The Art of the Spark:
How Great Stories Begin
(and Keep Going!)

Award-winning mystery author Barbara Pronin brings the wisdom and wit of her 45-year writing career to life with her signature SPCA technique—Spark, Passion, Character, and Artistry. In this engaging and inspiring presentation, Barbara will reveal how a single spark—a person, place, or passing moment—can ignite an entire novel, and how trusting your gut (and that brilliant subconscious of yours) can shape unforgettable characters and gripping storylines. Whether you’re a daring pantser or a cautious plotter, Barbara’s approach proves that storytelling is both a craft and a calling—and that anyone can learn to write book after book with the right creative tools. Don’t miss this lively session from a true master of the mystery!

Bio

Born in Brooklyn and now a Laguna Woods resident, Barbara Pronin saw her first byline in a community newsletter at age eight and was forever hooked on writing. She has worked over the years as an actress, a probation officer, a news editor, and a substitute teacher, the last of which inspired her first book, a nonfiction guide to effective subbing that is still in print more than 40 years later.  Her eight mysteries have earned kudos from such best-selling writers as Mary Higgins Clark and Tony Hillerman, and her new WW II novel, Winter’s End, has won a Five-Star Reader’s Favorite award and the 2025 Gold Medal for Best Adult Fiction from the Independent Book Publishers Association. Best-selling author Faye Kellerman calls it, “a page-turner with honest characters who will capture your heart and soul.”