Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can’t Put Down

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES

Kathleen Antrim is a columnist for the San Francisco Examiner newspaper, author of the political thriller Capital Offense, a correspondent for NewsMax magazine, and a political commentator appearing on radio and television. She has won numerous awards for her writing, including the prestigious Rupert Hughes Award. Her short story “Torn” was included in Pronto! Writings from Rome, an anthology of work by such authors as Dorothy Allison, John Saul, Elizabeth Engstrom and Terry Brooks. She divides her time between working in California and on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Her Web site is www.kathleenantrim.com.

Gary Braver is the bestselling author of seven critically acclaimed thrillers including Elixir, Gray Matter and Flashback, which Publishers Weekly called “an exceptional medical thriller.” An award-winning professor of English at Northeastern University, he has taught fiction-writing workshops across the United States and Europe for over twenty years and authored five popular nonfiction books on writing. His seventh novel, Skin Deep, a medical thriller centered on cosmetic surgery, was published in July 2008 to rave reviews. He lives with his family in Arlington, MA. Visit his Web site at www.garybraver.com.

Formerly a private investigator in Chicago and New Orleans, Sean Chercover has written for film, television and print. He’s held a motley assortment of other jobs over the years, including video editor, scuba diver, nightclub magician, encyclopedia salesman, waiter, car-jockey, truck driver. His debut Big City, Bad Blood was one of the most acclaimed novels of the year, appearing on numerous top-ten lists. Sean, his wife and their son live with a clever dog and an unusual cat. They reside in Chicago and Toronto and several undisclosed locations. You can learn more at www.chercover.com.

Blake Crouch is the author of Desert Places and Locked Doors. He currently lives in Durango, Colorado. Blake has additional short fiction forthcoming in 2009 from Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Uncaged, an anthology of crime fiction from Bleak House Books. His next novel, Abandon, which takes place in a ghost town high in the mountains of Colorado, will be published by St. Martin ’s Press, also in 2009. For more information, please visit his Web site at www.blakecrouch.com.

A former journalist, folksinger and attorney, Jeffery Deaver has appeared on bestseller lists around the world. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. The author of twenty-three novels and two collections of short stories, he’s been awarded the Steel Dagger and Short Story Dagger from the British Crime Writers’ Association, is a three-time recipient of the Ellery Queen Reader’s Award for Best Short Story of the Year and is a winner of the British Thumping Good Read Award. He’s been nominated for six Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America, an Anthony Award and a Gumshoe Award. Deaver is presently alternating his series featuring Kathryn Dance, who will make her appearance in odd-number years, and Lincoln Rhyme, who will appear in even years. To learn more go to www.jefferydeaver.com.

Robert Ferrigno burst onto the crime scene in 1990 with The Horse Latitudes, which Time Magazine called “The most memorable fiction debut of the season.” Almost two decades later, Ferrigno still makes critics gush and readers lose sleep. His breakthrough thriller Prayers for the Assassin began a trilogy of international bestsellers that took current events from the war on terror and twisted them into an alternate reality that was provocative, compelling and unnervingly plausible. Contemporaries such as Robert Crais, Michael Connelly and Carl Hiaasen are among his many fans. His Web site is www.robertferrigno.com.

Joe Hartlaub has been an entertainment attorney specializing in the areas of musical and literary intellectual property rights, a book and music reviewer and critic, and most recently an author and actor. Joe will make his acting debut in the film LA-308, to be released in 2009. He lives with his wife, Lisa, and four children in central Ohio.

Award-winning journalist and former columnist for the Times in London, David Hewson is the author of more than thirteen novels. His series set in Rome featuring detective Nic Costa have made Hewson an international bestseller. Hewson’s novels have been translated into a wide range of languages, from Italian to Japanese, and his debut work, Semana Santa, set in Holy Week Spain, was filmed with Mira Sorvino. Dante’s Numbers is his thirteenth published novel. David lives close to Wye, Kent. His Web site is www.davidhewson.com.

Harry Hunsicker claims to have been raised by wolves in the rain forests of central Dallas, near the headwaters of Turtle Creek. He is an active member of the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, the Private Eye Writers of America and the Writers League of Texas. Still River, his debut novel featuring investigator Lee Henry Oswald, was nominated for a Shamus Award for Best First Novel. The series about the Dallas P.I. continues with The Next Time You Die and Crosshairs. For more information visit www.harryhunsicker.com.

One of the most prolific and admired writers working today, Lisa Jackson writes contemporary romantic suspense novels and medieval romantic suspense novels that regularly place high on the New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists, with her recent novel, Fatal Burn, climbing to number one on the New York Times list. Born and raised in Oregon, Lisa calls the Northwest home and continues her love affair off the coast and the Columbia River region. Surrounded by family, including sister and writer Nancy Bush, she spends most of her time writing, babysitting dogs of various and sundry breeds and walking through the surf. Her books Wicked Game, written with Nancy Bush, Malice and Chosen To Die will all be published in 2009. Lisa may be reached via www.lisajackson.com.

Joan Johnston’s books have appeared on the New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. The award-winning author of forty-six novels, she was formerly an attorney in Virginia and Florida. She also worked as a newspaper editor and drama critic in San Antonio, Texas, as a director of theatre in Southwest Texas, and as a college professor, most recently at the University of Miami. Joan loves to travel and visited England and Scotland to do research for her Captive Hearts series, and toured the legendary King Ranch in South Texas for her Bitter Creek series. Joan is a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America and Florida Romance Writers. She divides her time between homes in Colorado and Florida. She has over 10 million books in print worldwide. Her Web site is www.joanjohnston.com.

Recently hailed as “the greatest thriller writer alive today” by Bookviews, screenwriter and novelist Jon Land is the author of 26 books, fifteen of which have been national bestsellers. Jon is published in over fifty countries and six different languages, including German and Japanese. There are currently almost 7 million copies of his books in print. Jon’s book The Last Prophecy appeared on over 30 national, local and regional bestseller lists. His novel The Seven Sins is the first in a new series. Visit Jon at www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/7015.

Lawrence Light, a finance editor at the Wall Street Journal and previously the Wall Street editor of Forbes magazine, is the author of the Karen Glick mystery series. He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and of the Thriller Writers of America. In 1993 he published a humor book with his talented and beautiful wife, Meredith Anthony, called 101 Reasons Why We’re Doomed. He and his wife live on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where they give great parties. He has no children, dogs or cats, although the occasional rabbit is welcome in his home. His Web site is www.lawrencelight.com.

Tim Maleeny is the award-winning author of Stealing the Dragon, a novel about San Francisco ’s Chinatown that began a series featuring private investigator Cape Weathers and his deadly companion, Sally. “Maleeny smoothly mixes wry humor with a serious plot without sacrificing either,” according to Publishers Weekly. His short fiction has won the prestigious Macavity Award and appears in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Crimespree Magazine and several anthologies, including Death Do Us Part and Uncaged. A stand-alone novel, Jump, will be available in June of 2009. Visit his Web site at www.timmaleeny.com.

A former teacher in the Bronx, a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia and a criminal defense attorney for many years, Phillip Margolin has brought a lifetime of studying human nature to his storytelling. Perhaps that’s why every one of his novels has been a New York Times bestseller. His books have been nominated for the Edgar Award, made into films and published in more than 25 languages, and his short fiction has appeared in the annual anthology The Best American Mystery Stories. His new book Fugitive will be released in June 2009. Visit his Web site at www.phillipmargolin.com.

David J. Montgomery writes about authors and books for several of the country’s largest newspapers, including the Chicago Sun-Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Globe and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. In the past, he has contributed to such publications as USA TODAY, the Washington Post, Kansas City Star, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and National Review Online. He recently completed his first novel, a thriller called Counterstrike. He lives in the Washington, D.C., suburbs with his wife and daughter. His Web site is www.davidjmontgomery.com.

A regular New York Times bestseller, Carla Neggers has written more than 50 novels including Cut and Run, Abandon, Breakwater, Dark Sky and The Widow. She has earned raves from critics and readers alike for her unique blend of fast-paced action, suspense and romance. Her stories are modern adventure tales eagerly anticipated by millions of readers around the globe. She lives with her family in Vermont, not far from picturesque Quechee Gorge. You can visit her at www.carlaneggers.com.

With more than twenty novels to his credit, including Killer Weekend and the Lou Boldt crime series, New York Times bestselling author Ridley Pearson has earned a reputation for stories that grip the imagination, emphasize high-tech crime and dazzling forensic detail. He has written for television and film and is the co-author with Dave Barry of the bestselling young adult series based on the adventures of Peter Pan. Pearson lives with his wife and two daughters, dividing their time between Missouri and Idaho. Visit his Web site at www.ridleypearson.com.

Ten years working in advertising and marketing gave Marcus Sakey the perfect experience to write about thieves and killers. His first novel, The Blade Itself, was featured on CBS Sunday Morning and NPR, and chosen both as New York Times Editor’s Pick and one of Esquire Magazine’s “Top 5 Reads of 2007.” It also won the 2007 Strand Magazine Critics Award for best first mystery novel. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company bought the film rights for Miramax. The Chicago Tribune called Sakey’s second novel, At the City’s Edge, “nothing short of brilliant.” His third book, Good People, will hit store shelves August 2009. His Web site is www.marcussakey.com.

An icon of the Spanish literary scene, Javier Sierra is the bestselling author of both nonfiction and fiction concerning historical and scientific enigmas, including The Secret Supper and The Lady In Blue. His meticulous research and gripping prose have made him an international sensation. His books are read in more than 25 countries. Learn more about Javier at www.javiersierra.com.

Mariah Stewart is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-four novels and three novellas. A former teacher and insurance company V.P., she has no regrets over having left her day job to work at home, alone, in her office overlooking a wooded hill and a horse farm. She lives amidst the rolling hills of Chester County, PA, with her husband, the occasional daughter, two golden retrievers and a Jack Russell Terrorizer. Sometimes a puggle joins the pack to make life just a little more interesting. Visit her at www.mariahstewart.com.

R. L. Stine is one of the bestselling children’s authors in history. His Goosebumps series, along with such series as Fear Street, The Nightmare Room and Mostly Ghostly have sold nearly 400 million books in this country alone. And they are translated into 32 languages. His most recent books for adults are The Sitter and Eye Candy, published by Ballantine Books. He lives in New York City with his wife, Jane, and King Charles Spaniel, Minnie. His son, Matthew, is a sound designer and music producer. His Web site is www.rlstine.com.

Simon Wood is a California transplant originally from England. He’s an ex-racecar driver, a licensed pilot and works part-time as a P.I. He shares his world with his American wife, Julie, and their lives are dominated by a longhaired dachshund and five cats. He’s had over 150 stories and articles published. His stories have been included in “Best of” anthologies and he’s a frequent contributor to Writer’s Digest. He’s the Anthony Award winning author of Working Stiffs, Accidents Waiting to Happen, Paying the Piper and We All Fall Down. Visit his Web site at www.simonwood.net.