When emotions are high and lives are on the line, words matter more than force. Homicide detective and crime novelist Rick Reed draws on real-world experience resolving high-stakes crises through communication and empathy. This session explores how negotiators build trust under pressure, read human behavior, and defuse volatile situations, giving writers powerful tools for creating tense, emotionally grounded scenes.
Murder in the Court: Legal Thrillers
James Scott Bell, Robert Rotstein, Sheldon Siegel, and Susan Goldstein explore where the courtroom meets high-stakes storytelling. Drawing on real legal experience, they discuss how law shapes character, sharpens plot, and adds credibility and tension to compelling...
