Verso University Presents: Crime Writing Panel Discussion: Weaving Real-Life Crime into Storytelling
Please note: This event was rescheduled from its original date on January 25 due to inclement weather.
Class Details
Crime Writing Panel Discussion: Ripped from the Headlines: Weaving Real-Life Crime into Storytelling
Thursday, April 16, 6-7 pm (Brooks Place)
Join acclaimed crime writers Deborah Levison, T.M. Dunn, and Wendy Whitman for a gripping in-person panel exploring how true events — from serial killers to domestic violence — shape both fiction and nonfiction. As active members of the Connecticut chapter of Sisters in Crime CT, this powerhouse trio offers an insider look at transforming real-world cases into compelling narratives. Perfect for fans of true crime, thrillers, and anyone curious about the craft behind the headlines.
About the Panelists
Deborah Levison is an author and publicist. Her life has two parts: the first in Canada, where she attended University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the second in Connecticut, with three children, two doodles, and one husband. Her newest book, A Novel Crime (March 2026) is a darkly funny crime caper May Cobb calls “wickedly hilarious and utterly unputdownable.” Her acclaimed nonfiction, The Crate, winner of seven literary awards, is a true crime memoir with echoes of the Holocaust which reviewers called “gorgeous and poetic” and “a brilliant story.” Her CT Press Club award winning novel A Nest of Snakes is part thriller, part courtroom drama inspired by real-life abuse at elite New England private schools, described as “a roller-coaster ride of surprising twists.”
Wendy Whitman has a unique background through her decades-long work as an executive and producer covering almost every major high-profile murder case in America. She spent 15 years at Court TV and another several at HLN for the Nancy Grace show, where she appeared on air as a producer/reporter. Through her knowledge of the most detailed aspects of the crimes, Whitman has become an expert on the subject of murder in America. She received three Telly Awards and two GLAAD nominations during her tenure at Court TV. Before attending Boston University School of Law, Whitman worked for comedians Lily Tomlin and George Carlin. She has published two crime thriller novels: Premonition and its sequel, Retribution. Currently, she is writing a memoir about her television career covering murder.
Patricia (a.k.a. T. M.) Dunn is the award-winning author of Her Father's Daughter (Crooked Lane Books 2023) as well as Firecracker-nominated Last Stop on the 6 (Bordighera Press, C.U.N.Y. 2021) and Rebels by Accident (Sourcebooks, 2014). She co-founded Keys to the Castle Workshop immerse writing retreats, with a signature retreat on the Amalfi Coast. She is the former Executive Director of the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, where she holds an MFA in creative writing, and is a sought-after coach and developmental editor who works closely with both aspiring and established authors. Born and raised in the Bronx and a world traveler who has lived in places including Italy, Egypt, Jordan, and California, Dunn now lives in Stamford, where she is currently working on her next novel with her rescue pups Blanqui and Cookie curled at her side.
Important Information About Verso University Classes
- Classes are usually structured as a consecutive series.
- Class size is often limited.
- Each series has a one-time fee registration fee covering all classes in the series.
- Registration is mandatory.
- The Westport Library wants to ensure that all interested students are able to participate in Verso University courses. If the registration fee is a barrier to entry for you, please contact [email protected].
Verso University is the Library’s lifelong learning and education initiative, serving up year-round offerings of classes, workshops, and lectures designed to further education and learning. Offerings run the gamut of educational opportunities, ranging from one-time lectures to ongoing courses to classes that meet weekly or perhaps monthly.
Verso University programs are made possible by the generous support of the Nancy J. Beard Lifelong Learning and Education Fund.
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The Westport Library is committed to intellectual freedom, inclusivity, and lifelong learning. Our mission is to provide welcoming spaces for the free exchange of ideas. The Library does not endorse or condemn points of view, including any program content or the views expressed by presenters or participants.
