The event promised encounters with big names, and it delivered. I got to meet John Grisham, James Patterson, Lisa Gardner, and David Baldacci. It was thrilling. (Pun intended.) Each offered insights into how they work and think about storytelling. Their advice was generous, their presence a reminder of what’s possible. But here’s the thing: that wasn’t the part that stuck with me.

We all know the pillars of a thriller—pace, plot, and twists. But, for me, my favorites have a foundational character. Cliche characters beget cliche thrillers. But present me with a real person with human emotions that I care about and pull them into something dangerous and relentless? I can't turn away. I'm drawn to people who feel more human and less "larger than life." I love thrillers where heroes bleed on the page and evil leaps down your throat.

When I finally unfolded my long body out of the tiny space, there were no high fives or back slaps from the proofer, the director, or the sound engineer for a job well done. Instead, I got 'the nod'—the recognition that I had earned my place as an audiobook narrator.