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!

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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

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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

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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.

Bouchercon: Day 1

By Jaden Terrell

Several years ago, I attended my first Bouchercon. It was wonderful, yet overwhelming. Somehow, in my mind, it expanded to a convention of 7,000 people, a vast swarm of humanity I could hardly even fathom. Today, I arrived at the St. Louis Bouchercon. Turns out it's about 1500 people and has ALWAYS been about 1500 people. Somehow, the huge, scary con became a huge, not-so-scary con in just a few years.

I was lucky enough to share the drive from Nashville and a hotel room with another Nashville author, Jennie Bentley )aka Jenna Bennett). Jennie writes a cozy series for Berkley Prime Crime and an e-series of real estate mysteries. If you like well-written, well-crafted light mysteries, you'll like Jennie's books.

I started the day at a panel called "Laughter of the Clowns," moderated by Jerry Healy and featuring Allan Ansorge, Alan Orloff, Gary Alexander, Jack Frederickson, and Robin Spano. Parnell Hall, one of my all-time favorite writers of humor, wasn't on the panel but got a tip of the hat from the panelists. If you've never seen his videos about the writing life, check out "Signing in a Waldenbooks," "Kill 'Em," and "The King of Kindle." Funny guy. Funny panel. I've read Allan Ansorge's books, since he's a beloved member of the Killer Nashville family, but I hadn't read the others. Obviously, I'll have to remedy that.

The panel by the guests of honor was remarkable--at times serious, at times hilarious, at times enlightening. At one point, a humorous and slightly off-color anecdote by Val McDermid rendered the panel speechless as the room erupted in laughter. Add Colin Cotterill, Charlaine Harris, Robert Crais (I heart Joe Pike), and moderator Oline Cogdill, and it was one of the most entertaining panels I've seen. I also enjoyed seeing Charles Todd on the military panel moderated by Matthew Funk.

I've heard a lot of Irish, English, and Scottish accents already and am looking forward to the panel of Irish authors on Saturday. I'd like to pin some of these folks down and just have them talk to me for about a year. Especially John Connolly, whose Charlie Parker series is among my favorites. I just finished The Reapers a few weeks ago and am in awe of the man's talent. And did I mention the accent?

I also got to see one of my favorite authors in the world, Timothy Hallinan. Tim's graciously agreed to let me pump him for information for my third book. As several people today have said, "Mystery writers are some of the nicest people in the world."

To top it off, I finally got to meet our own Leighton Gage. After reading so many of his charming posts, it was a pleasure to see him in person.

Having a great time. Wish you were here!

Killer Nashville's Coming

By Beth Terrell


It's that time again. That time of year when Killer Nashville founder Clay Stafford and I survive on four hours of sleep a night as we chip our way through to-do lists longer than our legs (and Clay has very long legs). It's all worth it, though, because the final result is going to be...well...Killer.


Jeffery Deaver is our Guest of Honor, and I hear Jeff is not only a delightful speaker, but a pretty fair guitar player as well. We're hoping he can be persuaded to join us around the pool for music and conversation. Don Bruns (who won the Silver Falchion Award two years ago for Stuff to Die For) will be there will his guitar, as will Stacy Allen, who sang for us at last year's awards dinner.


Since the conference begins early on Friday, many attendees arrive at the hotel on Thursday night. In the past, there have been no Killer Nashville festivities that night, but this year, Greg and Mary Bruss of Mysteries & More independent bookstore, are hosting Mystery Team Trivia at 7:30. Greg asked me to be sure and emphasize that valuable prizes will be awarded.

On Friday morning, the fun begins with a presentation called "CSI Don't Think So," in which law enforcement consultant Lee Lofland discusses how television gets it right--and wrong. Lee will intersperse interesting forensic science tidbits throughout the presentation. There are five tracks this year, because we had too many wonderful authors coming to fit them into four. Attendees will hear from a Marine sniper/sniper trainer, forensic psychologists, TBI agents, private investigators, attorneys, and police officers, in addition to agents, editors, and a host of terrific authors, including our own Chester Campbell (who won last year's Silver Falchion) and our own Bente Gallagher (aka Jennie Bentley). Among those attending are Charles Todd (NYT bestseller), Steven Womack (Edgar winner), David J. Walker (Edgar winner), PJ Parrish (Shamus and Anthony winner) and Annie Solomon (Rita Award winnier). There are sessions on character, pacing, dialogue, YA, historical fiction, marketing and promotion, and many that are designed to appeal especially to readers. And, oh yes, there's the mock crime scene staged by TBI agents Dan Royse and Mike Breedlove and solved by attendees.

I could go on and on, but I'd be sure to leave out something important; there's a detailed schedule on the conference site. (Warning: it's a slow-loading site.) As you can see, you don't have to be a crime fiction writer--or even a writer at all--to have the time of your life at the Killer Nashville Crime Literature Conference.

Last year, on Sunday afternoon of the conference, one of my fellow conference organizers came to the registration table where I was sitting and said, "Beth, there are writers sleeping all over the lobby."

I knew we'd done our job.