Characters
Genre-Specific Characterization

Graham Brown, Laura Hayden, and Robert Pobi discuss how to build compelling characters while sustaining suspense in thriller fiction. They explore point of view, plotting, pacing, and character development, along with practical advice on grammar and style. The conversation also highlights the value of completing a full draft before revising, helping writers maintain momentum and creative energy.

Ben Coes, Boyd Morrison, George Easter, Mark Greaney, Mike Lawson, and Zoë Sharp discuss how to create unforgettable thriller characters. They explore how occupations, backstories, and setting choices shape identity, authenticity, and the emotional intensity that drives high-stakes storytelling.

Some of the most unforgettable thrillers are driven by characters who refuse to follow the rules. In this dynamic discussion moderated by Bruce DeSilva, authors explore the power of lone wolves and loose cannons in suspense fiction. They examine how unpredictable protagonists and morally gray decisions heighten tension, complicate stakes, and keep readers guessing until the final page.

Five authors come together to explore writing crime fiction shaped by profound personal loss. One discusses a protagonist whose wife has disappeared, while the others have written characters grieving the deaths of immediate family members. This conversation examines how deep grief transforms motivation, sharpens stakes, and drives characters to solve crimes while navigating the most devastating moments of their lives.