Sex plays different roles across crime fiction subgenres. Alexandra Sokoloff, Harley Jane Kozak, Judi McCoy, and Sheila Connolly discuss when intimacy belongs in a crime novel and when it does not. This session explores reader expectations, realism, industry pressures, and how to handle sexual content responsibly without resorting to cliché or excess.
What Agents and Editors Are Really Looking For
Elaine Ash and Gretchen Stelter explain what agents and editors truly look for in authors and manuscripts. They offer insight into professionalism, market readiness, voice, and the qualities that help a submission stand out in today’s publishing world.




