CraftFest Schedule

CraftFest 2026 at ThrillerFest 2026: Session Descriptions

8:00am to 8:50am, Wednesday, May 6, 2026:

THE SECRETS TO A SUSTAINABLE WRITING CAREER, with MARK SULLIVAN: Whether you’ve just turned in your second book and can’t imagine writing a third, or you’re written ten in a series, feel like you’re in a rut and looking for a new path forward, this lecture is for you. Mark Sullivan, author of bestselling thrillers and historical novels for more than thirty-five years, will teach you tried and true methods to keep your energy high and your creativity flowing during a multi-decade writing career.

INTERIORITY, POV, AND ASSUMPTIONS: THE TWIST SET-UP, with SAMANTHA SKAL: In the thriller world, having (at least) three twists is one of the keys to reader bliss. But how do we go about ideating them? How do we make sure they land well and aren’t predictable? An independent editor who focuses exclusively on mystery-thriller-suspense, Samantha Skal knows twists. This lecture will cover why your character’s assumptions are absolutely vital to writing a three-twist (at least) thriller.

TRICKING THE READER: HOW TO PLOT AND PLANT RED HERRINGS, with ANDE PLIEGO: The goal of a mystery is often to turn the reader into a conspiracy theorist, combing the plot for clues and the characters for suspicions. This session covers Ande’s extensive method for laying trails of red herring breadcrumbs, hiding clues in plain sight, and how to stay a step (or two, or three…) ahead of the reader at all times–while still rewarding the ones who’ve worked to play detective.

THE PANTSER/PLOTTER PROCESS SWAP, with JOSHILYN JACKSON: There are two kinds of writers: those who leap heart-first into a draft with little planning, and those who follow their heads in the form of an outline. We’ve all heard writers declare for one team or the other, and most say they couldn’t do it the other way. In this lecture, we will challenge that assertion and discover the value of trying on a different approach. You may never change from your preferred method, but by writing for a mile in another person’s process, you will come to understand your own and take control of your pantser/plotter identity.

9:00am to 9:50am, Wednesday, May 6, 2026:

CRAFT SECRETS FROM A PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST: LUIS ALBERTO URREA INTERVIEWED BY CHARLAINE HARRIS: Charlaine Harris, the #1 New York Times bestselling author, interviews Pulitzer Prize Finalist and ThrillerFest 2026 Spotlight Guest Luis Alberto Urrea.

FIRST PAGE CRITIQUES, with NEIL NYREN & JAMES L’ETOILE: You know that old saying, “You only have one chance to make a first impression?” Turns out that is excellent advice in the publishing world. Imagine the hundreds of submissions agents and editors receive. In this session, attendees will learn how to avoid the common mistakes authors make in their opening pages, and how point-of-view, tone, character, setting, and the opening drama must all come together to make that first page stand out.

CROSSING SUBGENRE LINES IN THRILLERS AND MYSTERIES, with TESSA WEGERT: From locked-room mysteries with a psychological thriller twist to domestic suspense that reads like a P.I. novel, many of today’s crime fiction books combine subgenres with great success. This class will share strategies for crossing genres to help writers conceptualize new stories and refine existing ones, focusing on topics like structure, point of view, and tone.

SECONDARY CHARACTERS AND SIDEKICKS, with ALLISON BRENNAN: Secondary characters and sidekicks are as important as main characters. How do you develop a strong cast without overshadowing your main protagonist? How do you juggle an ensemble cast with multiple protagonists so that your reader isn’t lost?

10:00am to 10:50am, Wednesday, May 6, 2026

DEEP STAKES & NON-PLOT PACE, with DONALD MAASS: Stakes are more than what’s at risk; deep stakes capture what’s important. Pace is more than rapidly arriving events; it’s also multi-layered change. Join longtime Master Class instructor Donald Maass as he delves into both stakes and pace. 

MOTIVES FOR MURDER, with YASMIN ANGOE: A lecture that explores crafting a solid motive for character actions, but specifically crafting motives for murder. We’ll discuss a list of murderous motives and what kind of stories we’ve read that use these main motives. Together, we’ll break down a motive for murder of a character and their victim, to understand the importance of having a motive that makes sense to the character.

DIG DEEP: TOP TIPS FOR REVISING FROM PROFESSIONAL EDITORS, with JAIME LEVINE: The hardest part of a novel to craft is not the outline or the first draft, but the revisions. This session will cover tips from the top editors at Kevin Anderson & Associates on tackling this complex, often laborious stage of writing.

SO MUCH DEPENDS UPON A SINGLE PAGE, with CHRIS PAVONE: Every single book makes its way through the publishing ecosystem largely on the strength—or weakness—of a one-page description. From book proposal to agent query, from editorial-board meeting to sales conference, from publisher’s catalog to Amazon page, from flap copy to publicity pitch, again and again every book is presented to the people who matter via one page. That page starts with you.

11:00am to 11:50am, Wednesday, May 6, 2026:

AGENT AND THRILLER WRITER SPILL ALL: LISA ERBACH VANCE INTERVIEWED BY GREGG HURWITZ: Gregg Hurwitz and Lisa Erbach Vance break agent-thriller writer confidentiality to discuss all aspects of what can be the best — or most difficult — relationship in publishing. 

HOW DO YOU STAY INSPIRED WHEN THE MUSE IS MISSING IN ACTION? with WANDA MORRIS: For both published and unpublished writers, staying on track to finish your WIP can be tough in the face of rejection, distractions and self-doubt. What is a writer to do when inspiration dwindles and writing to “The End” becomes difficult? Come hear practical tips and advice for beating down procrastination, overcoming obstacles and staying on track to finish your writing project.

OUTSIDE THE ALGORITHM: POWER YOUR CAREER WITH COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT, with TOSCA LEE: Fuel your reader base with high-impact events for libraries, community spaces, and clubs that foster engagement around your books and the real-world research behind them. This lecture will include practical strategies for building your local reader base and sustained support for your career while enriching your own community.

BUILDING SUSPENSE: TOOLS THAT KEEP READERS TURNING PAGES, with ELISE HART KIPNESS: Suspense is at the heart of crime fiction–and when you nail it, readers won’t be able to put your book down. This lecture examines how to build suspense in your novel through dialogue, plot, setting, character traits, and strategic chapter endings.

12:00pm to 12:50pm, Wednesday, May 6, 2026

CRAFTFEST LUNCH: THE INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEY FROM BOOK-TO-FILM, with KARIN SLAUGHTER & LISA UNGER: Karin Slaughter has been a #1 NYT bestseller for years, but has crossed over to film with her bestselling series featuring Will Trent in addition to Pieces of Her (in italics) and The Good Daughter. Lisa Unger will delve into Karin’s experiences to showcase the dramatic journey from book-to-film.

1:00pm to 1:50pm, Wednesday, May 6, 2026:

ASK ME ANYTHING, with C.J. BOX, NEIL NYREN, & JOHN SANDFORD: Back by popular demand, two #1 bestselling authors and their Thriller Legend editor address all your questions about thriller writing and publishing. 

HOW TO SEDUCE A READER IN 25 PAGES OR LESS, with KATE WHITE: The world of suspense fiction is more crowded than ever (sorry—we hate to scare you, but we kind of have to), and those first pages of your story are truly make-or-break. They’re what determine whether a reader will stick with your book beyond a quick glance at the bookstore or a sample online. In this lecture, Kate White, the New York Times bestselling author of nineteen mysteries and thrillers, breaks down the techniques top authors use to hook readers from the very start. You’ll learn how to craft a tantalizing first sentence (including what Kate calls the “double trouble” trick), introduce a compelling voice, weave in just the right amount of backstory, build delicious dread and tension, and pose a question the reader will be desperate to have answered before you even get to the inciting incident. Bonus: Nail those first twenty-five pages, and the rest of your book will (almost) write itself.

EDIT YOUR MANUSCRIPT: THE MARSH KING’S DAUGHTER, A CASE STUDY, with KAREN DIONNE: Karen Dionne’s breakout book sold in a 12-way auction in the US and in dozens of countries, yet her editor Mark Tavani wrote in his editorial letter, “I think even more is possible.” Through a deep dive into his letter, authors will learn how to examine their own work and gain the objectivity they need to make their manuscripts even better.

VOICE OF THE AUTHOR, VOICE OF THE BOOK, VOICE OF THE CHARACTER, with ELENA HARTWELL TAYLOR: Agents and editors often say that voice matters more than anything else when deciding whether to offer representation or a book deal. But what is voice? This lecture will break down elements of voice based on the author’s voice, the voice of a specific manuscript, and the unique voices of the characters that inhabit that work. Let’s demystify some of the mythology around “voice” and discover ways to augment those elements into any work in progress.

2:00pm to 2:50pm, Wednesday, May 6, 2026:

MY WORST MISTAKES: DOUGLAS PRESTON INTERVIEWED BY ALETHEIA PRESTON: Bestselling author Douglas Preston will take the stage with his new writing partner—and daughter, Aletheia Preston for a candid and highly engaging conversation about the missteps that shaped his career. Fresh off the release of their co-authored novel, PARADOX (Tor/Forge, April 21, 2026), the duo will explore Doug’s most memorable mistakes, blunders, and narrative detours from his early thrillers. This session aims to provide debut and aspiring thriller authors with hard-won wisdom, actionable takeaways, and the reassurance that even the most celebrated careers are built on lessons learned the hard way.

THE ART OF PACING: WRITING A BOOK READERS CAN’T PUT DOWN, with BOYD MORRISON: Learn how to get your story off to a blazing start, discover techniques to keep readers turning the pages, and find out how to craft chapter-ending cliffhangers.

THE VISIBLE WRITER, with CARTER WILSON: A clear-eyed look at how talent alone is not enough, and how writers can build sustainable careers by showing up with authentic personality through newsletters, online platforms, conferences, public speaking, and in-person connections that create trust, visibility, and long-term opportunity in an industry where performative branding rarely lasts.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO WRITE YOUR THRILLER —IN FIFTY MINUTES, with HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Full disclosure: actually writing it is going to take longer than that. But in this fast-paced high-intensity class,  Hank will give you a structure, a template, an architecture–exactly what you need to help you structure your idea and grow it into the novel it is meant to be. You’ll leave this class with a personal plan for your book, a list of absolute necessities, and even some inspiration.

3:00pm to 3:50pm, Wednesday, May 6, 2026:

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR GENRE? RACHEL HOWZELL HALL INTERVIEWED BY HEATHER GRAHAM: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Heather Graham interviews ThrillerFest 2026 Spotlight Guest Rachel Howzell Hall.

CREATIVE COMMERCE, with MARK TAVANI: Once you’ve written your passion project, how do you figure out where it fits in the market? How can you get reliable and helpful insight into what editors are buying and readers are reading? How does a writer think of their novel as both a creative work and also a commodity—and are there any downsides to thinking this way?

THE ART OF THE UNRELIABLE NARRATOR, with LYNNE CONSTANTINE: The art of the unreliable narrator, without cheating the reader, or, how to hide the truth in plain sight while playing fair with the reader.

STARTING YOUR NOVEL: THE ‘HARD’ START IN THE ERA OF DIVIDED ATTENTION, with CANDICE FOX: Double-screening, free sample chapters and the constant lure of internet distractions means readers, agents and publishers alike are expecting you to thrill them from the very first line of your novel. Does that mean your book has to start with a cliff hanger? A car chase? Gunshots? How does the modern writer accommodate frayed attention spans with the need to build character, explore setting or offer a compelling mystery, all in just a couple of paragraphs?

4:00pm to 4:50pm, Wednesday, May 6, 2026:

MY 20 SECRETS FOR WRITING THRILLERS FOR YOUNG AND OLD, with R.L. STINE: Former ThrillerMaster and bestselling author R.L. Stine, who has sold over 400 million books and been translated into 35 languages, shares his secrets for writing thrillers for young and old(er) audiences alike.

NAVIGATING SCREENWRITING AND FICTION: A PRACTICAL APPROACH, with RAPHAEL MONTES: Raphael Montes, bestselling Brazilian novelist and screenwriter, and author of eight thrillers translated into over 25 languages, will talk about what he learned across different areas (writing, adaptation process, pitching, etc.) over a decade of working in both publishing and the show business.

CAREER AUTHOR, THRILLER NEWBIE: THE PIVOT, with JENNA BLUM: This is Jenna’s first time at Thrillerfest–huzzah!–so even though she’s been a professional bestselling author for decades, she’s definitely a thriller newbie. What has this first-time genre-switcher learned going from historical fiction to thrillerdom? What are the plusses of writing thrillers? The pitfalls (into those pits full of spikes and knives)? Jenna will share her experience not only of the crafts nuts and bolts but of rebranding mid-career.

AUDIOBOOKS NARRATORS: YOUR PARTNERS IN STORYTELLING, with SUZANNE ELISE FREEMAN & SCOTT BRICK: What’s it like to be the ones reading the stories you write… out loud? Audiobook narrators aren’t privy to the months of writing draft after draft, what the characters mean to you, or how personal a story might be for you, and yet they’re tasked with reaching inside your head to attempt to relate the meaning behind your stories to the listening audience. In this session, Scott Brick, winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best Audiobook, and Audie Award-winning narrator Suzanne Elise Freeman will take you behind the mic to discuss the joys and the struggles of narrating books, and how you can be the best audiobook partner possible. 

8:00am to 8:50am, Thursday, May 7, 2026

PLAYING GOD OR CREATING MEMORABLE CHARACTERS, with ROBERT DUGONI: What is it about certain books that when we finish the final page the characters stay with us for days? What is it about those characters that has made them so memorable?  Using examples from his own and other writers, Bob will teach techniques to make your characters well-rounded individuals that will keep readers wondering about them long after they have finished your book.

MORE THAN MURDER IN MIND: INSIDE KILLERS’ HEADS, with DR. KATHERINE RAMSLAND: Getting inside killers’ heads involves more than knowing their killing plan. Dr. Katherine Ramsland uses material from her interviews with murderers, detectives, and profilers to show what writers should consider to fully develop their fiends. Four types of murder and several motivations for each will be presented from actual cases.

SILENT BUT DEADLY: A LIVE-ACTION FIGHT DEMONSTRATION, with JASON ALLISON & CARLA HOCH: Through live demonstration, former NYPD detective, Jason Allison, and trained fighter, Carla Hoch, will teach you to subdue and dispatch characters silently but violently.

WHY DOMESTIC THRILLERS ARE SO COMPELLING AND HOW TO WRITE THEM, with DARBY KANE: From Gillian Flynn to Lisa Jewel to Alice Feeney, the thriller genre is packed with exceptional thrillers that focus on, or arise out of, a family environment. This lecture will look at what constitutes a domestic thriller, the factors that make them compelling, and how to draft one that stands out from the crowd.

9:00am to 9:50am, Thursday, May 7, 2026

CRAFT, CREATIVITY, & FINDING THE MUSE: LISA UNGER INTERVIEWED BY K.J. HOWE: Delve into the brilliant mind of New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger and discover how she develops compelling characters, unlocks our greatest fears, and creates unputdownable novels. Use these techniques in your own writing to draw readers into your world.

10 THINGS BESTSELLING AUTHORS DO TO MAKE THEIR MANUSCRIPTS SING, with DAVID ELLIS & ALEX FINLAY: Bestselling authors David Ellis and Alex Finlay team up for this panel to provide practical tips to make your manuscript sing. The session combines their own advice as bestselling authors whose work is sold around the world, but also tips they’ve learned from legends in the genre. This course is not about “big picture” advice, but small, yet important, things you can implement right away to add a final professional touch and ensure your manuscript is ready for an agent or editor’s eyes.

ORGANIC WRITING: HOW TO ABANDON YOUR OUTLINE AND ELEVATE YOUR STORY, with STEVEN JAMES: Staying responsive to your story’s development as you uncover it is vital. In this lecture, you’ll learn how to write a scene even when you don’t know how it will end, how the three-act paradigm can undermine your story and shackle your characters, and what to focus on instead to shape a powerful, poignant and resonant story. Also covered are the four questions you can ask of any scene to solve any plot problem you might ever have. 

EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT WRITING THRILLERS, with LISA SCOTTOLINE: Join New York Times bestselling author and 2026 ThrillerMaster Lisa Scottoline as she reveals everything she knows about writing thrillers, including plot, pacing, voice, and all of her tricks of the trade.

9:00am to 9:50am, Thursday, May 7, 2026

EXPLORING NARRATIVE STRUCTURE, with AARON PHILIP CLARK: This lecture will explore traditional narrative structures, such as “Three-Acts,” “Fictean Curve,” “Save the Cat,” and “Freytag’s Pyramid,” and identify novels that align with these structures. In addition, each structure’s pros and cons will be discussed, and participants will determine which narrative structure aligns with their current or future work-in-progress.

BOOKSTAGRAMMERS, BESTSELLERS, & BOOK-TO-FILM, JORDON MOBLO INTERVIEWED BY MARK GREANEY: New York Times bestselling author Mark Greaney interviews the 2026 Thriller Fan Award-Winner, Jordan Moblo, Executive Vice President of Creative Acquisitions and IP Management for Universal Studio Group, and the person behind the iconic bookstagram account @jordys.book.club.

WRITING DYNAMIC ACTION SCENES, with ISABELLA MALDONADO: Action scenes do not always mean car chases, shootouts, and brawls. Any scene can be made more active by using certain techniques — and they don’t have to include explosions. Whether they are likable or not, characters must be interesting, and have agency. This class provides an overview of how to create a dynamic scene that compels readers to turn pages, and how the best action scenes have components both internal and external to the characters.

11:30am to 12:20pm, Thursday, May 7, 2026

PITCH PERFECT: CRAFTING AN EFFECTIVE PITCH: Join PitchFest Director SUSAN LEE with CLAUDIA CROSS, Folio Literary Agency; JAMES FARNER, JABberwocky Literary Agency; ELIZABETH KRACHT, Kimberley Cameron & Associates, LLP; and KRISHAN TROTMAN, Legacy Lit/Hachette Book Group, as they discuss their best advice for live-pitching at PitchFest.