It’s the mystery every aspiring writer wants to solve: how do I sell my book?

This week on How Success Happens, I sat down with Kimberley Howe, an award‑winning author and executive director of International Thriller Writers, to see if we could crack the case.

Mystery and thriller books are a big biz, generating more than $21 billion a year worldwide. Industry projections expect the category to top $33 billion by 2033. Numbers like that have publishers and Hollywood producers on the constant hunt for the next buzzy book that could turn into a blockbuster streaming series.

International Thriller Writers is a not-for-profit organization that, since 2005, has been dedicated to helping writers break into the market and develop their voices. The organization boasts more than 6,600 members who have collectively sold 3.6 billion books. And every year, IFW hosts ThrillerFest, a week‑long conference in New York “designed by authors, for authors,” to help one another achieve their goals. This year’s will be held May 5-9 at the New York Hilton Midtown hotel.

Writers at every level can workshop their novels in small‑group Master Classes, sharpen their skills at CraftFest, get one‑on‑one query feedback at QueryFest and ConnectFest, and pitch completed manuscripts directly to agents and editors at PitchFest. And in between, take in inspiring talks and share a drink or two with superstar guest speakers like Harlan Coben and Lisa Scottoline. 

Kimberly and I dug into why thrillers are exploding, how writers can ride that wave, and what it really takes to turn an idea into a breakout book or on‑screen franchise. Listen to the conversation here and read on for Kimberly’s insights to help you pen your own personal success in three, two, one!

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Three Key Insights

1. The 10% Talent, 90% Perspiration Rule

Kimberly believes the biggest through line from George R.R. Martin to Harlan Coben is simple: “Never give up.” In her words, success is “10% talent and 90% perspiration,” and she’s watched brand‑new writers evolve into bestselling authors by relentlessly learning and revising. Many of those writers held day jobs, grabbing 30 minutes at 4:30 or 5 a.m. just to hit a daily word count. She swears by writing first thing in the morning — before you touch your phone — and then moving on with your day, letting your subconscious work on the story in the background.

Takeaway: Build a daily, non‑negotiable micro‑habit (even 15 minutes) that keeps you moving toward your big project while everyone else is still asleep.

2. Don’t “Write What You Know”, Write What You’ll Obsess Over

Kimberly flips the classic “write what you know” advice on its head. Instead, she says, “Write what you’re passionate about and want to learn about.” She knew nothing about kidnapping before she began the first book in her Freedom Broker series, which focuses on elite hostage negotiator Thea Paris, so she went all‑in on research. She read everything she could, met with top kidnap negotiators, and even spoke with former hostages. 

Takeaway: Choose a business or creative idea you’re willing to fully immerse yourself in, then treat research and skill‑building like your full‑contact sport.

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3. Your Network Is Your Superpower (And Your Pitch is Your Door In)

Kimberly calls ThrillerFest “a summer camp for writers,” a place where Lee Child is literally in the hallway asking, “What are you working on?” And there’s no green room — top authors and newbies mix all week long. At their PitchFest event, 250 nervous writers pitch agents who are actively looking for new talent. Kimberly says the writers who stand out are the ones who can boil their book into a 30‑word logline (“My book is Jurassic Park meets Jaws”) and explain why they’re the ideal person to write it, whether that’s a big social following or a unique background. Kimberly points to author Isabella Maldonado, who took her law enforcement background and turned it into thrillers — one of which, “The Cipher,” was optioned by Netflix for Jennifer Lopez to produce and star in. “A lot of books are going to TV and film now, so we’re seeing that becoming a big part of our work,” she says.

Takeaway: Tighten your log line to make your book quickly understandable — and leave your humility at the door when you explain why you are uniquely qualified to write it.

Two Free Resources to Learn More

1. You can learn more about Kimberley Howe and ThrillerFest, the annual week‑long “extravaganza” for thriller lovers and writers, through International Thriller Writers.
2. Get these four Best-Selling authors’ advice for finally writing and selling that book swimming inside your head.
   

One Question to Ponder

What’s the book that made you want to write a book?

Email your answer to howsuccesshappens@entrepreneur.com, and I’ll read some of my favorites on a future episode.

About How Success Happens

Each episode of How Success Happens shares the inspiring, entertaining, and unexpected journeys that influential leaders in business, the arts, and sports traveled on their way to becoming household names. It’s a reminder that behind every big-time career, there is a person who persisted in the face of self-doubt, failure, and anything else that got thrown in their way.