Lit City:
What’s Going on in the Austin Book World October 13th — October 19th
This week there are some great opportunities for speaking & signings and book clubs. Here’s what’s going on this week in the Austin Book Community:
Thursday, October 13th (7 PM) @ BookPeople, enjoy a speaking & signing of The Mothers by Brit Bennett.
Friday, October 14th (7 PM) @ BookPeople, enjoy a speaking & signing of Lick Dogs & Lick Cats by photographer Carli Davidson.
Saturday, October 15th (3 PM) @ BookPeople, enjoy a speaking & signing of Tetris: The Games People Play by New York Times Bestselling Author Box Brown.
Sunday, October 16th (3 PM) @ BookPeople, enjoy a speaking & signing of Heart and Brain: Gut Instincts by Nick Seluk
Monday, October 17th (1 PM) @ BookPeople, join BookPeople For the Murder in the Afternoon Book Club. This month’s selection is Night Life by David C. Taylor
Monday, October 17th (3:30 PM) @ BookPeople, enjoy a speaking & signing of When The Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin
Monday, October 17th (7 PM) @ BookPeople, enjoy a speaking & signing of The Midnight Star & Black Widow: Red Vengeance by authors Marie Lu & Margaret Stohl.
Tuesday, October 18th (7 PM) @ BookPeople, join BookPeople for the Nightmare Factory Book Club. This month’s selection is House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski.
Tuesday, October 18th (7 PM) @ BookPeople, enjoy a speaking & signing of Who Killed These Girls?: Cold Case: The Yogurt Shop Murders by Beverly Lowry.
Wednesday, October 19th (4:30 PM) @ BookPeople, enjoy a speaking & signing of Lowriders in Space! by Cathy Camper & Raul The Third.
Wednesday, October 19th (7 PM) @Malvern Books, enjoy the Poetry of Max Ritvo with Sarah Matthes.
Upcoming Events and Classes at The Writing Barn:
Our 2014 and 2015 Complete Picture Book Workshops SOLD OUT and each intensive has resulted in a writer (or two) being signed by the visiting agent (See Writing Barn Success Stories) with manuscripts being sold and turned into books, which were read in their draft stages at the Writing Barn podium!
These weekends are intimate gatherings where deep work is done and deep bonds are formed. Do not miss our 2016 Complete Picture Book Intensive where three industry professionals will work directly with the writers and illustrators to deconstruct, construct, and transform their work!
Page-Turning, Stomach-Churning: Building Suspense in Your Thriller
What makes a thriller thrilling? Is it a killer premise, a flawed but determined protagonist, a shadowy setting where crime lurks around every corner, or the perfect third-act plot twist?
All these elements can be present, but without suspenseful pacing and tight plotting throughout, the story will wander, and so will the reader’s attention. Using what you already know about your characters and world, learn how to build suspense into the structure of your novel from day one—even if you’re a so-called “pantser.” Whether you’re working on hard-boiled crime, psychological suspense, a spy novel, or a domestic thriller (or you’re not sure yet), this half-day class on the craft of thriller-writing will sharpen your focus on structure, story design, and pacing, the building blocks of suspense.