Genre Writing
Mystery Amateur Sleuth

Carolyn Rowland, Margaret Hamilton, Randy Overbeck, and Sue Arroyo explore what makes amateur sleuths work on the page. They discuss skills and limitations, believable motivations, and how non professionals can realistically solve crimes while still honoring the expectations of the genre.

Kimberly Dana explores how to write young protagonists who feel authentic and engaging. She shares tools for crafting modern young adult mysteries that capture the spirit of classic sleuths while speaking clearly to today’s teen readers.

Writing about Senior Sleuths: authors share what made them decide to write about an older protagonist.

Cara Black, M.J. McGraff, Mike Befeler, Simon Wood, and Steve Ulfelder talk about creating amateur sleuths from unexpected walks of life. From unusual professions to diverse backgrounds, they explore how character experience and skillsets can naturally drive both plot and problem solving.

D.R. Ransdell, Gay Yellen, Judy L. Murray, Kathryn Lasky, Lori Robbins, and Rebecca Butler dig into what makes amateur sleuths feel real. They discuss relatable traits, emotional motivation, and story choices that ground investigations in authenticity rather than coincidence.

Bruce DeSilva, Cathy Wiley, Hannah Dennison, Hilary Davidson, Joy Castro, Katrina Holm, and Robert Olen Butler explore mysteries where writers become detectives. They discuss metafiction, creativity, and the intriguing overlap between the act of writing and the act of solving a crime.

Moderated by Linda Sands, Jane Bock, John Carenen, Linda Lovely, Lois Winston, and Maria Hudgins focus on how setting shapes an amateur sleuth. They discuss how environment influences behavior, opportunity, and credibility, and why place matters as much as personality.