I have a graduate degree from Penn State. I studied at Penn State under a noted Hemingway scholar, Philip Young. I had an interest in thrillers, and it occurred to me that Hemingway wrote many action scenes: the war scenes in 'A Farewell to Arms' and 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' come to mind. But the scenes don't feel pulpy.

" ... What if?" Through the alchemy of those two words, something new comes into the world.

One generation's idea of fast pace might be different from a later generation's.

As long as thriller authors teach us about our world, they'll be relevant.

A thriller becomes great when it carries a feeling of reality and truth.

His name was Rambo, and he was just some nothing kid for all anybody knew, standing by the pump of a gas station at the outskirts of Madison, Kentucky.

To all librarians everywhere, God bless you.