Where It Begins: How Crime Stories Find Their First Clue

Cathi Stoler, Don Bruns, John Lutz, Rick Mofina, Sheila Connolly, and Steve Hamilton break down how crime stories begin. They discuss where ideas come from, how to shape that first clue, and how to build a trail of evidence that keeps readers turning pages.

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How to Build Suspense One Moment at a Time

Genre, Suspense, Writing

Suspense is built moment by moment, not just in big reveals. Award-winning author Vic DiGenti shares proven techniques for keeping readers engaged through micro-tension, pacing, and careful control of information. This session explores how to reveal just enough at the...

Kathryn Lasky on Reinvention, Creativity, and a Life of Storytelling

Career, Children's Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery

Award-winning author Kathryn Lasky joins Clay Stafford for an inspiring conversation about building a lifelong writing career across genres and audiences. She reflects on her journey from children’s and fantasy fiction to adult work inspired by real life, sharing...

Knowing When a Story Is Finished and Letting It Go

Craft, Writing

Kaui Hart Hemmings reads from her novel The Descendants and reflects on the emotional process of releasing creative work. She explores when to let go, how to embrace imperfection, and why completion matters.

Where It Begins: How Crime Stories Find Their First Clue

How to Build Suspense One Moment at a Time

Kathryn Lasky on Reinvention, Creativity, and a Life of Storytelling

Knowing When a Story Is Finished and Letting It Go

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