Sheila Clover English
Today’s Cub Reporter is Sheila Clover English reporting from Thrillerfest. Sheila English owns Circle of Seven Productions and Reader’s Entertainment. She chairs International Thriller Writer’s Organization Social Media department and is a closet case geek girl. Her favorite book is Jane Eyre and she feels only the 2006 movie adaptation is worth owning.
Over 800 people attended ThrillerFest in New York this year and I was one of them! I had just attended the RWA conference and decided to just stay in NY over the holiday and go right into attending ThrillerFest. I had the best time in NY!
Debut author's breakfast
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Back to Manhattan for ThrillerFest where CraftFest and AgentFest were already started. AgentFest is like speed dating and it was interesting just to watch it. I attended some workshops and started stalking…uh, I mean seeking my favorite authors. I met Diana Gabaldon for the first time and she was so charming! Oh! I did meet Ken Follet for the first time too. Love the accent! Workshops included Steve Berry’s POV, Psychic Distance and Passive Voice, D.P. Lyle MD’s Forensics in Fiction and my own lecture on Social Media Marketing for Thrillers. There were dozens of workshops on craft, marketing and the industry. The debut author’s breakfast is always a special event as it showcases the authors who books will be published in the coming year. Lots of new authors to be on the lookout for.
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During the banquet where they do the awards ceremony Doug Preston and Joe Moore were getting everyone ready to start the ceremony and were thanking everyone who made ThrillerFest possible. Right before everything started they said they wanted to acknowledge someone for an outstanding achievement and as they were saying how wonderful this person is I sat there wishing I was that wonderful! As it turned out they were talking about me!! Who knew?! LOL I won a Telly Award for the ThrillerFest event video I did and they love the video so much they gave me a special little shout out. I felt like I had won the lotto!
Jeffery Deaver and debut author Jennifer Hillier
R.L. Stine received the Thriller Master award and his speech was captivating, funny and insightful. He talked about seeing Ray Bradbury once and that he got all tongue tied and almost started crying be was so overwhelmed when Ray knew who he was. It just reminded me how we all have our heroes no matter who we are. He also said that “Family is there to keep you humble.” and he went on to tell us that he was interviewed on the Today Show which most people would be very excited about. He got home and there was a note from his wife that said, “You looked great. Now go plunge the toilet.” Yes, even R. L. Stine has to plunge the toilet from time to time.
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The after party was amazing and I got to hang out with James Rollins, Joseph Finder, Heather Graham and I even got to chat with R. L. Stine. I had the the most amazing time time!
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This was the best ThrillerFest I’ve ever attended. They’re all good, but this one was especially fun for me. And even though I ended my NY trip by getting into a stolen cab for my ride back to the airport, it is still one of the most fun NY trips I’ve ever had! Yes, stolen. I figured that out when I finally noticed the cab did not display the license, rules, laws and prices which are all legally supposed to be on display in the cab. Not to worry about the cab. I made it to the airport safe and sound, turned in the guy, didn’t have to pay for the ride, got my luggage and made it to the plane on time. All in all, quite the adventure!
Bottom line: New York can’t be beat for publishing parties and celebrity spotting! It was a thrill!
Sounds like a blast, Sheila. Thanks for sharing. Wish I could have been there. Does Thrillerfest sell recordings of the workshops like RWA does? I’d love to hear your workshop on “Social Media Marketing for Thrillers.” I heard about Circle of Seven from a GRW member. I looked at your website recently and was very impressed.
Thank you Linsey! It was such a blast! You can find recordings of any of the panels, including mine here- http://www.thrillerfest.com/2011/07/thrillerfest-vi-cds-mp3s-and-dvds-now-available/ And thank you for the compliment on the website! I love what I do and am very passionate about books!
Sheila,
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences at ThrillerFest. It sounds wonderful (except for the cab ride to the airport). I did get to hear you on the panel with Barbara at RWA and it was great. Was it a similar presentation to the one you did at Thriller Fest? I would love to meet Ken Follet. I just read the first in his Century Trilogy and can’t wait for the second to come out.
Marilyn, it was a very different panel for the most part. We talked specifically about social media as opposed to the future of publishing which was my talk at RWA.
I met the most amazing people during this trip to NY. I wish I had taken more pictures!
Sheila, Congratulations! What a rewarding experience for you and your work to be recognized like that! I’m envious of your time hobnobbing with the famous, and appreciate your sharing of such an interesting event.
Joysann you hobnob too! LOL I did feel like I was among the greats both at RWA and at ThrillerFest. And so many giving people too! It was so amazing!
Wonderful cub reporting, Sheila! Sorry I missed Thrillerfest this year but it just wasn’t in the cards. Sounds like everyone had a great event. Congratulations on your award!!! How cool is that.
I missed you! Had such a blast! Thank you! Winning that award was so amazing! And I have to mention that the editor who helped me is Brenda Urquhart who is one of the best in the biz!
Sheila, I am so glad you had a good time. I certainly enjoyed seeing it through your eyes–including the cab ride. Just think of the potential fodder for later updates. Congrats on the award. You deserved it. I know you were thrilled. Great reporting.
Thank you so much Shannon! It was such an adventure!
Do you know if any of these amazing events – that always seem to be on the East Coast – every post their seminars? Like maybe on a video site or SlideShare or Scribd?
Robyn
Hi Robyn! Here is the link I have for the panels- http://www.thrillerfest.com/2011/07/thrillerfest-vi-cds-mp3s-and-dvds-now-available/
There was a who’s who of amazing people on those panels!
Loved the report on ThrillerFest! Thanks Sheila!
Thank you Pam! I had such a blast!
Great summary, Sheila! Can’t wait for next year!
I hope to see you there next year Jennifer!!
That’s so cool. I would love to meet some of the authors you did. I love your passion and enthusiasm.
Thank you Jenn! I feel like I’m one of the luckiest people in the world!
ThrillerFestVI was great. Never been before and was only able to make a couple days. People/staff/events all super. Plan to go next year. Working on third novel, Cyber Death(C), and learned alot.
I learned so much from the panels myself. And it really was run so well. First class!
I want to hang out with you next year!! What fun!
We should hang out! LOL I’m always up for it!
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