Last week I gave you some of my report from ThrillerFest, one of my favorite industry events of the year. Steve Berry at the Thriller Awards ceremony on Saturday night called it “Summer Camp for Thriller Writers,” and he was not wrong. The lineup of authors was just stellar, and the information that was exchanged was just terrific. More about what they had to say in a bit. That evening Steve also shared news that he and four other leading thriller authors --- David Morrell, Douglas Preston, James Rollins and Andy Harp --- will visit U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf as part of a USO trip they’re calling Operation Thriller. They plan to meet troops, talk fiction, inspire and spread cheer, and most importantly, show their gratitude. They will start the trip at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. before embarking on the week-long tour. And, of course, they’re bringing lots of advance copies of their forthcoming books. We will be sure to get you news about this event as it unfolds.