Magna Cum Murder

I just returned from a really great conference, Magna Cum Murder sponsored by Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. First off, kudos to Kathryn Kennison, one of the loveliest ladies I’ve met and a wonderful organizer. Also kudos to Jim Huang, owner of The Mystery Company in Carmel, Indiana and program organizer. I am confident that next year’s Bouchercon is in good hands with Jim at the helm.

What makes the conference special? As an author, you have to earn your right to present on a panel. And that’s a good thing. As a fan spending your hard-earned dollars on a conference, it’s nice to know that you’ll hear something insightful rather than a bunch of people selling something. Funny thing was, some of the authors present were published by small presses like me and the programs they presented were entertaining and informative. These are the same people that Mystery Writers of America are seeking to keep out of their organization. A similar rule was presented to the Bouchercon Steering Group and defeated.

This conference was totally different from Bouchercon. While at Bouchercon, I felt an uneasy “I don’t belong here” feeling, I never felt that at Magna. The authors were great and the fans... well, fantastic. It was nice to be able to connect with readers and writers at such a casual atmosphere and talk shop. In fact, there was a four hour rotating roundtable of shop talk.

Now to go on to the panels I was assigned to. I actually kicked the conference off on the debut authors panel. Now, officially, there were two debut authors. Both of us from St. Louis. However, Joanna Campbell Slan couldn’t make it on time, so I had an hour to fill. Not only that, but the original idea was for Joanna and I to interview each other. Without her, suddenly I was interviewing myself. Thank God for the kindness that is the mystery community.

At the registration desk, a mere twenty minutes before my panel, the guest of honor, a wonderful author by the name of Louise Penny introduced herself to me. I mentioned that I was in a bit of a quandary and she offered to introduce and interview me without even a hesitation. I gave her the questions and my bio ten minutes before show time and Louise interviewed me like she had known me her whole life. I was at ease and she actually made me look good, which is no easy task.

After my panel a wonderful group of ladies asked if I’d sit and chat with them. They even bought me a drink, which was a totally unexpected treat (Thanks Pat). We had a marvelous chat.

The highlight of the weekend was the panel I shared with the fabulous Barb D’Amato and Austin Camacho. We coached a group of people through the plotting of a flash fiction mystery. We managed to get all of 157 words on paper, but what a blast. Austin was fantastic at keeping the group on track and we both noticed that the sweet-looking Barb D’Amato is very capable of some rather dark and disturbing ideas.

I’m not sure if the class learned a lot, except that mystery writing is harder than they expected, but it was a blast for the panel and I believe everybody had a good time.

Lastly I led a discussion on Hollywood Endings - Do we need them? I think I picked the right movie/book as an example. I brought up No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy.

The days were long, but totally satisfying. The company was excellent and shop talk comforting. I’d like to shout out to a reader I met from Haslett, Michigan. I didn’t get her last name, but Colleen, I hope you enjoy the book.

Magna Bound

I'm headed to Muncie, Indiana this weekend to attend Magna Cum Murder. This is an annual conference sponsered by Ball State University. This will be my second conference as a published writer and in many ways, I'm more excted about this one than the Mother of Mystery Conferences, Bouchercon. Why?

Well, mainly every author that I know that is familiar with Magna has said the same thing. They love it. There won't be 1,400 people like Bouchercon, more like 250. There won't be 400 authors, more like 30. It's a chance to connect with other authors, readers and aspiring writers.

An interesting tidbit is that we all had homework to do prior to the conference. Everyone was asked to read Bratt Farrar by Josephine Tey and be ready to discuss it. Of course, there is preparing for the panels. At Bouchercon, the mantra for the panels was to relax and have fun. At Magna, there is a purpose beyond getting to know authors, people are there to learn and I don't take that responsibility lightly. I put myself in the shoes I wore over the past years and I know what I expected for my hard-earned money.

I've drawn 3 assignments: Debut authors, Plotting the Mystery and a group discussion on Do You Need a Hollywood Ending?

Right now, Barbara D'Amato and Austin Comacho and I are corresponding on the Plotting the Mystery discussion. We want it to be an interactive session were we guide the class through the plotting of a mystery.

I'll be reporting back with pictures, hopefully next week. Wish me luck.

Bouchercon 2008 - Charmed to Death

I just got back from my first Bouchercon in Baltimore. It also happened to be my first conference as a published author. For those of you that don't know about Bouchercon, it is THE Conference for Mystery and Suspense. The estimate was between 1,400 and 1,800 people attended this weekend. There were probably 300 to 400 authors there as well.

Being a newly published author and being published by a small press put me near the bottom of the food chain, but you would never know it. The established authors there were fabulously supportive. Let me name drop: Lee Child, Harlen Coben, Laura Lippman, John Lutz, Lawrence Block, Karin Slaughter, Barry Eisler, and many more.


Lee Child


Harlen Coben

So, I walk to the registration desk and the first person I meet is the lovely Annette Dashofy. While you may not know Annette, she is one of my co-bloggers on The Working Stiffs blog. She took me in to see Joyce Tremel, the keeper of the Working Stiffs.


The lovely ladies at my side are Annette Dashofy and Joyce Tremel

Another "First" for me was a panel at a writers conference. Even though our panel was up against Laura Lippman and Lauri King, we pulled in about 150 people. I obsessed about it all the way until I had to introduce myself. As usual when I present, I went on autopilot. I don't remember much about it, other than I managed to answer all the questions and even got a few laughs.


I'm at the far right.

After the panel, I went to the book signing room, along with all the other authors that gave panels during that time slot. Laura Lippman's line was out the door. I was warned not to get upset if I didn't sell any books. Well, I sold 4. That's 4 more than I anticipated, so I was good. Even though I had to guilt someone in Laura Lippman's line to buy one. I was good with that too.

There were ups and downs for me. I went from awe, to overwhelmed, to wondering what the hell I was doing there. I've got to tell you, I was never surrounded by a better group of people. Everybody there, from reader to the biggest author names made me feel like I belonged. I had real nice conversations with Lee Child and Harlan Coben. The group at Murderati, one of the premiere mystery author blogs welcomed me like one of the gang. Let's see, there was J.D. Rhoades, Pari Noskin Taichert, Louise Ure, Robert Gregory Browne, Brett Battles, Zoë Sharp and Alex Sokoloff.


Murderati Gang

Also some of the Good Girls Kill for Money were there. I never really saw them all together, but they are such a lovely group. I missed Laura Bradford and Diana Killian.


Sara Rosett and Regina Harvey


Tasha Alexander

Then there were The First Offenders. Lori G. Armstrong, Alison Gaylin, Bryon Quartermous and Karen Olsen. I was having a blast at the bar with Lori and Brett when Harlan Coben strolled up and Heather Grahm and Scott Miller and Janet Reid and my buddy, Lee Lofland. Lee Child was in the bar... Well, it was a gathering of some of the best authors and best people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.


Alison Gaylin Somehow I didn't get a picture with Lori Armstrong.

Of course I have to thank my wife Linda for keeping me company when I needed it and keeping herself occupied when I was busy hobnobbing.


My beautiful wife Linda.