Program Schedule: Tuesday, June 22

Tuesday, 7:00-9:00AM (CT)

CONVERSATION ROOMS      

One of the best things about a conference is meeting like-minded people who share your interests, and this year is no different! Check out the themed Conversation Rooms in our Histfic Hub.


Tuesday, 9:00AM-12:00PM (CT)

MASTER CLASS: TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS! (Section 2) – Additional Fees Apply

Libbie Hawker 

In this three-hour outlining master class, Libbie Hawker guides you through the entire process of outlining a novel, from loose idea to fully structured story arc ready to be written. Come with a general concept for your own novel, such as an idea, a historical figure, or an event, but clearly defined characters and storylines aren’t necessary. Libbie will show you how to construct a cohesive, compelling, tightly paced novel around a vague concept using the method set forth in her bestselling how-to book Take Off Your Pants! Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing. Have your laptop or notebook ready!

Libbie Hawker, who also writes under the pen names Olivia Hawker and Libbie Grant, is a bestselling author of historical and literary fiction. Her work has been translated into six languages; her most recent, One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow, was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award and the Willa Literary Award, and was among Amazon’s top 100 bestselling titles of the year in 2020. She lives in the San Juan Islands with her husband Paul and several naughty cats.


Tuesday, 12:00-2:00PM (CT)

CONVERSATION ROOMS        

One of the best things about a conference is meeting like-minded people who share your interests, and this year is no different! Check out the themed Conversation Rooms in our Histfic Hub.


Tuesday, 2:00-4:00PM (CT)

MASTER CLASS: UPPING THE ANTE: THE EXPANDED EDITION – Additional Fees Apply

Alma Katsu

Conflict is the heart of every story. Conflict keeps the reader asking, “What happens next?” and keeps the reader turning the pages. You don’t need to resort to melodramatic tricks and clichés to create and sustain tension in your novel or short story. This expanded two-hour master class of Alma’s highly rated presentation at HNS Maryland will: define what conflict is (and isn’t); describe different kinds of conflict and how to layer them to create depth in your novel; and teach attendees how to analyze their own writing and provide concrete ways to apply these techniques to all kinds of writing, not just mysteries and thrillers.

Alma Katsu is the award-winning author of six novels, including historical horror (The Hunger and The Deep) and, most recently, Red Widow, her first spy thriller, drawn from a long career in intelligence. She is a graduate of the master’s writing program at Johns Hopkins University and earned her undergraduate degree in literature and writing from Brandeis University. She lives in the Washington DC area with her husband, musician Bruce Katsu. For more information, please visit her website at www.almakatsubooks.com.


Tuesday, 2:00-3:00PM (CT)

TECH Q&A

Have questions about attending a virtual conference? Get comfortable with EventMobi and Zoom to get your conference week off to a great start!


Tuesday, 5:00-6:00PM (CT)

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Sadeqa Johnson

Sadeqa Johnson is the award-winning author of four novels. Her accolades include the National Book Club Award, the Phillis Wheatley Book Award, and the USA Best Book Award for Best Fiction.


Tuesday, 6:00-9:00PM (CT)

MASTER CLASS: TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS! (Section 3) – Additional Fees Apply

Libbie Hawker 

In this three-hour outlining master class, Libbie Hawker guides you through the entire process of outlining a novel, from loose idea to fully structured story arc ready to be written. Come with a general concept for your own novel, such as an idea, a historical figure, or an event, but clearly defined characters and storylines aren’t necessary. Libbie will show you how to construct a cohesive, compelling, tightly paced novel around a vague concept using the method set forth in her bestselling how-to book Take Off Your Pants! Outline Your Books for Faster, Better Writing. Have your laptop or notebook ready!

Libbie Hawker, who also writes under the pen names Olivia Hawker and Libbie Grant, is a bestselling author of historical and literary fiction. Her work has been translated into six languages; her most recent, One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow, was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award and the Willa Literary Award, and was among Amazon’s top 100 bestselling titles of the year in 2020. She lives in the San Juan Islands with her husband Paul and several naughty cats.


Tuesday, 6:00-10:00PM (CT)

CONVERSATION ROOMS      

One of the best things about a conference is meeting like-minded people who share your interests, and this year is no different! Check out the themed Conversation Rooms in our Histfic Hub.


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