.J. Box and many more....There's my good friend Lynn Constantine dead center!I've caught up with many friends I see every year, too. Unfortunately, taking pictures of each other wasn't a big priority, but I did get a few. Great friend and all around cool chick, Editor at The Writer Magazine, Nikki Porter.And ThrillerBritt!! Here's to next year!!
April 9, 2017
Fighting in Fiction
I've noticed an evolution in fighting, whether it be fist-fights or fire-fights, on television and in movies. Gone are the days of a one-shot, awkward exchange of blows that one might've seen in the 1960's or 1970's. Of course, there is the exception of Kung Fu movies and some martial arts films with Jackie Chan or something boxing related where a full shot of the opponents doing their "dance" is portrayed with extreme accuracy. Besides them, in todays detective and FBI shows, I've noticed a masterful editing process of close ups, different angles, dark shadows, and split-second strikes that in reality would never take place. Half the time, you can't tell what the hell is happening. I try not laugh out loud when I see the good guy get the drop on the bad guy holding a gun on them from five feet away.But if we're force-fed these bad fight scenes, these ridiculous shoot-outs where they can pin-point their aim when it suits their needs, but miss the target when it really counts, well, I guess we can just sigh and rationalize that everyone is cooking this way now.Books are an entirely different story. As a reader, we can take in the author's scene, filter any minor implausibility into a working narrative. It is much different to view on the television a man getting the best of five other men in a bar fight than it is to read about it. Our imagination will fill in the fighting style, the punching, ducking and kicking. We are not imagining fifteen different angles of five inept brawlers getting the shit kicked out of them by a super fast ninja-style good guy.I watched Huck from SCANDAL get shot three times in an apartment (one in shoulder, two in torso, I believe), get put in a trunk of a car, get driven into a quarry, then hold his breath, break a window while under water and swim up to the surface, then make his way to the shore, and oh, by the way, then pull the other body back to shore before finally lying down because he couldn't go on anymore. Jesus. But, hey, considering the other crap they pull off on that show and others, the suspension of disbelief is already off the charts.Being devil's advocate, I have to admit that a novel can do many outrageous things, too, but in the novel, the author gets to explain so much more. Once you're "inside" the book, the world has been created and you trust the author to take you places. The author can paint the "Huck" scene in a more believable reality. Maybe it's the detail, maybe it's the reader's investment in the story, maybe it's explaining the biology of blood loss, bullet missing vital organs, adrenaline, I'm not sure I have an answer. Maybe someone reading this blog might have an idea (please comment if you do).Ah, but in prose, in a paragraph, we can visual our protagonist doing something in one take - in one "mind-shot" and smile at his or her success instead of rolling your eyes. Maybe television and the big screen might evolve back to the fight scenes that happen in one take, showing the reality of a punch actually hurting the hand of the puncher. Maybe they'll show that a trained FBI agent will shoot someone they're aiming at before they manage to get tackled by a charging bad guy. I'm tired of saying to my wife, "There's no way that would happen."Okay, I guess this was more of a bitch-session than anything else, and I think I might've pissed off some Scandal fans.
April 4, 2017
2016 Thrillerfest
I thought to take a look back a bit. This is my third Thrillerfest. It will not be my last.When I first arrived at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York, I prayed to God Of Pitching in hopes that requests would be plentiful.
My "pitch-dance," although viewed as strange and slightly arousing by hotel guests, worked, as many agents requested material, as well as requested I stop dancing without my shirt on.At the cocktail party that night, I look out the window to see that Lee Child had arrived by his usual police escort. I found out later that these cops showed because the debut authors had a rumble in Ballroom I, and much blood was spilled.
I'll admit I'm a fan-girl when it comes Gillian Flynn. I had read Sharp Objects and Dark Places just when Gone Girl came out and I thought to contact her. Come to find out she lived very close to me. I tried to get her to meet me and another writer friend out for a bar to talk prose, but her book skyrocketed and that idea was shot to shit.But, I did get to see Gillian Flynn interviewed by the very talented and hilarious Karin Slaughter. Dirty, dirty minds....
Another fantastic and inspiring interview was with David Morrell and Walter Mosley. I had to leave to take a call in the middle of it, and a huge roar of laughter came from the ballroom, but I'm sure I didn't miss one of the funniest moments ever. I gotta buy the CD.
And finally, Lee Child Interviewed 2016 Thrillermaster Heather Graham. Not a great pic, but seating was limited and every cell phone was in the air. Two powerhouses talking love, life, family, and tossing food at dinner theater. Wisdom out the bleep-hole! Man, I love this conference!!!
I'll end this little tour by saying that this just a tiny, tiny sample of the exciting goings-on where the peons shake hands with the untouchables. Where Jon Land will get you another beer if you ask. Where you can sit at the hotel bar and rub elbows with agents and share belly-laughs with your peers.Pretty cool.
My "pitch-dance," although viewed as strange and slightly arousing by hotel guests, worked, as many agents requested material, as well as requested I stop dancing without my shirt on.At the cocktail party that night, I look out the window to see that Lee Child had arrived by his usual police escort. I found out later that these cops showed because the debut authors had a rumble in Ballroom I, and much blood was spilled.I'll admit I'm a fan-girl when it comes Gillian Flynn. I had read Sharp Objects and Dark Places just when Gone Girl came out and I thought to contact her. Come to find out she lived very close to me. I tried to get her to meet me and another writer friend out for a bar to talk prose, but her book skyrocketed and that idea was shot to shit.But, I did get to see Gillian Flynn interviewed by the very talented and hilarious Karin Slaughter. Dirty, dirty minds....Another fantastic and inspiring interview was with David Morrell and Walter Mosley. I had to leave to take a call in the middle of it, and a huge roar of laughter came from the ballroom, but I'm sure I didn't miss one of the funniest moments ever. I gotta buy the CD.And finally, Lee Child Interviewed 2016 Thrillermaster Heather Graham. Not a great pic, but seating was limited and every cell phone was in the air. Two powerhouses talking love, life, family, and tossing food at dinner theater. Wisdom out the bleep-hole! Man, I love this conference!!!I'll end this little tour by saying that this just a tiny, tiny sample of the exciting goings-on where the peons shake hands with the untouchables. Where Jon Land will get you another beer if you ask. Where you can sit at the hotel bar and rub elbows with agents and share belly-laughs with your peers.Pretty cool.
March 31, 2017
Gearing up for Thrillerfest 2017
Putting the finishing touches on the manuscript I plan to pitch.This convention takes place at the Hyatt Grand in New York every year and it is more of a networking thing than workshop. It's pricey, too, but if you can afford it, it's worth it. There is Craftfest, which offers panels from successful, published authors talking about writing. There is Thrillerfest panels where authors talk about their books and the publishing industry. And then, there is the incomparable Pitchfest where all the major agents set up at speed dating tables where you pitch your manuscript.I've been traditionally published once, and have self published three other books, but that does not mean my dream of getting in a major house has died. My first course of action is to get an agent with every new book. When I exhaust that option, then self publishing comes into play.I've been doing this for a few years and have yet to snag an agent, but I've made a few personal relationships with the agents and I know that when I pitch, or if I email query one of these agents, they take me seriously. They actually read what I send them and get personal feedback. That's what the face to face does. That's what the cocktail parties do. That is what running into an agent in the Hyatt bar and chatting for a few minutes will do. I have one agent who gives me a hug when she sees me. She hasn't taken me on, but I can't blame it on being one of thousands of faceless emails.You cannot be shy. Everyone is welcoming and looking to make connections. Talk to everyone you can. Not everyone will stick, but odds are, a few will. Oh, the cocktail parties every night. You see Lee Child? Walk up and say hi. Many well known authors are available to meet and possibly get a picture. I've made several friends that I keep in contact with and see every year. Last year, I was there for three days and only left the hotel once. Going to this conference is my Christmas... I feel like I belong.Like I said, it's worth the price.... for me, at least.
