International Thriller Writers (ITW), was founded October 9, 2004, at Bouchercon XXXV, the "World Mystery and Suspense Conference", in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Six months later, some 150 authors with more than one billion books sold worldwide had joined the organization as founding members.[citation needed] As of October 5, 2014, the organization's website said it had more than 3,100 members in 28 countries.[1]
History
On October 9, 2004, at Bouchercon XXXV, the "World Mystery and Suspense Conference", in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, International Thriller Writers was founded. The organization was founded by Gayle Lynds and David Morrell and they became the organization's first co-presidents.[2]
This is the first professional organization for thriller authors.[citation needed] The first thriller festival (ThrillerFest) for readers was held in June 2006 in Scottsdale, Arizona, at which the International Thriller Writers Awards for outstanding work in the field were announced.
^Patterson, James (Editor); International Thriller Writers, Inc. (2006). Thriller: Stories to Keep You Up All Night. Mira. ISBN9780778322993. {{cite book}}: |author1= has generic name (help)
^Clive Cusser (Editor); International Thriller Writers, Inc. (26 May 2009). Thriller 2: Stories You Just Can't Put Down. Mira. ISBN9780778327233. {{cite book}}: |author1= has generic name (help)
