Genre Writing
Suspense (includes romantic suspense and psychological)

Moderated by Lori Rader-Day, this panel examines how mysteries and suspense thrillers approach story in fundamentally different ways. Debra H. Goldstein, L.A. Chandlar, Merrilee Robson, Shaun Harris, and Shirley B. Garrett discuss structure, clues, pacing, and reader promises. This session is ideal for writers trying to sharpen genre focus or transition between forms.

Alicia Anthony, Debra Gaskill, Diane Sismour, and Michelle Cox reveal how romance, mystery, and suspense can work together rather than compete. They discuss reader expectations, character-driven tension, and how emotional stakes intensify danger. This session offers practical guidance for crafting romantic suspense that feels authentic, gripping, and emotionally satisfying.

What makes a reader hold their breath and refuse to stop turning pages? Charlie Donlea, Dianne McCartney, J.L. Delozier, Kaira Rouda, Lynette Eason, and Rick Treon dig into the true mechanics of suspense. They explore how character choices, pacing, and plot construction work together to create relentless tension. This session shows how to hook readers early and keep them locked in until the final twist.

Baron R. Birtcher, Martha Reed, and Sharon Marchisello break down what makes a suspense novel impossible to put down. They share practical strategies for tightening pacing, fixing the dreaded saggy middle, and sustaining tension across an entire book. Learn how to keep readers emotionally invested, intellectually engaged, and eager to turn the page through every twist and reveal.

Diane Sismour, Erin Flanagan, Kiersten Modglin, and Shirley B. Garrett dive into the inner mechanics of psychological suspense. They explore how fear, doubt, and unreliable perception can drive tension without relying on action alone. This session examines how to manipulate the reader’s expectations, deepen unease through character psychology, and position psychological suspense effectively in today’s marketplace.

In this session, panelists discuss how writers balance the love story with the mystery or murder, creating tension, emotional stakes, and a satisfying blend of romance and suspense.

Jane B. Lee, Kim Black, Linda Hughes, Ronda Wells, and Ruth Knafo Setton break down how to blend romance and suspense so neither element overwhelms the other. They discuss building emotional intimacy alongside escalating danger, managing pacing, and raising the stakes in ways that deepen both the love story and the tension. This session offers practical insight into crafting stories that are as emotionally satisfying as they are impossible to put down.

A.G.S. Johnson, David Bell, Kenneth J. Wishnia, and Norb Vonnegut break down what makes suspense truly gripping. From relentless pacing to escalating danger and emotional stakes, this session reveals how thrillers keep readers hooked and unable to put the book down.

Gay Yellen, J.D. Webb, Kiersten Modglin, Linda Petrilli Duncan, Terrence McCauley, and Terri Parlato share the techniques they use to sustain tension from the opening scene to the last page. They discuss how character motivation, dialogue, pacing, and plot twists combine to create suspense that feels organic rather than forced. Writers will come away with clear strategies for keeping readers anxious, invested, and eager for what comes next.

What truly separates suspense from a thriller, and why does it matter? Moderated by Rea Frey, this panel featuring James McCrone, Michael Niemann, Shirley B. Garrett, and Vinnie Hansen breaks down pacing, point of view, and reader expectation. The discussion clarifies how each genre creates tension in different ways and helps writers decide where their story truly belongs.

This discussion explores the intersection of romance with suspense and murder, examining how love and danger intertwine in storytelling. Authors share how they balance emotional tension with thriller elements to create gripping, high-stakes narratives.

CJ Lyons, Heather Graham, Jordan Dane, Lori Armstrong, and Monette Michaels explore the electric crossroads of romance and suspense. They discuss how desire, danger, and intimacy can amplify tension in romantic thrillers and mysteries. This lively panel dives into balancing heat with plot, raising stakes through relationships, and using passion to drive both story and suspense.

Annie Solomon, Bente Gallagher, Karen Gallahue, and Laura Elvebak explore how romance heightens suspense rather than softening it. They discuss building believable emotional connections while raising danger and stakes, and how love stories deepen reader investment in crime and suspense fiction. Writers will gain insight into balancing passion, peril, and plot without losing momentum.