There Are No Accidents: Unpacking the Underlying Crimes in Crime Fiction with F.H. Batacan

About the Event

Join Girls Write Now and acclaimed author, F.H. Batacan, for a compelling craft talk on the art of writing crime fiction! Batacan’s groundbreaking debut novel, Smaller and Smaller Circles (2002), redefined Filipino crime fiction, earning numerous literary accolades including the Philippines’ National Book Award. This year, she returns with Accidents Happen and Other Stories—a bold, genre-blurring collection that interrogates the intersections of class, gender, and politics in the making (and unmaking) of justice.

In this Friday Night Salon, Batacan will share the techniques and strategies she uses to craft powerful, unsettling narratives that challenge the boundaries of the traditional whodunit. Aspiring crime writers will gain insight into how to root their stories in specific cultural, political, and social realities, making their work not just gripping, but deeply relevant.

Whether you’re a writer, reader, or simply curious about the forces shaping contemporary Filipino literature, this talk offers a rare opportunity to learn from one of the most important voices in the genre.