Great stories begin with great characters—those we root for, fear, or love to hate. For North Dallas Sisters in Crime July meeting, Liese Sherwood-Fabre, PhD will dive into the heart of fictional character development, exploring how your characters drive plot, create emotional resonance, and keep readers hooked.

Based on Michael Hauge’s six-stage story structure, Dr. Sherwood-Fabre will explore how character transformation unfolds across a narrative arc to develop protagonists and antagonists with emotional depth. Using such internal forces such as wounds, fears, and desires, she will describe how these internal forces shape their journey.

Whether you're just starting your novel or polishing your final draft, this session will give you the tools to spark new ideas, strengthen your writing toolbox, and bring new life to your characters.

Award-winning author Liese Sherwood-Fabre knew she was destined to write when her teacher gave her an A+ in the second grade for her story about Dick, Jane, and Sally's ruined picnic. A four-time CIBA award winner, other accolades include a Pushcart Prize nomination and a finalist in Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart competition. After obtaining her PhD from Indiana University, she joined the federal government and had the opportunity to work and live internationally for more than fifteen years. Kirkus Reviews noted "The Adventure of the Murdered Midwife" is a "multifaceted and convincing addition to Sherlock-ian lore," and Publishers Weekly described her latest Sherlock Holmes short story collection, "Master of the Art of Detection," as a "solid collection of stories featuring Doyle's detective." She lives in the Dallas area with her husband and loves doting on her grandchildren.

The Writers Guild of Texas presents Guest Speaker / Program meetings on the 3rd Monday of each month in person at the Richardson Public Library and via Zoom. Visitors are welcome to attend.