Law enforcement is not one-size-fits-all, and fiction often blurs important distinctions. In this session, a veteran panelist breaks down the differences between military service and civilian policing, as well as the realities of urban versus rural law enforcement. Drawing on personal experience, this discussion helps writers understand how structure, training, and environment shape how officers actually work.
Secrets Don’t Stay Secret in Small Towns
Brenda Chapman, Dana King, Erika Chase, and Sandra Parshall explore why small towns are such fertile ground for mystery. They discuss how close relationships, long memories, and hidden tensions turn familiar communities into places where secrets are hard to keep and...




