John DeDakis leads Darryl Bollinger, J.T. Ellison, and Linda Whitaker in a wide-ranging conversation about what makes thrillers work. From pacing and structure to the unique demands of psychological and futuristic thrillers, this session explores how to keep tension high and readers fully locked in.
A.J. Tata on Service, Story, and Writing with Purpose
Clay Stafford interviews 2017 Guest of Honor A.J. Tata about his military background, educational journey, and the balance between writing and public service. Maggie Toussaint joins the conversation to help recognize and celebrate the 2017 debut authors.




