In this lively conference session, Jillian Forsberg, author of The Rhino Keeper and The Porcelain Menagerie, explores how animals can function in fiction as far more than atmospheric detail. When used with care, animals can become powerful narrative forces—revealing character, heightening emotion, enriching symbolism, and creating some of the most unforgettable moments in a story.

Drawing on her own immersive research, from observing rhinos and lions in person to studying historical sources and cultural symbolism, Jillian shows how writing animals well requires both authenticity and intention. She invites writers to think of animals not as decoration, but as living presences with narrative purpose.

You’ll learn how to:

• Use animals as true characters rather than background detail or ornamentation

• Research animals effectively through observation, keepers, art, and historical sources

• Understand why animal characters resonate so deeply with readers

• Reveal human personality through the way characters respond to animals

• Use animals to strengthen symbolism, mood, and emotional stakes

• Recognize how animal symbolism shifts across cultures and time periods

• Decide whether an animal is essential to a scene—or could be replaced by an object or person

Using examples ranging from rhinos, lions, and monkeys to cats, goats, and owls, Jillian demonstrates how animals can serve as mirrors, companions, symbols of danger or status, and emotional anchors that connect modern readers to the historical world.

Perfect for writers of historical fiction and other immersive, character-driven stories, this replay offers practical insight into using animals with authenticity, depth, and real narrative power.