Gail Bellamy explores why readers are drawn to food writing and how writers can use sensory detail to bring scenes to life. She shares tips for writing effective food descriptions, common language pitfalls to avoid, and ways a character’s relationship with food can reveal personality, emotion, and deeper layers of story.
What Makes a Story Gritty? From Traditional Mystery to True Crime
What does “grit” really mean in crime fiction? In this session, authors explore how grit appears across the genre, from traditional mysteries to thrillers and true crime. Panelists discuss the elements that give stories their edge and how gritty storytelling differs...




