Grant Blackwood

Registration is open for the chance to participate in a one-day seminar “The Secrets of Writing Best Selling Thrillers” with popular author Grant Blackwood.

It will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the Austin Public Library and is sponsored by Friends of the Library.

“Getting published is a challenge and making it big is even a bigger challenge but there are secrets that can tilt the odds in your favor,” Blackwood said. “There are key elements most thrillers share — the mindset of the bestselling author; the outline — your novel’s blueprint; why a literary agent is a novelist’s indispensable partner, and how to find the right one; the difference between story and plot and how to master both; how to develop characters that will engage readers and drive the story.”

Blackwood will share secrets and techniques developed over his 27-year career. This will be an expanded and in-depth exploration of concepts from Grant’s popular “Seven Elements of Big Thrillers” class, which he teaches each year at International Thriller Writers annual conference, ThrillerFest. The cost for the Austin seminar is just $25 per person and includes snacks and lunch.

It is limited to 30 participants and open to high school age through adults. Register online at austinpubliclibrary.org or at the library. Online registration is also available via austinareaarts.org under link for Classes.

Grant Blackwood is the bestselling author of the Briggs Tanner series including “The End of Enemies,” “The Wall of Night” and “An Echo of War.”

Grant will also be a presenter during the third annual Austin ArtWorks Festival Aug. 23-24 on the site of former downtown Power Plant.

He lived in Austin from 1977 to 1984 when his father worked for Hormel Foods Corp. Go to austinareaarts.org and choose Austin ArtWorks Festival link for details on the author schedule.