A Thrilling Affair

Author David Baldacci will participate in a panel discussion at Brown University on November 15

Fear Street, Betrayal, The Innocent, Love You More – any of these book titles sound familiar? If you read thrillers, you’re in the know. Jon Land, Brown Alum (1979) and Friends of the Library board member, is hosting a panel discussion with five other bestselling thriller authors. The panel discussion is free and open to the public on November 15 at Brown’s John Hay Library in Solomon Hall. Bring your books too; a signing and reception will follow the event in Sayles Hall just down the road.

The panel serves to kick off Land’s efforts in establishing a thriller archive at Brown. This event, which is supported by the Brown University Library, the Brown University Bookstore, Friends of the Library and the Office of University Events and Conference Services, is sure to draw a crowd.

Here’s the lineup:

R.L. Stine
Mr. Stine is a household name, subliminally imprinted on the minds of every kid who loved Goosebumps, Fear Street, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room or any of his other 300 million books in circulation. Fun fact: He is cited in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the all-time best selling series author. One would have to look far and wide for an author with more film adaptations of their books than R.L. Stine.

His anthology television series, The Haunting Hour, has begun its third season on the Hub network. Believe it or not, he is still producing. A horror story for adults by the name of Red Rain was published in October.

David Baldacci
Since his first novel, Absolute Power (1996), David has been a regular on both the national and international bestseller lists. Absolute Power was adapted to film just one year later, directed by Clint Eastwood, who also starred in it. In just 26 years, Baldacci has published 24 books in total, all proudly bestsellers, and translated into an array of languages.

Baldacci was inducted to the International Crime Writers Hall of Fame last year and received the 2012 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers award. His charitable efforts are geared to the Wish You Well Foundation, which he and his wife founded to support family and adult literacy.

Steve Berry
Frequenting the Indie Author bestseller lists, this historical thriller writer’s books have been translated to over 40 languages in over 51 countries. As an author, Berry has received the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award, was a founding member of International Thriller Writers and served as co-president of the organization for three years. The American Library Association has named Steve as the first spokesman for National Preservation Week.

History is a passion for Berry, as well as a stage for his writing. He has traveled the country since 2009 with his organization History Matters, rescuing endangered historical sites with philanthropy, conferences, popular writers’ workshops and more.

Nelson Demille
This Long Island resident and former U.S. Army lieutenant has written three New York Times bestsellers by the names of Night Fall, Plum Island and The Gate House. As part of The Author’s Guild, Mystery Writers of America and American Mensa, Demille gives much of his time positively influencing the literary world.

Lisa Gardner
A former food service worker, Lisa started focusing on her writing after a traumatic incident at the workplace. Since Gardner’s humble beginning, 16 million books by her circulate the world, along with four motion pictures. Gardner is author of The Neighbor, named the Best Hardcover Novel by the International Thriller Writers and found its way to the Best Adrenaline Novel Reading List. She now writes from the mountains of New Hampshire with her racecar-driving husband, speed skiing daughter and boisterous pets.

The panel and book signing are wonderful opportunities for fans to get up close and personal with some of the greatest living horror authors. Don’t miss out.