Yesterday I attended the Tornado Alley Sisters in Crime Sisters in Crime annual workshop in Norman, OK. Another adventure with like minds. Tornado Alley is the state-wide club affiliated with the worldwide club affiliated with Sisters in Crime. I’ve met a lot of new people and reconnected with some I’ve known for years. We are all there for the knowledge we can gain.

I went to school at OU and drove that two hour drive every Saturday for two years up and down I-35, but it used to be easier. Or there was less traffic, or I’m just getting old. My small town of 50,000 people doesn’t have an interstate highway, though our cross-town highways can get congested. White knuckle driving. But I made it with no mishaps. I will never allow myself to become afraid to drive in busy traffic and miss things I want to do. I don’t plan to ever get that old! It was for a good cause. The camaraderie of Tornado Alley made it all worth it.

We had four speakers and I knew all but one. Lou Berney Lou Berney Official Website was the keynote speaker and I loved his easy-going manner as he talked to other authors with the same love of writing. He talked about writing being a conversation with the reader. Your story should not only be satisfying for the genre you write, but it should be surprising. He has been reviewed by the likes of Stephen King and William Kent Krueger. He teaches writing at OU and OCU and is the author of Edgar Award winning books. I enjoyed his talk very much but didn’t get a book since he didn’t drag them with him. I understand.

Dr. Sheldon Russell Sheldon Russell – Biography was the next speaker. He talked about writing secondary characters and how to give them depth. A good character makes for a good story and the best way to move that story along is through dialogue between the secondary character and the primary. Dr. Russell’s latest book, Listen, is a finalist in the Oklahoma Book Award this year.

Betsy Kulakowski Paranormal Thrillers | Author Betsey Kulakowski spoke about the Power of Color in your books and how colors are used in movies and books to give your character and the setting mood. Colors are very powerful and pull the reader into the story.

Victoria M. Patton Whiskey and Writing | Victoria M. Patton discussed crime fiction and not making errors writing about how the police process a crime. A former forensic scientist, Victoria has processed her share of crimes.

The food was great, seeing old friends was better, but I learned a few things. Like minds meeting with like minds. I plan to make this an annual event and hope to not be squashed like a bug driving on I-35. I’ll be there one way or another! I’ll be able to learn about Another Story, Another Time.

What are you reading/writing this week?