KJ Howe here, welcoming talented author and reviewer
Jon Land to the Rogue Women Writers today.
I've had the pleasure of working with Jon on
ThrillerFest for many years, and his enthusiasm for the genre is unsurpassed. Jon reaches out to new authors every chance he gets, offering them his sage guidance, as he has experienced everything from writing non-fiction books to bestselling thrillers to screenwriting to co-writing with the esteemed
Heather Graham.
If you're looking for a panel master extraordinaire, Jon would be a brilliant choice. His irrepressible energy, thorough research into the panelists' backgrounds, and thought-provoking questions creates a buzz in any room.
In the spirit of our theme this week, Jon pens a note to all the people and things he is thankful for in his writing life. Writers, readers--we'd love to hear what you're thankful for today. Take it away, Jon....
A WRITER’S THANKSGIVING
In no particular
order . . .
I’m thankful for
being able to make a living (most of the time!) at what I love to do the most,
maybe the greatest gift any person can be given.
I’m thankful for all
the wonderful friends I’ve made from International Thriller Writers, an
organization that’s really more of a fraternity and community and is comprised
of some of my favorite people in the world.
I’m thankful for
David Morrell, Gayle Lynds, Jim Rollins, MJ Rose, Kim Howe, Doug Preston, Bob
Stine, Lee Child, Sandra Brown, John Lescroart, Dr. Doug Lyle, Steve Berry, Liz
Berry, Kathy Antrim, Jeff Ayers and so, so many, many others who make up those
favorite people.
I’m thankful for Tom
Doherty and Forge Books, who’ve never given up on me and always been willing to
take a chance, by rolling the publishing dice to advance my career.
I’m thankful for
having a brilliant editor and agent Natalia Aponte who makes my work so much
better and never stops pushing me to become a better writer tomorrow than I was
yesterday.
I’m thankful for my
first agent, the legendary Toni Mendez, who took a chance on me back in 1981
when no one else would and never quit trying to find me a publishing home.
I’m thankful for the
late, great Walter Zacharius, founder of Kensington Books, who gave me that
first publishing home.
I’m thankful for
Fawcett Books and the Random House family for becoming my second publishing
home.
I’m thankful for Bob
Gleason, my fantastic editor at Tor/Forge and the smartest man I know, whose
friendship is as important to me as his desire to see my books get the
attention he believes they deserve.
I’m thankful for
Heather Graham, as great a person as she is a writer, who agreed to collaborate
with me on a brand new series that begins with THE RISING in January, because
now I have a chance to ride her coattails to the New York Times bestseller list that I’ve failed to reach on my own.
I’m thankful for
Jane Friedman and Open Road Integrated Media for giving my long out of print
backlist a home and offering that part of my career a lifeline.
I’m thankful to my
agent Bob Diforio for bringing me to Open Road and for placing three of my
nonfiction projects.
I’m thankful for
E-readers and tablets that have become a fresh lifeblood of an industry too
often rooted in its ways, introducing readers to tens of thousands of books
they never would’ve had access to before.
I’m thankful for the
fact that print sales are going up and the reports of our industry’s death
turned out to be greatly exaggerated.
I’m thankful for
Brown University, whose then “New Curriculum” allowed me to stretch my wings
and actually become a writer. That
curriculum may not be new anymore, but it’s equally vital.
I’m thankful for all
the wonderful high school teachers who laid the foundation that taught me to
love learning, and reading, while laying the foundation that got me to Brown.
I’m thankful for
late, great Professor Elmer Blistein, my Brown mentor, who took a chance on me
by agreeing to sponsor my senior thesis which became my first novel, and
thriller, that will never again see the light of day!
I’m thankful for my
family, especially my parents, who swallowed their disappointment over me not
going to law school and supported my dreams and efforts to become a writer in
every way, shape and form.
I’m thankful for
Camp Samoset, where I unwittingly first learned how to write by telling stories
to kids in cabins and around campfires.
I’m thankful for all
the wonderful books I read that made me want to be a writer, because before you
can love writing, you have to love reading.
I’m thankful for
living in a country where dreams can still come true and second chances, even
third or fourth ones, still happen.
I’m thankful for all
the bookstore owners and managers who weathered a storm that nearly wiped them
out a few years back, continuing to fight the good fight because they know that
books matter.
I’m thankful for the
huge bestselling authors who keep people coming into bookstores.
I’m thankful for all
the on-line stores that make buying books so easy, there’s no excuse not to
read anymore.
And most of all, I’m
thankful for all my readers, without whom I wouldn’t be penning this blog or
living my dream.
Jon Land is the USA Today bestselling author of 39 novels, including eight titles in the critically acclaimed Caitlin Strong series: Strong Enough to Die, Strong Justice, Strong at the Break, Strong Vengeance, Strong Rain Falling (winner of the 2014 International Book Award and 2013 USA Best Book Award for Mystery-Suspense), Strong Darkness (winner of the 2014 USA Books Best Book Award and the 2015 International Book Award for Thriller and Strong Light of Day which won the 2016 International Book Award for Best Thriller-Adventure, the 2015 Books and Author Award for Best Mystery Thriller, and the 2016 Beverly Hills Book Award for Best Mystery. The latest title in the series is Strong Cold Dead, was published on October 4 and about which Booklist said, “Thrillers don’t get any better than this,” in a starred review. Land has also teamed with multiple New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham on a new sci-fi series, the first of which, The Rising, will be published by Forge in January of 2017. He is a 1979 graduate of Brown University and lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
Jon -- Your great article about all you are thankful for reminds us of the long road an author takes traveling from telling stories around a campfire to creating stories for the bestseller list. You have such a wonderful list of novels - now I can't wait to read your collaboration with Heather Graham THE RISING. A very Happy Thanksgiving to you and thanks for posting here!
ReplyDeleteJon, thanks so much for sharing your gratitude list! And congrats on your new series with Heather Graham!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful list of thanksgiving, Jon. Thank you for including me, but truthfully all of us are very grateful to you for your wonderful novels, generous spirit, and deep regard for everyone. It's a pleasure & honor! Gayle
ReplyDeleteJon, I'm a little late to the party, but I loved your list of Thanksgiving. At our house we have a tradition of going around the table and letting everyone say what they are most grateful for. At times the lists have been long, but the food can wait. Thank you for sharing your blessings with us. Let me chime in with best wishes on the collaboration with Heather. I know it will be extremely successful. I can't wait! Chris
ReplyDelete