Thursday 3-Hour Master Classes
2:00-5:00 P.M.
Thursday, August 21, 2025
$99 for registered attendees / $209 for unregistered participants
“Fun and motivating!”
– Wendy Kendall
Check out the 2025 Killer Nashville Master Class Options:
↓ Seven Master Classes to Choose From – Scroll Down ↓
Thrillers: The Nuts and Bolts / DP Lyle and Kathleen Antrim
If you want to write thrillers that truly keep readers up all night, you can’t afford to miss this powerhouse session. Join bestselling masters DP Lyle and Kathleen Antrim for three electrifying hours that will transform the way you build your stories. In Hour One, you’ll lock down the kind of premise and plot that agents, editors, and readers are all desperate to find. In Hour Two, you’ll create characters and voice so vivid they practically jump off the page. In Hour Three, you’ll learn how to make your setting a living, breathing, pulse-pounding force that ramps up tension at every turn. This is hands-on, real-world storytelling from two of the genre’s absolute best—and it’s packed with insider insights you won’t get anywhere else. If you're serious about your writing career, this session isn't optional—it's essential. Your future readers are counting on you. Be there.
“I love this conference. I went last year for the first time and can’t wait for this one. I’m excited to be on a panel and looking forward to listening to other authors and friends discuss their writing experiences and insights!”
– Susan Crawford
How to Write a True Crime Thriller / Peter Houlahan
If you want your true crime story to read like a can’t-put-it-down thriller, this is the masterclass you’ve been waiting for. Peter Houlahan, award-winning author of Norco ‘80, takes you behind the scenes of one of America’s wildest bank robberies—and shows you how to turn raw research into white-knuckle storytelling. You’ll work with real 911 calls, police reports, court records, and interviews to learn exactly how to shape the chaos of real life into a seamless, heart-pounding narrative. This isn’t theory—it’s a hands-on, eyes-wide-open look at how the best true crime books are built. If you’re serious about writing true crime that matters, this session will change the way you work forever. Seats are limited—get in the room and get inspired.
“I'd heard so many great things about your conference, and now I know why. The venue, the programming, and the organization were all wonderful, but what I was most impressed with was the mood and the vibe. You've created a conference that feels like old home week to repeat attenders, yet is warm and welcoming to newbies.”
– Karen Dionne, New York Times bestselling author
Build Your Author Platform and Launch a Stellar Book Marketing Campaign / Jeniffer Thompson
If you want a writing career that lasts longer than a single book launch, you need more than a great story—you need a platform. In this game-changing session, book marketing strategist and personal branding expert Jeniffer Thompson will show you exactly how to build an author platform that attracts loyal readers, boosts your authority, and sets you up for long-term success. You’ll walk away with a clear, actionable roadmap for the next three years of your publishing career—plus real-world tools for growing your audience, raising your visibility, and turning casual browsers into devoted fans. Jeniffer pulls back the curtain on content creation, online presence, and brand building in a way that's practical, inspiring, and ready to implement today. If you're serious about selling more books and building a career readers will rally behind, this session is non-negotiable. Your future audience is waiting—let’s go meet them.
“It exceeded my expectations. I've been publishing for many years and have attended many conferences. Here's what made KN different: the quality of panelists, the depth of the "celebrity" interviews, and the intimacy of several offerings.”
– Ellen Kirschman
Forensics for Writers / Mary Jumbelic
In crime fiction, getting the forensic details right isn’t just a bonus—it’s the difference between amateur and unforgettable. In this no-holds-barred session, board-certified forensic pathologist and author Mary Jumbelic takes you deep into the realities of death investigation, wounding, and evidence analysis. You’ll learn how to describe bodies with chilling precision, capture the nuances of homicides, and weave real forensic science seamlessly into your plots. This is the training ground where serious writers separate themselves from the pack. If you want your crime scenes to ring with authority, authenticity, and tension that can’t be faked, you can’t afford to miss this. Forget what you’ve seen on TV—this is the real thing. Be ready to level up. Be ready to write like a pro.
“I wouldn't be a mystery writer today if it weren't for you and Killer Nashville. Y'all gave me just what I needed when I needed it to start the journey.”
– Kelly Oliver, bestselling and award-winning author
Creating & Utilizing Launch Teams and Social Media / Traci Hunter Abramson
If you want your next book launch to explode instead of fizzle, this session is non-negotiable. Bestselling author Traci Hunter Abramson pulls back the curtain on the launch team strategies and social media tactics that drive real-world results—and then shows you exactly how to build them for yourself. You won’t just hear about what works—you’ll do it right there in the room. You'll create a launch team application (Google Forms), design graphics for your team and readers (Canva), and walk away with ready-to-deploy materials to ignite your next campaign. This is hands-on, no-fluff training designed to move your career forward immediately. If you’re serious about selling more books, growing your reach, and turning readers into evangelists, you need to be here. Don't just hope your next launch will work—engineer it.
“I just wanted to let you know that I've become a Killer Nashville "success story.”
– Robin Acton, award-winning author
Setting, Sidekicks, and Secrets / Lisa Wysocky, Steven Womack, Jaden Terrell
The difference between a good story and an unforgettable one lives in the details—and this masterclass will show you how to master them all. Join award-winning authors Lisa Wysocky, Steven Womack, and Jaden Terrell for a deep dive into the hidden engines that drive great fiction: setting that breathes, sidekicks who steal hearts, and secrets that keep readers turning pages deep into the night. Each expert will break down one of these essential elements, giving you insider strategies to transform your story from solid to spectacular. You'll learn how to make your settings pulse with atmosphere, craft sidekicks who elevate every scene, and plant secrets that explode at just the right moment. If you want your stories to stick with readers long after the last page, you can't afford to miss this workshop. Come ready to work. Come ready to level up. Your best book is waiting—and it starts here.
“You really put on a wonderful conference! I hope to attend again. I learned a lot. :)”
– Rebecca Zanetti, New York Times bestselling author
Cops and First Responders / Ellen Kirschman
If you're writing crime fiction, you owe it to your readers—and to the real heroes behind the badge—to get it right. In this unflinching, eye-opening session, clinical psychologist and acclaimed author Ellen Kirschman pulls back the curtain on the true emotional lives of cops and first responders. Through a powerful mix of expert teaching and raw, unscripted testimony from real first responders, you'll gain a deep, authentic understanding of PTSD: what it feels like, how it shapes behavior, and how it transforms lives. You'll hear the stories behind the uniforms—and learn how to portray your characters with the depth, dignity, and emotional truth they deserve. If you want to write crime fiction that resonates on a level most writers never touch, this session will change the way you tell stories forever. Don't just write about heroes. Understand them.