Laurie Stevens, author of the lauded “Gabriel McRay” psychological suspense novels, will appear at The San Fernando Valley Chapter of the California Writers Club meeting on Saturday, January 11, 2020. Please note that the meeting will be held on the second Saturday instead of the usual first Saturday of the month. At the meeting, she will present “Mystery vs Thrillers vs Psychological Thrillers. What Makes One Different from the Other?” The meeting starts at 1 p.m. at the Motion Picture and TV Fund, 23388 Mulholland Drive, in the Saban Community Room. A $10 donation per guest is requested.
During her presentation, Stevens will explore the key elements that separate each genre and how writers can best employ them in their works.
Stevens appreciates the genre of psychological suspense noting, “I enjoy reading suspense novels and watching the occasional movie thriller. And just as a writer of detective novels is fascinated by the battle between good and evil, I am fascinated by a psychological struggle. Battles between good and evil are waged in our minds as well as on the street. Like a crime writer who creates a hero that ‘gets the bad guy’ in the end, I, too, enjoy seeing my characters work through their emotional problems.”
The Gabriel McRay series focuses on a detective with that name who experienced a childhood trauma. In the first book, readers learn how McRay’s tough exterior masks a broken interior. “Each book chronicles his psychological healing progression. Every crime he solves triggers what point he’s at in his recovery. This trigger, while painful, results in him growing stronger,” says Stevens. The series has won 12 awards, including one from Kirkus Reviews (Best of 2011).
Kirkus continues to praise Stevens’ work, calling her newest installment in the series, The Mask of Midnight, “a taut thriller with complex characters and an unforgettable villain.” Suspense Magazine labels the book “The ultimate cat and mouse thriller.” An active member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime, Stevens resides in the hills outside Los Angeles with her husband, three snakes, and a cat.
More information about Stevens and her novels is available at https://lauriestevensbooks.com/.
The California Writers Club welcomes writers in all genres, and at all stages of their careers. Monthly meetings are held on the first Saturday of the month. To attend workshops, programs and other events, or to learn more about events and activities for writers, visit http://cwc-sfv.org/.
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