Desert Sleuths Annual Writers Conference
Craft ♦ Publish ♦ Market
September 19 & 20, 2025
“Best Writers Conference in Arizona.” — The Writer magazine (2020)
Registration is open
Below you will find the schedule for WriteNOW! 2025, a two-day virtual event.
Need more information? Each agent, editor, and speaker listed below is linked to one of the WriteNOW! 2025 Faculty pages. There you will find bios, workshop descriptions, manuscript submission requirements, and more information. Links will open in a new browser tab so you don’t lose your place on this page.
Note: Arizona does not observe daylight saving time—all times below are MST.
(EDT +3 hrs, CDT +2, MDT +1, PDT +0)
(EDT +3 hrs, CDT +2, MDT +1, PDT +0)
Please Note: Registration for Friday events closes Midnight, Wednesday, 9/17/25
CraftNOW! Writing craft workshop $35.00
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Catriona McPherson, Planting Clues and Red Herrings
8:00 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Catriona McPherson, Planting Clues and Red Herrings
CLUE: anything in a fair-play, puzzle-plot mystery that allows the reader to twig whodunnit, howdunnit, whydunnit, whendunnit, and more ….
This workshop is going to use real examples (good and bad) from published mysteries to look at:
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- Where, how, and when to plant clues (and how many we need)
- What makes a good clue and a bad one
- Red herrings, Easter eggs, and loose ends
- How to make sure it doesn’t matter if all of the above goes wrong
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PitchNOW! Price per session $35.00
One-on-one 10-minute pitch sessions with an acquiring agent. You can purchase sessions with more than one agent.
Remember, all times are MST.
10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Remember, all times are MST.
10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
EditNOW! Editors Manuscript Review $60.00
Editors will accept and assess your first three chapters (up to 30 pages) and give you feedback. Manuscripts will be accepted via email beginning September 19, 2025. (3-week turnaround)
Please do not email your manuscript until the submission window opens on 9/19 and only to the email address we will send the week before that.
Please Note: Registration for Friday events closes Midnight, Wednesday, 9/17/25
Note: Arizona does not observe daylight saving time—all times below are MST.
(EDT +3 hrs, CDT +2, MDT +1, PDT +0)
(EDT +3 hrs, CDT +2, MDT +1, PDT +0)
Please Note: Registration for Saturday event closes Midnight, Friday, 9/19/25
WriteNOW! 2025 Virtual Annual all day conference.
Desert Sleuths members $25.00
All Others $35.00
Desert Sleuths members $25.00
All Others $35.00
8:00 a.m. Welcome, from Host Christina Estes
8:10 a.m.–9:10 a.m. Self-edit Your Way to Being a Better Writer
presentation by Wendy H. Jones
So, you’ve finished your story and heaved a sigh of relief. Then the realisation slams into you like an exclamation mark on speed—it’s time to start editing. Self-edit Your Way to Being a Better Writer explores practical strategies for improving your writing through effective self- editing.
The session will help you to develop an editing mindset, look at the big picture, sentence level editing, and proofreading and polishing. It will also provide some practical editing strategies to help you on your way. Let’s change the editing mindset from fear to fun.
9:15 a.m.–10:15 a.m. Keeping the Creative Juices Flowing panel with Rhys Bowen (moderator) | Edith Maxwell | Catriona McPherson | Lois Winston
What comes after book numbers one, two, three …? Do you keep writing with the same main character? Or do you go in a different direction? These authors have figured out what works for them, and there seems to be no slowing them down!
They’ll share how they keep a long-running series fresh and imaginative or what they do to branch out to new areas.
10:20 a.m.–11:50 a.m. Is It Thriller, Mystery, or Suspense? workshop with Allison Brennan
Three things combine to make a great suspense: character, conflict, and pacing. But where does your suspense fit into the market? Is it more a thriller … or a mystery? What’s the difference? Do you have romance … or family relationships?
In this workshop, I’ll discuss different types of characters across the suspense genre; how conflict works and how it doesn’t; what stakes really mean; and how to use pacing—both fast and slow— to create tension. We’ll focus on the market for suspense and how to find your unique voice and position your project in the best possible light. Come prepared to ask questions!
11:50 a.m. Recap with Host Christina Estes
12:00 p.m.–12:25 p.m. Break
12:25 p.m. What’s Ahead with Host Christina Estes
12:35 p.m.–1:35 p.m. Grand Openings: The All-Important First Page
presentation by Karen Odden
presentation by Karen Odden
In today’s competitive literary marketplace, a compelling first page is vital to attracting the attention of an agent wading through his or her slush pile, an editor seeking the next big hit, or a reader prowling through the bookstore. Many of us have had the experience of reading a first page and feeling swept into the story, of thinking, “Wow, that’s an amazing opening”—without necessarily knowing why.
In this session, we drill down on this. We examine 10 opening pages from award-winning and notable books in a variety of genres (mystery, historical fiction, YA, etc.) to identify 14 distinct elements of successful openings that suggest conflict, create engagement, generate surprise and suspense, and compel the reader to turn the page. Identifying these elements enables us to then employ them to strengthen our own opening pages. This session is “hands-on” with a hand-out.
1:40 p.m.–2:40 p.m. Doing Justice to Characters Unlike Yourself panel with
Deborah J Ledford (moderator) | Robyn Gigl | D.M. Rowell | Alex Segura
Deborah J Ledford (moderator) | Robyn Gigl | D.M. Rowell | Alex Segura
The importance of presenting genuine, approachable and accurate characters is more crucial now than ever before. D.M. Rowell, Alex Segura, Robyn Gigl, and moderator Deborah J Ledford will present recommendations and advice to help you decide the insights on how to create approachable characters in a respectful manner.
These authors are published in wide-ranging genres; from comic books and graphic novels, LGBTGIA+, and Native American characters and traditions, and all shine the much-needed spotlight on those often marginalized by society.
2:45 p.m.–3:45 p.m. Investing in Your Career: A Pep talk about Planning, Professionalism, and Patience presentation by Raquel V. Reyes
Sisters in Crime Vice President Raquel V. Reyes has a hit on her hands with her
Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series that is now being adapted as a television series, Miami Spice.
In this presentation, Reyes promises: Real Talk about goals, expectations, and the reality of an author’s career. Raquel will help you envision your career path and offer advice that is practical, workable, and encouraging.
3:45 p.m. Closing remarks with Host Christina Estes
Please Note: Registration for Saturday event closes Midnight, Friday, 9/19/25
Post Conference Special Event
Launch Party and Book Signing Free
Come to The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale AZ, Friday night from 6-7:30 p.m. MST, for the launch of SoWest: Danger Awaits! an anthology of short stories by Desert Sleuths Chapter of Sisters in Crime authors. Meet the authors in person.
Please note: Registration is required even if you’re not attending any other part of WriteNOW! 2025
If you have registered for the event on your WriteNOW! 2025 registration, you do not need to register again.
The Poisoned Pen Bookstore
4014 N Goldwater Blvd
4014 N Goldwater Blvd
Scottsdale, AZ 85251 USA
Registration closes for the book launch party on Wednesday, September 24, 2025