THE PREMIER CONFERENCE FOR THRILLER ENTHUSIASTS

THE PREMIER CONFERENCE FOR <span>THRILLER</span> ENTHUSIASTS

June 17th - June 21st 2025, NYC

WELCOME TO THRILLERFEST!

Welcome to ThrillerFest XX, which will take place June 17 to June 21, 2025, with a bonus event on Monday, June 16: FBI Day!

We’re excited to present a blockbuster line-up this year, featuring:

2025 ThrillerMaster Janet Evanovich

2025 ThrillerMaster John Grisham

2025 Silver Bullet Award Recipient James Patterson

2025 Spotlight Guest Oyinkan Braithwaite

2025 Spotlight Guest Jennifer Hillier

2025 Thriller Legend Neil Nyren

2025 Thriller Fan McKenna Jordan

 

REGISTER HERE

2025 Lineup

We have something for everyone, whether you’re an aspiring author, a fan, an industry professional, or an ITW author. Some of the highlights include:

  • FBI Day: Monday – Join us for an intensive day of learning from Special Agents who will share information in their area of expertise. This insider’s view of the FBI will allow you to write an authentic portrayal of any FBI experts and agents in your novels. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to go behind the scenes.
  • Master Class: Tuesday – We kick off ThrillerFest week with MasterClass. Take your project to the next level with a small, full-day class taught by a bestselling author, including a critique of 10 manuscript pages.
  • CraftFest: Wednesday and Thursday – Hone your craft during hour-long lectures and presentations by experts and authors.
  • QueryFest: By appointment only, Wednesday through Friday – Get advice and careful critiques of your query or first manuscript pages during 15-minute, one-on-one meetings with leading agents and editors.
  • PitchFest: Thursday afternoon – Pitch your completed manuscript to top agents and editors in this “speed dating” event. 2024’s PitchFest had over 60 agents and editors attend.
  • ThrillerFest: Friday and Saturday – Meet bestselling thriller authors and other industry experts starting with the Opening Night Cocktail Party on Thursday evening, and continuing with panels, interviews, and signings on Friday and Saturday. Includes the Debut Author Breakfast on Saturday morning.
  • The Thriller Awards Banquet: Saturday night – Socialize, feast, and cheer the presentation of the industry’s top honors, The Thriller Awards.

This is the 20th anniversary of the very first ThrillerFest in 2005, and we are so excited to bring you the best ThrillerFest yet. We encourage all thriller enthusiasts to join the ITW family.

We have something for everyone, including writers at every stage of their careers, readers, and fans.

Register here to join us in 2025!

REGISTER HERE

BECOME A SPONSOR

Support Thrillerfest!

BECOME A SPONSOR

We thank our Scholarship sponsors for their generous donation to our 2024 Scholarship Program:

Douglas Preston, Michael Mayo, Vicki Montet, and Karin Slaughter.

If you are interested in sponsoring the 2025 event or one of our 2025 scholarships, please reach out to samantha@thrillerwriters.org.

Volunteer with Us!

Volunteers are an integral part of the ThrillerFest experience. We couldn’t do it without you. It’s also a great way to meet people and get involved in ITW. If you would like to assist us, please be sure to check “yes” to “Volunteer” during registration.

(Please note: volunteers must be registered for ThrillerFest).

Spread the Word!

Please drop by the ThrillerFest Facebook page then “like” us, and help spread the word! You can also follow ITW on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

Meet our Staff!

Your ThrillerFest team is looking forward to a fun and memorable year. We’re excited to celebrate the following staff members:

Ruth Church as Deputy Director ThrillerFest / MasterClass, Tracey Devlyn as QueryFest Assistant Director, Sara DiVello as Social Media Director, Tori Eldridge as Debut Author Coordinator, Todd Gerber as Awards Coordinator, Chris Graham as Technology Coordinator, Katie Griffiths as Social Media Coordinator, Kimberley Howe as Executive Director, ITW, Dennis Kennett as Registrar, Shirley Kennett as Assistant Registrar, Jennifer Kreischer as Banquet Coordinator, Susan Lee as Deputy Director ThrillerFest / PitchFest, Jim L’Etoile as QueryFest Director, Christianna Mason as Human Resources Director, Sam Octavius as Operations Director, Terry Rodgers as Assistant Registrar, Kerry Savage as Volunteer Coordinator, and Samantha Skal as Executive Director, ThrillerFest.

For questions regarding ThrillerFest, please contact ThrillerFest’s Executive Director,

Samantha Skal: samantha@thrillerwriters.org

For questions regarding ITW, please contact ITW’s Executive Director,

Kimberley Howe: KimberleyHowe@thrillerwriters.org

For press queries, please contact,

Sara DiVello: sara@saradivello.com

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ITW Community

  • patrons
  • sponsors
  • supporters

  • Actives

    • Sandra Brannan

    • Clive Cussler*

    • Dirk Cussler*

    • Shane Gericke*

    • Faye and Jonathan Kellerman*

    • John Lescroart

    • Joanie McDonell

    • Karin Slaughter

    • Larry D. Thompson

    Associates

    • Tucker Andersen

    • Andrew Kimball

  • Actives

    • Kathleen Antrim*

    • David Baldacci*

    • Neal Baer

    • Steve Berry*

    • J. Jackson Bentley

    • Gary Braver*

    • Sandra Brown*

    • Dale Brown*

    • John Case*

    • Lee Child*

    • James Comey

    • Michael Connelly

    • Glenn Cooper

    • Richard Curtis*

    • Jack F. Du Brul*

    • David Dun*

    • Joseph Finder

    • Brian Garfield*

    • Tess Gerritsen*

    • Leslie Glass*

    • Jeff Gunhus

    • Vicki Hinze*

    • Lisa Jackson

    • Alex Kava*

    • Raymond Khoury

    • Deborah LeBlanc

    • Eric Van Lustbader*

    • D. P. Lyle M.D.*

    • Gayle Lynds*

    • Steve Martini

    • Brad Meltzer

    • David Morrell*

    • Katherine Neville*

    • Michael Palmer (2004-2013)*

    • James Patterson*

    • Andrew Peterson

    • Douglas Preston*

    • Lissa Price

    • Keith Raffel

    • Christopher Reich*

    • James Rollins*

    • M.J. Rose*

    • JoAnn Ross

    • Hank Phillippi Ryan

    • John Saul*

    • Andy Siegel

    • Susan Arnout Smith

    • R.L. Stine*

    • Brad Thor*

    • Lisa Unger

    • Paul Vidich

    Associates

    • Maria Carvainis

    • Leisure Books*

    • JK Franko*

    • Ed Mitchell*

    • Henry Morrison*

    • Adrian Muller*

    • Bill Sewell

    • Tor/Forge Books*

    • Your Book Is Your Hook!

  • Actives

    • Steve Alten*

    • Ashok Banker

    • Ted Bell*

    • Emily Benedek

    • Janet Berliner-Gluckman*

    • Gary Birken

    • Mike Bond

    • Sandra Brannan

    • Allison Brennan

    • Mike Brogan

    • Jan Burke*

    • Lorenzo Carcaterra

    • Lincoln Child*

    • Stephen Coonts*

    • Brian D’Amato

    • B. J. Daniels

    • Nelson DeMille

    • Eileen Dreyer*

    • Joanna Elm

    • Linda Fairstein*

    • Vince Flynn (2004-2013)*

    • Chris Fox

    • Joel Goldman*

    • Howard Gordon

    • Heather Graham*

    • Thomas Greanias

    • Gary Grossman

    • Humphrey Hawksley

    • Bonnie Hearn Hill*

    • Mark Imhof

    • Alan Jacobson

    • Judith Kelman*

    • Harley Jane Kozak

    • Jon Land

    • Dennis Lynds (2004-2005)*

    • Patricia McLinn

    • Michael McMenamin

    • Francine Mathews*

    • Nan McCann

    • Kyle Mills*

    • Twist Phelan

    • Christopher Rice*

    • Wendy Roberts

    • John Sandford

    • James Siegel*

    • Carl T. Smith*

    • Deborah Smith*

    • Taylor Smith*

    • L.A. Starks

    • Mariah Stewart*

    • Peter Straub*

    • Lee Strobel

    • M. Diane Vogt*

    • Thomas Waite

    • Stuart Woods*

    Associates

    • Linda Adams*

    • Brilliance Audio*

    • Mike Brogan

    • Brian Godden

    • Steve Hadden*

    • Emory Hackman

    • Inkwell Management, LLC*

    • Jennifer Kreischer

    • Mario Mastro*

    • Vicki Montet

    • Amy Rivers

    • Mike Trigg

*original member joined by June 4, 2005