Author Spotlights
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, there will be two Spotlight rooms. These are opportunities for authors to meet with their fans in a small room and talk to them.
Torry Pines rooms 2 and 3
SPOTLIGHT HANDOUT IS PRINTED — NO MORE SIGNUPS
| Day | Time Slot | Room | Title of Spotlight |
| Thurs | 9:00-9:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Cindy Fazzi Explains the Meaning of her thriller’s title MULTO |
| Thurs | 9:00-9:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | |
| Thurs | 9:30-10:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | Karin Fitz Sanford reads from new mystery THE LAST THING CLAIRE WANTED: A Wine Country Cold Case |
| Thurs | 9:30-10:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | |
| Thurs | 10:30-11:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | JANIS THOMAS talks Suspense with her latest novel FINDING GRACE |
| Thurs | 10:30-11:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | Edward Zuckerman: How a veteran writer for “Law & Order” ended up in Nigeria to research his first thriller |
| Thurs | 11:00-11:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Laurie R. King talks about the Russell Buzz! |
| Thurs | 11:00-11:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | Blending Native American Spirituality with Murder in Never Name the Dead with D. M. Rowell |
| Thurs | 11:30-12:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | How to Write Like Carolyn Keene and Franklin W. Dixon: Ask an Expert How the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books were written |
| Thurs | 11:30-12:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | |
| Thurs | 12:00-12:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Crime Trivia with James L’Etoile |
| Thurs | 12:00-12:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | D. V. Bishop offers tips on writing historical mysteries and talks about his series set in Renaissance Florence |
| Thurs | 12:30-1:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | Carol Finizza’s debut novel Murder on Hollywood Beach, the first in the Messy Girl Murder series, demonstrates that if she can write a 300 page cozy thriller, anybody can. Find out a few of her how-to tips |
| Thurs | 12:30-1:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | |
| Thurs | 1:00-1:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Ellen Kirschman talks about cops and their families. |
| Thurs | 1:00-1:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | Nancy Brashear presents her debut, Gunnysack Hell, and talks about the challenges and rewards of using her real-life family crime to inspire her Daphne DuMaurier (Kiss of Death) award-winning thriller … + giveaway drawing! |
| Thurs | 1:30-2:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | Kelly Oliver, Mariah Fredericks, and Nina Wachsman talk about Feisty Woman in Historicals |
| Thurs | 1:30-2:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | |
| Thurs | 2:00-2:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Corey Lynn Fayman presents the Rolly Waters Songbook |
| Thurs | 2:00-2:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | Curtis Ippolito, Josh Stallings, and Holly West discuss writing about their different regions of California |
| Thurs | 2:30-3:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | Konstellation Press, SD indie publisher, authors Corey Lynn Fayman and Richard Opper talk about their mysteries set in San Diego |
| Thurs | 2:30-3:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | Linda Moore talks about her award-winning novel ATTRIBUTION. Journey to a fictional world in Spain and win free passes to see the Spanish baroque art at The San Diego Museum of Art and a beautiful art book. |
| Thurs | 3:00-3:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Konstellation Press authors: Kara Stevens, Cornelia Feye |
| Thurs | 3:00-3:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | J. Luke Bennecke with new suspense thriller ECHO FROM A BAYOU |
| Fri | 8:00-8:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Tattoo shop cozy with Trish Arrowsmith |
| Fri | 8:00-8:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | |
| Fri | 8:30-9:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | Whet Your Appetite with a Cozy Culinary Writer: Maddie Day will chat about her popular cozy series, and food, of course! + giveaway |
| Fri | 8:30-9:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | |
| Fri | 9:00-9:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Cozy Authors Nancy Coco, etc talk about how setting and career/hobbies drive their books |
| Fri | 9:00-9:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | |
| Fri | 9:30-10:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | CJ Connor reads an excerpt from their debut quozy mystery Board to Death |
| Fri | 9:30-10:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | It’s Never Too Late To Follow Your Dreams: Debut cozy mystery author Anna St. John inspires with the story of how she wrote Doomed by Blooms, signed with an agent, and sold a five-book deal…in her 70s. Plus a giveaway |
| Fri | 11:00-11:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Jennifer J. Chow highlights Cozy superstars + giveaway |
| Fri | 11:00-11:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | Weaving Myth into Mystery: Amazon bestselling and Agatha nominee for Best First Book Esme Addison discusses the Polish myths that form the basis for her Enchanted Bay Mystery Series: the Mermaid Of Warsaw and the Wavel Dragon. Plus a giveaway! |
| Fri | 11:30-12:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | Linda O. Johnston talks about Alaska Untamed Mysteries–and dogs! |
| Fri | 11:30-12:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | Former Metropolitan Opera violinist and award winning author Erica Miner brings murder and music togehter in her series of Opera Mysteries |
| Fri | 12:00-12:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Gabbing and Giveaways with Cozy Authors Leslie Karst and Ellen Byron |
| Fri | 12:00-12:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | Will Zeilinger and Janet Elizabeth Lynn on using location as a character in your story |
| Fri | 12:30-1:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | Secrets, Stakes, Surprises—and Snacks! Blurred Fates’ author, Anastasia Zadeik, talks about the debut experience |
| Fri | 12:30-1:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | |
| Fri | 1:00-1:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Fall ’23 debuts Meredith Lyons and Jackie Johnson talk badass female heroines |
| Fri | 1:00-1:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | Secrets Can Be Deadly with Lisa Malice and Marcy McCreary |
| Fri | 1:30-2:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | Lisa M. Lane on how a historian writes historical mysteries |
| Fri | 1:30-2:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | |
| Fri | 3:00-3:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Let’s visit Lake Tahoe with Rachele Baker and her debut cozy mystery Tragedy in Tahoe. Book giveaways and prizes! |
| Fri | 3:00-3:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | Nicole Ashong serves up some Mexican snacks and shares her tips for juggling writing, a day job, and two young kids |
| Fri | 3:30-4:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | A Decade of Rick Cahill with Matt Coyle |
| Fri | 3:30-4:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | |
| Sat | 8:00-8:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Money Laundering 101 with Carl Vonderau |
| Sat | 8:00-8:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | Josh Pachter talks about anthologies inspired by singer/songwriters |
| Sat | 8:30-9:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | Political Spy Thrillers with MATT SCOTT |
| Sat | 8:30-9:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | Art and jewels are forever but tattoos don’t have to be. Come get your temporary tatt while M. A. Monnin and Lane Stone read from their latest art crime thrillers. |
| Sat | 9:00-9:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Agility Movement While Writing and Reading with Tori Eldridge |
| Sat | 9:00-9:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | Puja Guha shares stories that inspired her bestselling THE AHRIMAN LEGACY series |
| Sat | 9:30-10:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | Yasmin Angoe’s IT ENDS WITH KNIGHT Pre-Launch Morning Jam |
| Sat | 9:30-10:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | Learn about Queer Crime Writers! Organizers of Queer Crime Writer share the organization’s mission and goals. LGBTQ+ readers, writers, and allies are welcome! with John Copenhaver |
| Sat | 1:00-1:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Location, Location, Location with Janet Elizabeth |
| Sat | 1:00-1:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | K-9 Stories and Book Give Away. The real stories about the inspiration for the National Forest K-9 Series. With Kathleen Donnelly |
| Sat | 1:30-2:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | |
| Sat | 1:30-2:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | |
| Sat | 2:00-2:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Chris Quarembo reads from new crime novel KILLER DEALS |
| Sat | 2:00-2:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | Two Writers, One Voice. Mike Rubin and Ayan Rubin talk about co-writing their award-winning thrillers that have gone international.. |
| 2:30-3:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | Lori Duffy Foster and Joyce Woollcott read from their latest thrillers and give away books! | |
| Sat | 2:30-3:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | Mallika Narayanan reads from debut thriller IN THE DARK I SEE YOU + a giveaway |
| Sat | 3:00-3:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Robyn Gigl — real life lessons from a fictional lawyer |
| Sat | 3:00-3:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | Robert Lopresti: How Librarians Tracked A Rare Book Thief |
| Sat | 3:30-4:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | Screen, books or audio? Oscar-nominated screenwriter Iris Yamashita talks about different media outlets |
| Sat | 3:30-4:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | Katayoun Medhat talks about the trials and tribulations of Franz Kafka (of Milagro PD) |
| Sat | 4:00-4:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | Jason Starr discusses THE NEXT TIME I DIE |
| Sat | 4:00-4:30 | Torrey Pines 3 | Authors Sharon Short/Jess Montgomery and Erin Flanagan Talk About Surprising Facts about their Writing and Personal Lives! |
| Sat | 4:30-5:00 | Torrey Pines 2 | Delia Pitts reads from her new private eye thriller TROUBLE IN QUEENSTOWN |
| Sat | 4:30-5:00 | Torrey Pines 3 | |
| Sat | 5:00-5:30 | Torrey Pines 2 | SUSAN CALDER talks about her novels and Calgary Bouchercon 2026 |
| Sat | 5:00-5:30 | Torrey Pines 3 |
