Mature content can add power to a story when it serves character and plot. John Rector, Jonathan Woods, S.J. Rozan, and Scott Phillips discuss why elements like sex, violence, and strong language have a place in crime fiction when used with intention. This session explores how these choices can deepen realism, sharpen character development, and raise narrative stakes rather than feeling gratuitous.
From Page to Screen: When Characters Take on a New Life
What happens when a novel becomes a film or television story? In this session, authors and screenwriters discuss the adaptation process, exploring how characters and narratives evolve for the screen and the challenges of translating a book into a visual medium.
