4th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference – Atlanta, GA

Chris will serve on three different panels at the 4th Annual Broadleaf Writers Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

Goons, Dames, Lying, Cheating and Killing: Putting the Thrill in Thriller

Panelists: Emily Carpenter, Roger Johns, Christopher Swann / Moderator: Ian Campbell

Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:45-11:45am, Room #118

From the gritty pulp crime novels on dime store racks of old to the current bestselling trend of vulnerable, weird narrators finding murderers next door, on the train or just outside their window, nothing quite compels like a good thriller. But what are the ingredients you need to make your thriller delicious instead of toxic? How do you create something daring and effective in a genre where everything can be spoiled by too many turns of the screw? Our panelists will investigate, seeking out the clues to help you solve this challenging mystery within your own work.

Getting to Yes: How Community Helps Get You From Draft to Publication

Panelists: Roger Johns, Kimberly Jones, Christopher Swann / Moderator: Justin Barisich

Sunday, Sept. 22, 10:30-11:30am, Room #118

Life is hard. Writing is harder. Walking the writing road alone can further the difficulty and deepen the sense of isolation. Writers need writers. We need a community that consists of supportive critique groups, effective beta readers, and programs that introduce us to scores of writers, editors, agents, and publishers. These resources are easy to take for granted yet sometimes hard to find. Where do you start? How do you find “your people”? Let us open the door, answer your questions, and help you find the community you need.

When Bad is Worse: The Motives of Villainy

Panelists: Angie Thomas, Christopher Swann, Julian Winters / Moderator: Carmen Slaughter

Sunday, Sept. 22, 11:45am-12:45pm, Ballroom A

“When I’m Good, I’m Very Good, But When I’m Bad, I’m Better.” —Mae West

Antagonists don’t see themselves as evil. There’s always a motivation, a reason. And though villains can be diabolical, manipulative, vicious, bloodthirsty and ruthless, they’re often more intriguing for readers and writers to spend time with. If you handle them right. A properly written villain—much like Erik Killmonger, Hannibal Lecter, or the Wicked Witch of the West—can seduce your readers, test their loyalties, and even appeal to their baser instincts. Join our panel for a discussion on creating a believable and motivated antagonist that your readers may secretly (or not so secretly!) root for.