Thriller and mystery novels get readers’ hearts pumping fast, just like
outdoor sports, and with New Year’s resolutions kicking in soon we’re profiling the workouts and diets of 16 top authors in the genre. Their answers are inspiring, intimidating, and funny.

While compiling these fitness profiles, 85 percent of the novelists that SFA’s David Raterman contacted said they exercise regularly. Since only 49.6 percent of Americans exercise at least 30 minutes three days a week, he wanted to find out why there was a difference. According to best-selling Edgar nominee PJ Parrish, “Maybe it’s because we all sit so long all day staring at a screen. I think when the brain is forced to live in a dream world for so long your body finally says enough!”

And, interestingly, 88 percent (14 of the 16 novelists) said that they think about plots and characters while exercising. Best-selling thriller novelist Chris Kuzneski says in his profile, “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve planned someone’s murder while riding my bike.”

	Randy Wayne White		P.J. Parrish
	Chris Kuzneski		Jamie Freveletti
	Jim DeFelice		Jonathon King
	Lisa Unger		James O. Born
Why compile fitness profiles of thriller and mystery novelists?
What did Alan Furst, often called the master of the historical spy novel, say about exercising?
	Les Standiford		Joe R. Lansdale
	Vicki Hendricks		Hilary Davidson
	Mark Greaney		Deborah Coonts
	Don Bruns		Tom Corcoran

Guess The Author!  Who Said Each Quote?

“I never weigh myself. If I get muffin-top when I put on my jeans, it’s time to cut back.”

“My secret is that I have a minitrampoline in my apartment and I use it for 30 to 90 minutes a day … I’m completely addicted to it.”

“Regular weight work helps keep the muscles somewhat loose for a long day of pounding the keys.”

“(My daily diet has) fewer calories than a hamster.”

“Since I did do the running and swimming, my characters do not come off as supermen because I know how painful it is.”

“I’m not worried about ‘beach muscles’ of (big) chest and arms.”

“Lots of work and stress in a writing career, and martial arts helps me balance it, and feel better, both physically and mentally.”

“I love pasta and beer, not very good for training…

“While exercise may be great for my blood-pumping system, the empirical evidence suggests that it kicks my brain in the ass. My creativity is energized.”

“My third and fourth novels are all about sports. True, most of the exercise takes place in bed or on some other flat surface, but Iguana Love has been described as scuba noir.”

“(I) played basketball in college, was a competitive surfboat rower and an ocean swimmer.”

“I have an awful diet! … Eggs, bacon, pancakes for breakfast, lots of ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch and lots of red meat – usually steak – for dinner. And coffee, coffee, coffee.”

“You’d be surprised how many calories you can burn while kicking butt.”

“I’m far from a bodybuilder, so cross that image out of your mind.”

“My weaknesses are good wine, Goldfish crackers and gummy bears … But to prevent yourself from becoming a bitter monk, give in to your fast food jones once in a while.”

“Apparently there are some benefits besides fitting into a size two.”

“(Working out is) my imagining time. If I have a plot problem, I’ll get on a VersaClimber.”

“I often work out particularly tough issues in a given piece while running.”

“(My weapons classes) include an incredible amount of running and hauling gear and other equipment (even “downed” teammates), all under the stress of working with a team under live gunfire conditions.”

“I exercise most days … because it keeps me feeling healthy and youthful. It also keeps sane, centered and focused.”

“I had an aggressive touch of breast cancer in 2005, which forced me to undergo chemotherapy. Being in wonderful shape, however, allowed me to take the strongest chemicals available …”

“Pumping up the blood usually pumps up the brain cells. Lots of time to think about characters, situations, wrap-ups.”

“(My) lead woman character … is a Broward Sheriff’s detective who is a triathlete. In the last novel, Acts of Nature, a leg injury during a hurricane in the Everglades results in the amputation of one of her legs.”

“My five-year-old daughter Ocean and I recently did the Iron Girl 5K.”

“Weights are about looking good and staying strong, and cardio is about stress relief more than anything.”

“I was a really chubby kid so the fat thing never leaves me.”