When Words Collide 2026

"When Dark Clouds Roll In" takes participants through what can happen when embarking on a personal growth journey after a crisis or tragedy. Retired Detective Dave Sweet shares his insights on resilience and draws on several chilling case examples, along with his own personal journey with Post Traumatic Growth.


This presentation identifies the formula for resilience, which enables investigators to work effectively in uncomfortable and unpleasant environments while serving both the living and the dead.


The takeaway for writers is that not every detective story requires an investigator to end up as the traditional broken-and-damaged image of themselves at the end of their case. In fact, surprisingly, for many, the opposite may be true, and this reality can add depth to a character in any mystery writer's works. This presentation will show participants how.