Interesting Facts About Steve Berry

Although he may not be a household name like Tom Clancy or Clive Cussler, Steve Berry is nonetheless an accomplished fiction writer and has penned nearly 20 novels, many of which were received with critical acclaim. Here are two interesting facts about the thriller writer that you may not have known.

He was rejected 85 times before he sold his first manuscript. Although publishers now see publishing Berry’s works as a no-brainer, it wasn’t quite the case early on in his career. Berry first began writing fiction in 1990, but it wasn’t until 2003’s The Amber Room that one of his manuscripts would make it to print. Prior attempts at publication has resulted in 85 rejection before Ballantine Books finally took a chance on the then unknown Berry, a move that would prove to pay off.

He’s devoted to historical preservation. Berry and his wife, Elizabeth, founded History Matters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding the preservation of the fragile reminders of our past. Together they’ve spent many years fundraising for a wide variety of preservation projects, and in recognition for his work he was named spokesperson for National Preservation Week by American Library Association in 2012 and 2013. In a 2011 Wall Street Journal interview Berry said: “What are we losing when that [on being told of the rapid loss of our historical record] happens?  We’re losing windows to the past, thoughts to the past and ideas to the past, and that really affected me.”

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Underrated Stephen King Stories

The master of the thriller has certainly written some heavyweight novels, but not all of them were met will critical acclaim or commercial success. Here are three underrated Stephen King stories that are certainly worth revisiting.

The Long Walk. Originally published under King’s pen name Richard Bachman, the novel initially received little attention. It was King’s first novel, and lacked some of the polish of his later efforts, but remains a disturbing tale of a dystopian future that’s worth dissecting. The Long Walk tells the story of a walking contest run by the totalitarian US government in which 100 teenage boys must continuously walk and maintain a steady pace, lest they meet their death, with the last boy standing being declared the winner.

The Man in the Black Suit. Originally published in an issue of The New Yorker, The Man in the Black Suit may be one of King’s best short stories. It tells the story of a young boy meeting the devil by a river and won many industry awards, but many readers may not even know of its existence as much of the focus tends to be on King’s novels. Available in a number of different collections, it’s a must-read for any true horror fan.

Doctor Sleep. Although there was no particular desire for a sequel to the Shining, King wrote one anyway, and though the novel paid little lip service to fans it was a very well written tale of PTSD and alcoholism in the wake of the events of The Shining. Doctor Sleep certainly stands out among King’s more modern works, and is certainly deserving of more attention.

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Rules For Writing Thrillers

New York Times bestselling author David Morrell is certainly no stranger to penning thrilling reads. With his 1972 debut novel First Blood, Morrell introduced the world to Rambo, and brought us an enduring franchise that would deliver thrills for decades to come. Morrell isn’t one to keep secrets, and he offered up the five following rules for writing a good thriller:

1. Know your motives. Morrell often escaped the reality of his troubled childhood by imagining himself as a hero overcoming adversity. He has a personal connection to thrillers, and advises you to have the same.

2. Know the genre’s history. You may think your idea is original, but you’ll only know for sure if you do know the genre’s history.

3. Do your research. Details matter, and while you don’t want to overload your audience with them, you also don’t want to distract them with mistakes. Read up on your intended topic, and seek out experiences in person when possible.

4. Be yourself. Morrell preaches innovation over imitation. You’re better of being a first rate version of yourself than a second rate version of someone else.

5. Avoid the genre trap. Audiences care about the quality of the content, not the category. Forget about the fact that you’re writing a thriller and concentrate on writing a good book, it will fall into whatever category it may.

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Engrossing Political Thrillers

A political thriller is at its best, a labyrinthine affair full of twists and turns, as well as the machinations of plotting, and intrigue. Often grappling with the core of politics, the unashamed pursuit of power at all costs. These classic political thrillers will have you up all night, unable to stop yourself from reading more.

House Of Cards by Michael Dobbs

Even if you aren’t a fan of the show, or you are but find yourself unable to watch in good conscience, these books are even more masterful than the adaptations that followed. Focusing on the salacious tricks employed by a power-hungry politician, it’s a gripping page-turner and a scathing indictment of British politics.

The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon

A seminal classic that’s influence has stretched throughout tv, literature, and film. This heavily psychological tale of assassination and control will have you questioning reality at each and every new turn.

The Constant Gardner by John Le Carre

Le Carre was the master of political fiction in all of its forms, crafting intrigue and character-driven narratives that also eschewed easy reading and black and white morality in favor of something far more reflective of geopolitical reality. In this classic, he centers around a protagonist catapulted into the political arena by tragic circumstances, and victim to plotting from multiple sides, desperate to get to the truth.

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Best Thriller twists of all time

The thriller genre is packed with some of the greatest twists in all literature, but which are the best and most unexpected twists out there? Here’s a rundown of the best twists in the thriller genre. Beware, there are spoilers ahead.

Fight Club

Whether reading the book or watching the movie, the twist that Ed Norton and Brad Pitt are both playing the same character is something that people still talk about – the irony of talking about Fight Club is not lost on us either. Though there are clues smattered throughout, it still feels like a revelation that comes out of left field.

The Usual Suspects

When Verbal Kint is telling you what happened on the ship and the events that led up to the explosion and fire on the ship at the start of the movie. When Verbal is finished with his story and Dave Kujan lets him walk out of the police station, you think that the movie has come to an end. Then it dawns on him that everything Verbal has said is made up and the arrival of the police sketch from the only survivor of the fire with the face of Verbal on the paper – the audience comes to same conclusion that Kujan does. Kint is Keyser Söze.

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