Characters
Psychology and Inner Life

Mysti Berry, Sandra Parshall, Sasscer Hill, Sparkle Abbey, and Victoria Laurie explore how to create characters with genuine depth. They discuss emotion, backstory, and complexity, along with practical ways to move beyond clichés and avoid flat or predictable character portrayals.

Holly West, Janice Hamrick, Julie Compton, Laura Caldwell, Marcia Talley, and Rachel Brady explore how crime fiction can balance darkness with empathy. They discuss creating stories that reflect compassion, moral complexity, and the human cost behind crime and justice.

Jordan Foster and Kevin Gillfoil examine the psychology of flawed protagonists. They discuss how to create complex, conflicted characters and why imperfection often makes for the most compelling and emotionally honest storytelling.

Kim Hammond moderates a conversation with Brett Parks, Darryl James, Jeri Westerson, and Mara Purl about writing dysfunctional protagonists. They explore how flaws, impulses, and self sabotage can drive conflict, tension, and emotional truth within a story.

Diane Lake guides writers through the process of uncovering what makes characters truly resonate. She explains how physical description, defining traits, and emotional layering can bring characters to life in a vivid and believable way.

Beverle Graves Myers explores the connection between psychology and fiction, drawing on her background as a psychiatrist. She explains how understanding human behavior, motivation, and emotional depth can strengthen storytelling, heighten suspense, and bring authenticity to characters.

In this session, authors explore the psychological, cultural, and storytelling appeal of lawbreakers and law enforcers, and how these opposing forces create tension, conflict, and compelling narratives in crime fiction.

Bruce Allen Murphy and Carol L. Wright explore how life stages and major experiences shape identity. They show writers how to use life cycle psychology to create characters who feel emotionally grounded and true to lived experience.

Bill Cameron, Blake Crouch, Chris F. Holm, Leighton Gage, Michael Wiley, and Theresa Schwegel examine morally complex characters who exist between justice and darkness. They discuss the inspiration behind these figures and techniques for writing layered characters who challenge simple definitions of right and wrong.

In this session, authors discuss the hobbies, pets, and personal relationships that shape their characters’ lives outside the investigation. Panelists explore how these details add depth, charm, and realism to their stories.

This panel explores how to create memorable and authentic unconventional characters. The discussion focuses on balancing eccentricity with realism while avoiding stereotypes and grounding unusual personalities in emotional truth.

Andi Schechter, Jean M. Redmann, Julie Kramer, Neil Plakcy, Sharon Pfeiffer, and William Kent Krueger explore how writers challenge their protagonists through pain, conflict, and growth. They discuss redemption, emotional struggle, and the deep personal connections authors often share with their characters’ journeys.

Amanda Kyle Williams, Clea Koff, David Corbett, Deborah Crombie, Meg Gardiner, and Taylor Stevens examine the role of the witness in mystery fiction. They discuss reliability, perception, and how witnesses shape truth, tension, and emotional depth within a story.

Experts Brown and Ross discuss the origin of the Enneagram, the nine personality types that can be used in character development, and why the study of the Enneagram can be beneficial for mystery writers. They also discuss how individuals within the same personality type can behave differently, manifesting both heroes and villains.

A.M. Adair, Chrissy Hicks, Coranna Adams, Katherine Hutchinson Hayes, Kit Sanders, and Sateash Hime explore what drives character behavior. They examine desires, fears, and internal conflicts, showing how psychology shapes motivation and fuels transformation.

Chris Pavone, Gayle Lynds, Hannah Dennison, M. P. Cooley, and Rory Flynn discuss how writers channel personal fears, curiosity, and emotional experience through their characters. They explore how living through fictional lives deepens storytelling and strengthens emotional connection.