The Thrill of the Fest

Next week I will join the Intrigue Publishing team at Thrillerfest, one of the most exciting writers’ conferences of the year.  Thrillerfest is a celebration of thriller books, the authors who write them and the fans who read them. It’s always a great time, but fun isn’t the only reason I attend.
Certainly a lot of writers, and aspiring writers, go for Wednesday’s craftfest.  Many more attend Thursday’s agent fest.  For me the first thrills will be at Thursday night’s opening reception.  The real attractions are Friday and Saturday when there are panels all day, five to choose from in any given hour.
The biggest reason I attend Thrillerfest is that it attracts the cream of thriller authors.  For me it is the chance for the best kind of networking.  There is no greater joy than to find myself surrounded by serious writers.  There is nothing more inspiring than chatting with authors you admire and respect.  When I’m on a panel, as I am this year on Friday afternoon, I sit side-by-side with some of the best and my thoughts and opinions float out at the audience mingled with theirs.  That alone makes it worth the trip. 
Big name authors.  New and upcoming writers.  Panels of authors talking about their craft. Presentations from the giants of the writing world.  A grand banquet.  All these things add to the fun and value of Thrillerfest, but you will find all these things at many other conferences: Bouchercon, Love is Murder, and Creatures, Crimes &Creativity all offer these same types of events.   The one thing that makes Thrillerfest different, and at least partially justifies it being so much more expensive than the other cons I named, is location.
New York City is the home of the publishing industry. That means authors, editors, agents, publishers and publicists are all nearby.  Many of them can walk to Thrillerfest.  They attend, just because it’s easy.
I drag down from Maryland and am happy for the opportunity.  I created a Facebook event for Thrillerfest but for some reason And I’ll be there for one more reason: I’ll be recruiting fans and authors to attend the Creatures, Crimes & Creativity conference.  I want it to be at least as much fun, and as inspiring, as Thrillerfest.
BTW, I've created a Facebook event but for some reason Facebook won’t let me invite my friends, but I want to know if you’ll be there so please go click the link and leave me a note so I’ll know to look for you.