How to Hook (and Keep) Readers
with
Heather Chavez

Creating a propulsive story isn’t just about knowing when to amp up the urgency; it’s also about knowing when to slow it down. Hook readers with that first page, then keep them reading by mastering pacing, including action, dialogue, scene length, and word choice.

Heather will discuss how she incorporated these elements into her own thriller, No Bad Deed, and share what it was like working with an editor at a Big 5 publisher for the first time.

Heather Chavez is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley’s English literature program and has worked as a newspaper reporter, editor, and contributor to mystery and television blogs. Currently, she’s employed in public affairs for a major health care organization. She lives with her family in Santa Rosa and is at work on her second novel.