Author and television producer Lee Goldberg - Columbus, OH

Writing Under Multiple Names — The Pros and Cons

(WEDNESDAY, 2:15-3:15) Authors publish under multiple names for a variety of reasons, but it isn’t all secret identity fun and games. Find out why they do it, how they chose their pseudonym(s) and what comes along with the extra moniker(s).

Love, Monsters & Mythology for Romance Writers

(WEDNESDAY, 3:30-4:30) Mythology provides a treasure trove of timeless themes to make your work stronger and more resonant. Whether you’re writing paranormal, historical or contemporary romance, our most ancient stories provide potent metaphors for the emotional struggles of our protagonists. Join three writers who use mythological archetypes from various worldwide traditions to bring their characters into vivid life and learn how you can do the same.

Wanderlust: Making Exotic Locations Come Alive

(WEDNESDAY, 3:30-4:30) Taking your fiction to faraway and exotic locales does not take an extensive travel budget, although that helps. This workshop will explore inexpensive ways to gather details and information about exotic locations, customs from from other cultures and current events as well as discuss how to include them in order to make your fiction pop and come alive for readers. Particpants will use various materials (provided) to craft a few paragraphs that take place in a predetermined locale.

The Ins and Outs of Sexual Tension

(WEDNESDAY, 4:45-5:45) Whether your characters are hanging from the chandelier in your latest erotic masterpiece or you're writing a sweet Amish romance where the bedroom door stays firmly closed, sexual tension is key to reader engagement. But what exactly is sexual tension, and how do you write it like a pro? Come and find out!

Writing Outside the Box

(WEDNESDAY, 4:45-5:45) Join these bestselling authors as they speak about how they create memorable characters that readers fall in love with. Nothing is off limits in this no-holds-barred, candid discussion!

Kiss Me, Kill Me: Writing Action Scenes With Heart 

(THURSDAY, 10:00-11:00) Action in romance novels isn’t strictly between the sheets! Join five multi-published, bestselling romance authors as they share tips, tricks and techniques about how to write action scenes that will keep your readers on the edge of their seats.

Dystopian Delight — Making the Apocalypse Bad to the Bone

(THURSDAY, 11:15-12:15) Give us your ideal world and we'll break it. Give us your happy homes and we'll burn them down. NYT bestselling and critically acclaimed authors teach you how to end the world with style. 

The Military for Writers

(THURSDAY, 11:15-12:15) An introduction to the military from conventional warfare through special operations, the War on Terror, weapons of mass destruction and insight into the men and women who make up our armed forces — all tailored for the writer who might need research in this area.

Sex Throughout History

(THURSDAY, 1:30-2:30) Set aside everything you ever thought you knew about history and get ready to be re-educated. From the world's oldest dildos to the first use of condoms to outrageous sex clubs throughout history, this class will cover the untold side of history dating from Egyptian times all the way to the Edwardian Era. Based upon Delilah's own sex through history blog, A Bit O'Muslin, the author will share her love of naughty history.

ATF Workshop & Demonstration from Chicago’s Special Agents

(THURSDAY, 2:45-3:45) After hosting one of the most fascinating workshops at last year’s RT convention, thriller author Andrew Peterson is organizing another hands-on, high-octane demonstration, this time with the Chicago ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) agents. Learn about their unique skills and ask specific questions that will help you add realism and true-to-life color to your novels. Andrew Peterson, a marksman and NRA High Power Rifle Master (whose debut thriller, First to Kill, received 4.5 stars from RT) has assembled an amazing panel of experts for this exclusive look into the ATF. 

Sex Scenes They Won’t Skip — Writing Realistic Erotic Scenes

(FRIDAY, 10:00-11:00) Readers often complain that they skim or skip sex scenes, citing them as boring or “too much.” In this panel two authors frequently praised for their erotic writing — one for being highly erotic and one for being more understated — talk about what works, what doesn’t and how you too can learn to tell the difference before your story gets to the reader.

Sprinkling Smiles into SAD (Sex, Action & Drama) Scenes

(FRIDAY, 11:15-12:15) Who doesn't like to smile? You don't need to write romantic comedy to offer readers a humorous breather after action and emotional scenes. Even love scenes sparkle with a little humor. Panel authors will share insider tips on writing funny dialogue, characters and situations. Learn to use incongruity, exaggeration and irony in your books. And if this workshop isn't 33% funnier -- and more informative -- than any other workshop you've attended, panelist Ashlyn Chase will run naked under the next full moon!

How to Create the Ultimate Sexy Special Ops Heroes

(FRIDAY, 1:30-2:30) Fans love our special ops/black forces/Secret Service heroes, but these characters only work if they are believable. Join our expert authors as they share their secrets of how they research this type of character, how to make them authentic yet sexy and how to create these ultimate heroes that readers will fall in love with.