Learn how real life becomes irresistible fiction—and how to write the kind of twisty, page-turning plots that win awards and keep readers up all night.
I sat down with New York Times bestselling author Chris Pavone for an in-depth conversation about the craft of suspense, the art of plotting, and what more than two decades inside the publishing industry taught him about writing fiction that connects with readers.
In this FREE one-hour session, you’ll discover:
- How to draw on your own life experiences to build plots that feel authentic and emotionally grounded.
- How Chris constructs layered, twisty narratives—and controls what readers know and when they know it.
- How to write plot twists that feel both surprising and inevitable, creating reveals readers are still thinking about days later.
Perfect for:
- Thriller and mystery writers who want to write more complex, suspenseful plots with genuine emotional stakes.
- Authors at any stage who are looking to mine their own experiences for story ideas without writing autobiographically.
- Writers curious about the publishing world from an insider’s perspective—and what editors are really looking for.
We’ll screen that recorded interview in segments, interlaced with my live analysis, then I’ll stay on for a live Q&A. Have a question specifically for Chris? Submit it by March 22 via my contact page for possible inclusion in the recorded interview.
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Sorry! Sign-ups for this event are closed. However, you can check my Webinar Replay Library for a replay of the presentation or view my latest event offerings on my Events Page to join me for a future topic.
The Anatomy of a Bestseller: Discussing Suspense, Structure & Plot With Edgar Winner and Bestselling Author Chris Pavone
What does it take to write a thriller that wins the Edgar and the Anthony? I sat down with Chris Pavone to find out! We’ll screen that recorded interview in segments, interlaced with my live analysis, followed by a live Q&A with me, at this FREE June webinar.
Chris Pavone spent more than two decades as a publishing editor before his family moved to Luxembourg, where he raised twin boys and wrote The Expats—an instant New York Times bestseller that won both the Edgar and Anthony Awards for best first novel.
In our conversation, Chris shares how he constructs layered, twisty plots, how he handles multiple POVs and timelines, how his own experiences of dislocation and reinvention shaped his approach to storytelling, and what years on the other side of the desk taught him about writing fiction that truly connects.
Join us at our FREE virtual discussion:
Saturday, June 13, at 1 p.m. Eastern
Reserve your spot at this FREE virtual workshop. I’ll send you the access details shortly before the event!
CHRIS PAVONE is the New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers including The Expats, winner of both the Edgar and Anthony Awards; the instant bestseller Two Nights in Lisbon; and, most recently, The Doorman, a New York Times Notable Book of 2025. His novels have appeared on all the major bestseller lists; have won or been shortlisted for Edgar, Anthony, Strand, Macavity, and ThrillerFest awards, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; are in development for film and television; and have been translated into two dozen languages.
Chris grew up in Brooklyn, graduated from Midwood High School and Cornell University, and worked in publishing for nearly two decades at Dell Magazines, Doubleday, the Lyons Press, Regan/HarperCollins, Clarkson Potter, and Artisan/Workman, in positions ranging from copy editor and managing editor to executive editor and deputy publisher. Then his wife got a job in Luxembourg, and the family moved abroad, where Chris raised their twin boys and started writing The Expats. They now live again in New York City and on the North Fork of Long Island with a Labradoodle named Wally.
In Beat the Bots: An Author’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Age of AI, published in August, Jane K. Cleland shares practical exercises to nurture imagination, spark original thinking, and resist creative conformity. Her other books on the craft of writing, Mastering Suspense, Structure & Plot and Mastering Plot Twists, both won the Agatha Award.
Jane has also written fourteen novels in the multiple award-winning Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series [St. Martin’s Minotaur, with short fiction published by Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine]. The series has been optioned for film and TV.
In addition, Jane is a contributing editor for Writer’s Digest magazine and the chair of the Black Orchid Novella Award, presented by the Wolfe Pack in partnership with Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Jane has served as President of the New York Chapter and Vice President of the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America, and was on the national board.
