I just happened to be swinging by the HarperCollins building for a long-ago scheduled coffee date with a publicist when she told me over the phone that a bunch of the house’s thriller writers, in town for this weekend’s International Thriller Writers conference, were doing a group signing for employees in one of the conference rooms, and did I want to raid the snack tray there instead of going out to Starbuck’s? So James Grippando (foreground) and Andrew Gross were staked out at the end of the table nearest the door, and as I worked my way towards the back, I caught up with old friends Michele Martinez and Tasha Alexander, then I was introduced to James Rollins, whose freshly published The Judas Strain had staffers chuffed due to its imminent high-ranking debut on the bestseller lists.
Of course, Sarah’s all over the Thrillerfest activities and will have more to say come Monday morning, and I’ll have more photos to share from tonight’s cocktail reception.