Adrenaline, Ink, and Espionage

Beyond the Page: My Week at ThrillerFest 2026

As someone who has attended more than his fair share of corporate events at high-end hotels, walking into ThrillerFest feels less like a corporate conference and more like stepping into the nerve center of the genre. I came as a lifelong thriller fan, as an author looking to sharpen my craft, and to network. The conference delivered on all three.

Connecting with the Masters

The fan in me appreciated the accessibility of the giants. In most industries, there’s a wall between the stars and the newcomers. Here? I found myself chatting about plot pacing with legends and talking over stacks of with authors whose names have sat on my bookshelf for a decade. The camaraderie isn't just marketing.

My wife and I with Gregg Hurwitz, a titan in the thriller genre. As a fellow writer in the espionage space, I admire how Gregg built the world of Orphan X.

The Craft of the Spy

For my own writing, the panels were a goldmine. The "Turning Thrillers Into Film" session was particularly eye-opening, stripping away how a high-stakes manuscript translates to the screen. Hearing editors and authors dissect the thriller twist gave me a fresh lens for my next manuscript.

Business and Bourbon

PitchFest (agent/editor sessions) provided great feedback. It’s one thing to write in a vacuum; it’s another to sit across from a top-tier agent and articulate why your story matters now. But the stress of pitching was always balanced by the social side. The cocktail parties were where the real magic happened. Networking felt more like actual friendship building rather than  just shaking hands.

Mark Greaney (author of the hit series The Gray Man) with yours truly. Mark was MC of the awards banquet. While his books are famously gritty, he’s easily one of the sharpest and funniest authors in the business.

The Grand Finale

Closing out the week with the Awards Banquet was the perfect full circle moment. Seeing the legends honored while sitting at a table with fellow debut-seekers and seasoned pros reminded me that everyone in that room started with a single book.

Catching up after the banquet with Jack Carr, one of my all-time favorites in the genre. Jack told me ThrillerFest is the gold standard for networking in this industry, and he’s right.

The Verdict

ThrillerFest is a career catalyst for authors, but also a must-attend event for Thriller enthusiasts. Whether you’re there to get a book signed or to sign a contract, the support and access is unmatched. I’m heading back to my keyboard with a full notebook and clear map of the road ahead.

CC

About ThrillerFest and ITW

International Thriller Writers (ITW) is a global honorary society representing over 6,600 authors dedicated to the art of suspense, from mystery to true crime. Its flagship annual event, ThrillerFest, held in New York City, is a high-energy conference where the industry's biggest names and writers in all career stages converge. The event offers a unique blend of career-launching opportunities, including PitchFest for meeting literary agents, CraftFest for technical workshops, and the prestigious Thriller Awards Banquet, making it the premier destination for anyone looking to master the business and craft of writing thrillers.