Malice Domestic 2015 Rocked!

by Jackie King

Malice Domestic, a yearly convention to celebrate the vast pleasure of reading Mystery Stories, was held May 1 through May 3, 2015, in Bethesda, Maryland. This was the 27^th such celebration, and my first to attend. Unlike many writer gatherings, Malice Domestic is held primarily for readers, and is called a Reader-Fest. Nothing is as much fun as hanging out with Readers, since people who read are also Smart.

 

I made it!

All writers were first readers. Nearly all who follow this profession are not only smart, they are empathetic. The combination of both readers (at the convention, they proudly call themselves, “Fans,”) and writers, make the best audiences ever. These groups are attentive, receptive and enthusiastic. It was so easy to speak to them.

 

These writers finished Malice-Go-Round. It's
Like speed dating, but with Authors & Readers

“YOU COULD DIE LAUGHING,” was the panel I was fortunate enough to speak with. I read each author’s book, and each made me laugh. Here is the list:

L-R Cindy Brown, 

Kathryn Leigh Scott, Moderator—JINXED  (I especially recommend for film fans.) Standing in back

Left to Right:

Cindy Brown—MACDEATH  (If you love the theater, you’ll love this mystery!)

Nancy G. West—FIT TO BE DEAD  (If you’ve ever struggled with your weight, imagine it with a dead body thrown in. Fun mystery set in a gym.)

Shelley Costa—BASIL INSTINCT  (A riotously funny Italian family ever; plus recipes.)

Tim Hall—DEAD STOCK  (If you love vintage clothing, this is your cup of tea.)

Jackie King—THE INCONVENIENT CORPSE  (No resources, no job skills and a stranger’s body in Grace’s bed. A B&B mystery.)

 

The Audience Gathers

Authors dead from laughing?
Am I next?
Even so, I can't stop laughing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Other photos from my trip to Malice Domestic 27:

Sara Paretsky--Malice Lifetime Achievement Award

L-Caroline Todd half of the Charles Todd writing team who was Guest of Honor
R-The wonderful Sara Paretsky

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At the Agatha Awards Banquet:

Judy Rosser-My fabulous Beta Reader, Moi, and LuLu Harrington, writer

Winners:

Best Children/Young Adult Novel

The Code Buster's Case #4 by Penny Warner

Best Short Story

The Odds Are Against Us,  by Art Taylor Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

Best Nonfiction

Writes of Passage-Adventures on the Writer's Journey, by Hank Phillippi Ryan, editor

Best First Novel

Well Read, Then Dead by Terrie Farley Moran

Best Historical Novel

Queen of Hearts, by Rhys Bowen

Best Contemporary Novel

Truth Be Told by Hank Phillippi Ryan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next year this Convention will be held April 29 through May 1, 2016. Attend if you possibly can.

My May 28th post, will feature one of the delightful writers from the humor panel, Cindy Brown, author of MACDEATH.