Writers Who Kill at Malice 2013

Writers Who Kill at Malice 2013

  

Shari Randall, Gloria Alden, Paula Gail Benson and Jim M. Jackson in the back.

Rather than have each of us who attended Malice Domestic in Bethesda this year write our own blogs about the experience, I suggested we do a group blog with each contributing their thoughts, feelings and highlights of the conference. Since Jim was the first to respond, I’ll start with him. He’s the tall handsome guy in the back.

This being my first Malice Domestic, I had no idea what to expect. I brought Jan along as well since the conference is targeted to readers more than writers, and I corrupted her from reading mostly “literature” to mystery/suspense/thrillers. We both had a great time. Not only did I participate in my first author’s panel, I was able to meet in person dozens and dozens of people I had only known online. First meetings included the WWK bloggers who attended Malice. One of the best things about being a part of the mystery community is that it is a supportive community. While there are a few dog-eat-dog souls in the group, most people I have met are very cooperative. They recognize readers are not a zero-sum-game. They can be shared and frequently grown to everyone’s benefit. I like that mentality a lot. – Jim Jackson

Elaine Will Sparber, one of our newer members sent her input next. Unfortunately, in all that crowd of hundreds of mystery lovers, we never met, although she said she saw me once, but I was talking to someone and she didn’t want to interrupt. I wish she had.

This Malice Domestic was my second, but that didn’t make it any less overwhelming. I attended my first Malice a long five years ago, plus I was surrounded by people who awed me. What a treat to be introduced to Harlen Coben by Hank Phillippi Ryan, chat with Laurie R. King and Aaron Elkins in the elevator, and pass Laura Lippman in the hallway, not once but several times. Forget about the hundreds of other people – writers and fans – rushing about. The four days I was at Malice were a blur. Several of the speakers – one was Laura Lippman and I believe another was Laurie R. King – said that they felt this same way at their first Malice. But the mystery community being a welcoming one, they soon began to feel welcome and at home.

 -  Elaine Will Sparber

Shari Randall, another new member,  had the following to say about Malice.

 Lucy Zahray, The Poison Lady is in yellow

As usual, Malice was packed with great panels, signings and parties. This year I was thrilled to meet Louise Penny, have a drink with Lucy Zahray, the Poison Lady herself, party at Hank Phillippi Ryan’s table at the Agatha Awards banquet, and spend time with wonderful WWK blog and Guppy friends. But it was the happy accidents of Malice that made the convention so memorable for me, especially the ones that happened when I was just getting from Lalique to the Lobby. This year it was all about the elevator. I discussed young adult fiction with Harlen Coben by 

the elevators, and spoke about mystery fiction with Terri Bischoff in the elevator. As I was leaving Malice, lugging my swag-stuffed bags, I was disappointed by only one thing – I had not met Stefanie Jaye Edwards, author of the Sugar Land Mysteries. But as I passed the elevator – ding! – the doors opened and Stefanie Jaye Edwards stepped out, along with her lovely husband, Richard. I was thrilled to chat with her for a moment before she was swamped by other fans, and Richard and I talked about creating a signature drink for Stefanie (He thought champagne with rye because of her “wry” writing style; my vote was rye and ginger ale along with a twist of lemon). Next year, who knows where I’ll have those serendipitous moments – the registration desk?  - Shari Randall

E.B. Davis, our blog maven and one of the original members of WWK, gave us her impression. She was also the one responsible for putting together not one, but two baskets for the Fish Nets Guppy Anthology. And a wonderful job she did, too, as you can see with one of them in the picture below taken by Gigi Pandian.

One of the two baskets made for the Fish Nets Anthology

On Thursday, before the conference started, I drove to the hotel and met Harriette Sackler, another local SinC Guppy and Malice Grants Chair, who helped me place two charity baskets the authors of Fish Nets, the second Guppy anthology, contributed to the silent and live auctions. The proceeds benefited The John L. Gildner Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents, serving children and adolescents with severe emotional disabilities. I’m happy to report that each basket yielded near its full value of $280.00.

Due to an unexpected family obligation, I spent only one day at the conference, but I packed that twelve-hour day with fun. My day started on schedule with the Malice-Go-Round in which authors go from table to table with only a short time each to speak. It’s a conference fixture I love because I learn about new books written by established authors. I met Maggie Barbieri (See my blog: http://writerswhokill.blogspot.com/2013/01/its-all-in-details.html), author of the Murder 101 Series. This singular event ended my involvement with the conference at 11:30 a.m. even though I stayed until 7:30 p.m.

Why? I ended up socializing with Guppies! I attended the Guppy lunch where I met Karen Pullen and Susan Boyer, who I’ve interviewed here at WWK, and then met with Steering Committee members at the bar where we enjoyed libations and devolved. I previously had met Kaye George, but I had never met Karen Duxbury, Teresa Inge or Jim Jackson and his S.O., Jan. Later we dined together, and Shari Randall, WWK blogger and fellow short-story writer, joined us. I had a great time despite missing most of the conference. Next year, I hope to meet more Guppies, and maybe I’ll attend the conference in full. - E.B. Davis

Paula Gail Benson is another new member who writes about her time at Malice.

I counted it up – this 25^th anniversary at Malice Domestic was the 10^th time I attended the conference. I had a wonderful time. A few years ago, I met cab driver Aziz Rakla, who helped several of us take a writer to the hospital. He gave me his card. Now, each year, I call and he provides my transportation at Malice.

I particularly enjoyed meeting my fellow WWK bloggers, Gloria Alden, Jim Jackson, Shari Randall and Elaine Will Sparber. I listened to Gloria’s presentation for Author’s Alley and heard Gloria and Jim give brief descriptions of their books at the New Authors’ Breakfast. Before leaving on Sunday, I got to hear Jim participate on B.K. Stevens’ panel about cold cases. I hope to meet other blogging partners at a future Malice. – Paula Gail Benson

Before my 15 minutes at Authors Alley Begins

I attended my first Malice in 2007 without knowing anyone there and never having attended any conference before. I think I must have read about Malice Domestic in Writers Digest and thought it would be interesting. I drove to the DC area from NE Ohio in my little red Mercury Tracer wagon with two cousins and my best friend to attend my first mystery conference. While they toured Washington DC, I stayed in the hotel attending the conference completely overwhelmed by the mystery world out there. I couldn’t believe I was actually meeting real mystery authors.

It was where I learned about Sisters in Crime and 

the Guppies and they were to change my writing for the better.

I’ve enjoyed every year, but this year was my best because I was able to participate as an author. Two years before I was in the Guppy Anthology, Fish Tales, and that was nice, but this year I not only had a short story in the new Guppy anthology, Fish Nets, but I also had two books out – The Blue Rose and Daylilies for Emily’s Garden. I had a 15 minute segment in Authors Alley where I was actually wired up. How cool is that! I had a book signing and I had a table at the New Authors Breakfast. (So did Jim Jackson) Equally as good was meeting my fellow bloggers and reconnecting with Guppies I’d met before and also meeting my online friend, Kathleen Rockwood (KM Rockwood) for the first time. We shared a room and she was the perfect roommate. All in all it was another wonderful Malice.

Have you ever attended Malice Domestic or another conference of any kind?

If you did, what was your experience?