I’m thrilled to officially announce I’ll be speaking at the 2016 Writer’s Digest Conference, which takes place Aug. 12 to 14 in New York City. This is Writer’s Digest‘s premier event, and one of the foremost conferences in the world of writing. You can see the full rundown of the speakers here, as well as the day-by-day schedule of events here.

For my part, I’ll present 10 Things No One Told You About Writing Weapons in Fiction. It offers the next step beyond what appears on this blog and in my book. Here’s the description:

More than the typical busting of myths common to fiction, this presentation will reveal the pitfalls to avoid and missed opportunities to take advantage of when writing about weapons in fiction. Learn what to do when your characters aren’t as knowledgeable about their weapons as you are, how weapons can serve as extensions of the characters using them, how to overcome the nuances of weapon names and functionality, and more. After learning about these topics, your readers will be better served by the depth weapons can bring to a story and you’ll be in a better position to market yourself as an authoritative writer.

(Yes, this is the presentation mentioned in this post asking for your feedback. I received some terrific replies, and I intend to pay them back by including those comments in the presentation.)

Additionally, I’ll be appearing with Vince Zandri, a writer bud I’ve partnered with on many projects, including the Chase Baker adventure series, on a panel called, Crafting a Standout Thriller that Really Thrills. It sounds like a corker:

Thrillers represent one of the hottest genres on the market today, and their popularity only grows. In this panel, you’ll hear from a lineup of bestselling authors, firearms experts, literary agents and more to learn what qualities make a thriller stand out in a crowded marketplace, resonate with readers, and keep them coming back for more. From keeping readers on the edge of their seat, to developing viable series characters, you’ll learn what it takes to succeed in this ever-popular genre.

I imagine Vince and I will touch on the franchise model we’re using for Chase Baker, where I write installments in a series he created. Or we’ll stay up too late, he’ll drink too much, I’ll say something to the wrong person and we’ll wind up bleeding out before the event even starts. Who knows, but it’ll be entertaining no matter what.

If you can make it, I hope to see you there. The Writer’s Digest Conference is a huge event with lots to do. You’ll get your money’s worth even if you find out I’m actually a hyper-intelligent rat living on a moon base with a 28.8 kbps modem and a lifetime supply of Pringles. (Hint: That’s only partly true.)

Here’s where to register to buy tickets. Early bird registration ends April 1.