Darrell James, Johnny Shaw, and Reavis Z. Wortham dive into the role of violence, firearms, and moral ambiguity in crime and thriller fiction. They explore how accurate weapon use affects realism, character choices, and the emotional stakes of a story without letting violence overwhelm the narrative.
The Power of “No,” The Power of “Yes” in Creating Stories
Every story moves forward through decisions about what to reveal and what to withhold. Jule Selbo examines how strategic use of denial and permission drives suspense and conflict in crime and mystery fiction. This session focuses on controlling information to keep...




