Poison has long been a favorite tool in fiction, but getting it right requires more than mystery and menace. Judith Rochelle, Dan Royse, Doug Woodward, Linda Duncan, and Lois Schmitt explore how poison is actually used in the real world, from toxicology and delivery methods to timing and detection. This session shows writers how to use poison in ways that feel believable, purposeful, and grounded in reality rather than cliché.
How Ordinary People Solve Extraordinary Crimes
Carolyn Rowland, Margaret Hamilton, Randy Overbeck, and Sue Arroyo explore what makes amateur sleuths work on the page. They discuss skills and limitations, believable motivations, and how non professionals can realistically solve crimes while still honoring the...




