tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post6135142814405079437..comments2024-03-28T12:01:31.049-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Conferences and Festivals—Why I GoJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-73222174365910217222013-08-19T19:47:21.577-04:002013-08-19T19:47:21.577-04:00Thanks, Paula! The nice thing about Killer Nashvil...Thanks, Paula! The nice thing about Killer Nashville is that we can drive to it. Malice, Bouchercon (most of the time), AWP, Book Festivals like the LA and Brooklyn ones, all mean I have to fly to get there. And though I used to love to fly, it's become one of my least favorite things to do anymore.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-79651703910541487812013-08-19T19:23:34.728-04:002013-08-19T19:23:34.728-04:00Terrific blog, Linda. Wishing you the best for a s...Terrific blog, Linda. Wishing you the best for a safe journey and looking forward to hearing about your experiences when you return! Paula Gail Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843350597811462936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-20756694331734349362013-08-19T15:41:36.982-04:002013-08-19T15:41:36.982-04:00Kara, the writer friend we're staying with has...Kara, the writer friend we're staying with has a lineup of local sights and events for us to see and do. I doubt that we'll be able to make half of them, but I'm looking forward to trying.<br /><br />One thing Ben's going to do, which I'd love to tag along on if I can, is a visit to Ingram's headquarters. Nashville is the hometown of the largest of book distributors.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-73781750060772152112013-08-19T15:17:58.468-04:002013-08-19T15:17:58.468-04:00Killer Nashville sounds like a terrific conference...Killer Nashville sounds like a terrific conference, Linda. And what a fun location! I look forward to hearing about it.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-74529296335149671662013-08-19T13:10:48.879-04:002013-08-19T13:10:48.879-04:00Gloria, I, too, have to watch the time and money c...Gloria, I, too, have to watch the time and money costs of conferences. I had to miss Malice this year for that reason, and I hated that.<br /><br />Malice is my favorite of all the genre conferences I attend. It's fairly small, warm and friendly, and the best organized out there. Each conference has its strong points. Bouchercon is the big daddy of mystery conferences and pretty much the whole industry turns out for it--a real plus. But I do think Malice is my fave, and I don't want to have to miss it again.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-46902810207134781652013-08-19T13:06:34.517-04:002013-08-19T13:06:34.517-04:00Gayle, yes to recharging batteries and making one ...Gayle, yes to recharging batteries and making one want to write a better book. I think genre conferences, writing conferences, and book festivals all work that way--at least, for me.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-71288567409547510882013-08-19T13:04:19.333-04:002013-08-19T13:04:19.333-04:00Shari, the conferences that are genre-based tend t...Shari, the conferences that are genre-based tend to focus on readers. Bouchercon has a lot of great panels on topics of interest to writers, but it's still a conference for the reader in the genre. Writing conferences are a different animal. They focus on working with writers to help them learn techniques and strategies to be better writers and get published. I'm usually on the faculty of any of those I go to nowadays, but I often sneak into other faculty members' sessions and learn a lot.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-12540777148992101712013-08-19T13:00:02.809-04:002013-08-19T13:00:02.809-04:00Jim, I found the learning new things bit easier wh...Jim, I found the learning new things bit easier when I was newer to the biz. I often find that I can't get to panels or presentations that I'd wanted to attend because folks want to talk with me. When I am able to make it to the panels I want, I usually learn lots of stuff, but I learn a lot by hanging with people. One of the most useful times I spend at Malice Domestic is hanging out in the coffee shop or bar with Luci Zahray, the Poison Lady, and listening to her talk about ways to kill people. Makes the waiters nervous, though. :-)Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-89853656763272284632013-08-19T12:56:13.391-04:002013-08-19T12:56:13.391-04:00Carla and Sarah, it will be fun, though pretty exh...Carla and Sarah, it will be fun, though pretty exhausting fun. :-)Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-45646016919295797852013-08-19T12:43:58.339-04:002013-08-19T12:43:58.339-04:00Linda, I love going to mystery conferences, too, f...Linda, I love going to mystery conferences, too, for the exact reasons you do. Unfortunately, I have neither time or money to go to more than one, or occasionally two a year. It's through Malice Domestic that I've met almost all my mystery writing friends and a mystery reader with whom I've corresponded with for years and see every year at Malice.<br /><br />Enjoy your time at Killer Nashville and connecting with a lot of dear friends.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-66989861367139248472013-08-19T11:13:54.485-04:002013-08-19T11:13:54.485-04:00I like book festivals and conventions for the read...I like book festivals and conventions for the readers I get to meet. I usually go to Left Coast Crime, the LA Times Book Festival, and the Duarte Author Festival. <br /><br />Writer's conferences are a must for me (I go to two a year, held by the Southern California Writer's Conference) to recharge my writing batteries and make me want to write a better book.<br /><br />Both kinds of venues are also fun for catching up with friends!Gayle Carlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783449240138097315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-4288206286293712782013-08-19T11:07:41.297-04:002013-08-19T11:07:41.297-04:00Linda, have a wonderful time. Can't wait to he...Linda, have a wonderful time. Can't wait to hear about your panel - fascinating topic.<br />I've only been to Malice. I've heard it's called the "fans" conference because it is so relaxed and there are so many opportunities to chat with authors, editors, and other readers. (True!) Are the other conferences focused more on writing and craft?Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-83975209911200117192013-08-19T09:44:35.302-04:002013-08-19T09:44:35.302-04:00For me the opportunities are three-fold (1) meet n...For me the opportunities are three-fold (1) meet new people or renew acquaintances (2) meet readers (3) learn new things. I think you covered the first two well, but I always want to continue to learn new things, to increase my skills and conferences and, to a lesser extent, festivals provide me that opportunity.<br /><br />Have a great time; we'll await your stories in future blogs.<br /><br />~ Jim<br />Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-83580238951334967212013-08-19T09:17:41.799-04:002013-08-19T09:17:41.799-04:00So many good reasons to go, Linda! Have a great ti...So many good reasons to go, Linda! Have a great time with Ben and Julie and all your other friends. Can't wait to hear stories when you come back!Sarah Henninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06822639126179367121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-11630711379463116772013-08-19T09:16:55.427-04:002013-08-19T09:16:55.427-04:00Wow, you do a great job at getting to events. Soun...Wow, you do a great job at getting to events. Sounds like fun. carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15985823239660829148noreply@blogger.com