Event

The Facts of the Fiction: Plotting the Modern Thriller

Garrison resident Alex Berenson and Cold Spring's David Duffy, along with Joseph Kanon of New York will appear at Winter Hill at 20 Nazareth Way (off Snake Hill Road) in Garrison on Sunday, Nov. 22, from 3-5 p.m. to speak about the practice of their craft and its relationship to the dangerous world we all must live in. A reception will follow the discussion.

The dangerous world reference is because all three writers work within the broad thriller genre with particular attention to the realms of espionage, terrorism, international crime, politics and history. They create stories that probe more deeply into matters that so often dominate the headlines in our papers, news sites and social media feeds.

And the journalistic reference is all the more relevant given the event is a fundraiser in support of The Paper and its companion website Philipstown.info.

The discussion will be moderated by Ru Rauch, a former Time magazine foreign correspondent with experiences of his own to color his questions about the craft of writing and the use of other cultures' locales as settings. Rauch reported from several foreign capitals, including Buenos Aires, Saigon, and Munich. He is a board member of Philipstown.Info, Inc., our nonprofit corporation.

Rauch said he is interested in exploring several lines of inquiry with the authors. He is fascinated with their dexterity in dealing with foreign cultures and even languages because they risk their credibility with even the smallest mistake. "And then there's the question of geography. I don't know how Alex Berenson, for instance, deals with so many cities in such a knowledgeable way."

He added: "How do they get their facts right? I imagine it's easier these days with Google; on the other hand everyone is on Google checking you, so you're held to a higher standard."