Killer Nashville 2017

by Paula Gail Benson

Going to a writing conference is a wonderful experience. Each has its own personality and focus. For me, Malice Domestic, which occurs near Washington, D.C. at the end of April or beginning of May, is a warm family reunion of readers and writers, all relishing the strategies for puzzling out traditional mysteries. Bouchercon--taking place this year in Toronto, Canada--gathers together writers from all the mystery genres, from cozy to thriller, in a huge celebration of variety and skill.

Killer Nashville is the one conference I’ve attended that consistently has the effect of revving my writing engine. Although it welcomes both readers and writers, its primary focus is on the writing craft and criminal process. It features experts discussing developing characters, structure, and marketing as well as accurately portraying poisons, police procedure, and protocols. Each year, a member of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation sets up a crime scene and participants try to solve who did it. The lucky winner receives a free registration to the next year’s conference.

I have a lot of gratitude for Killer Nashville because it gave me the opportunity to be in the anthology Killer Nashville Noir: Cold Blooded (for “A Matter of Honor” written with Robert Dugoni) among such fabulous talents as Jeffrey Deaver, Anne Perry, and Catriona McPherson. This year, I delighted in being introduced by Guest of Honor Chris Grabenstein to publicly read the opening of the story.

Reading from "A Matter of Honor"

Clay Stafford, the founder and creative genius behind Killer Nashville, gives those attending lots of opportunities to serve on panels. This practice helps authors to develop their confidence in appearing before their peers and also helps panel members to meet and bond. I felt very fortunate this year to participate on four panels.

Subplots Panel

Creating and Weaving Subplots was moderated by Kelly Oliver (who won the Silver Falchion for Best Attending Author) and included Mary Davidsaver, Susan Page Davis, Tracee de Hahn, and Rick Helms (whose extensive work with the South Eastern Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America was recognized with the Magnolia Award). Catherine Dilts did a great job in providing a panel summary in her blog.

Writing Medical and Legal Thrillers, moderated by Charley Pearson and featuring Claire Applewhite, Judith Lucci, Linda Petrilli, and Doug Woodward all with medical backgrounds (I was the sole representative for the legal field), had a fascinating discussion about how reality and imagination can develop truly riveting stories that carefully adhere to medical or legal principles.

Medical/Legal Thriller Panel

I always love talking about writing short stories. Our panel moderated by Jenean McBrearty was a particularly fun group, including my pals Debra Goldstein and Robert Mangeot and new friends Warren Moore (who teaches at Newberry College in South Carolina) and Kathryn Lane (whose novel Waking Up in Medellin won the Silver Falchion for Best Fiction Adult Suspense). Again, Catherine Dilts provided a terrific summary.

Short Story Panel

My final panel, about writing with a collaborator, had just one person attending, but led by our moderator Mike Rubin, we went forward and enjoyed a lively discussion. Barbara Collins, Max Allan Collins (another Guest of Honor), and Susan Page Davis were the other panelists.

Being at Killer Nashville led me to become involved with the board of SEMWA. We have an enthusiastic organization. Our president Maggie Toussaint is a dynamo and board members Stacy Allen, Nancy Sartor, Susan M. Boyer, Phil Hardwick, and John Gordon work diligently to organize programs and retreats to benefit our members. Past President Beth Terrell continues to provide us with wise counsel, and we were very proud and celebrating with her when she was honored with the Builder’s Award at this year’s Killer Nashville. 

Over the years, those who have come as Guests of Honor or attendees have enjoyed the experience so much that they have created four scholarships to enable other writers to attend. Past scholarship holder and a Claymore finalist this year (and a writer to be watched), Kathleen Donnelly, spoke about what the opportunity to attend Killer Nashville had meant for her writing career. Her speech is published on The Stiletto Gang blog.

If you have an interest in a smaller conference that concentrates on writing skills and expert procedural information, please consider coming to Killer Nashville. I think you’ll find a place where you’ll want to return.

How do conferences enrich your writing?

A Special Killer Nashville

Killer Nashville, formerly held in August and now scheduled in October, bills itself as “A Place for Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Writers and Literature Lovers” and offers the array of talent found at Malice Domestic and Bouchercon along with a sincere effort to provide writers with the skills, knowledge, and contacts to progress in the writing business.

This year, I learned a great deal from the two panels I moderated.

Michael Rubin, Robert Rotstein, Douglas Jones, & PGB

“Ask an Attorney: Belly up to the Bar and Ask your Questions about Legal Procedure” featured Douglas Jones, Robert Rotstein, and Michael Rubin as panelists. Our topics included courtroom procedure, copyright, defamation, and planning for your literary estate.

In “Double-Duty Dialogue: How to Write Dialogue That’s More Than Just Talk,” Earl G. Fisher, Linda Fisher, Rae James, Joseph Terrell, and I launched into a rousing discussion with our audience about what to include and exclude from dialogue exchanges, and how to use dialogue for multiple purposes, particularly advancing plot and developing character.

Linda Fisher, Rae James, PGB, Earl G. Fisher, & Joseph Terrell

Robert Dugoni

A special reason that I attended this year’s Killer Nashville was the launch of its first anthology, Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded. When Robert Dugoni was approached to contribute a “southern” story, he kindly asked a mere novice he met at the South Carolina Book Festival to collaborate and help make the story authentic. Through his generosity, I received not only a personalized master class, but also a writing credit with a New York Times bestselling author in a collection featuring notables of the mystery, suspense, and thriller genres. Our story, “A Matter of Honor,” takes place in the South Carolina Statehouse and has agent B.A. Azevedo investigating the murder of a legislative aide who may have been killed by a senator’s daughter.

Clay Stafford

Clay Stafford, founder of Killer Nashville as well as editor and contributor to the anthology, said his intention was to gather together a group of good stories. I believe he met his goal. Each tale captures the imagination with intricate plots, diverse characters, and fascinating settings. It’s a great honor to be part of this collection.

Here are just a few tidbits to peak your curiosity about the other stories:

Jefferson Bass’ “In Plain Sight” -- The writing team of Jon Jefferson and Dr. Bill Bass speculate on how an extra body might find its way onto the University of Tennessee’s renowned Body Farm.

Catriona McPherson’s “Kissin’ Don’t Kill” -- An elderly widow’s final goodbye to her husband may not be as grief-stricken as it appears.

Baron R. Britcher’s “Ripple” -- A former LA cop living in Hawaii helps his buddy, an ex-Seal and current NSA officer, recover evidence of State secrets, including a manuscript hidden by a boy being pursued by murderous agents.

Donald Bain’s “The Hunt for ‘Skippy’ Walker” -- Can a defendant be exonerated for a murder committed by his imaginary friend?

C. Hope Clark’s “Rich Talk” -- While a defense attorney tries to figure out how to deal with his cheating wife and law partner, his butler carries out instructions to the letter.

PGB, C. Hope Clark, & Daco

Jonathan Stone’s “Mailman” -- George Waite reacts as only a mailman can to a mysterious new neighbor in the community where he has made deliveries for 35 years.

Maggie Toussaint’s “High Noon at Dollar Central” -- Toussaint’s Dreamwalker protagonist investigates burglaries where special crocheted angels have been left at each scene.

Daco, Maggie Toussaint, & PGB

Jeffrey Deaver’s “Repressed” -- A professor’s discovery of his repressed memories leads to an unexpected change in his life circumstances.

Blake Fontenay’s “The Coal Torpedo” -- Allan Pinkerton tells President Andrew Johnson the background story of a perceived historical accident that actually was a planned mass murder.

Jon Jefferson’s “Giving Blood” -- A grieving widower finds that his habit of donating blood might be the perfect means of extracting revenge.

Anne Perry’s “Shutter Speed” -- After WWI, a female photographer aiming for pictures of Wallis Simpson could have captured the image of a killer in a nighttime brawl with a peace group.

Heywood Gould’s “He’ll Kill Again” -- A janitor tries to warn a police officer about a serial killer. Will the officer listen?

Dana Chamblee Carpenter’s “Lullabies and Lightning Storms” -- The people of Gideon, a small town, are both attracted to and repelled by a bubble girl who tells their futures through song lyrics.

Mary Burton’s “The Keepsake” -- A cold case is resolved through forensic evidence in the Nashville bar where the murder took place.

Jaden Terrell’s “Peace, Sometimes” -- On a visit to a psychiatrist’s office, a convicted rapist and murderer escapes with his new lawyer as hostage. Or, is that only how it seems?

Eyre Price’s “Sad Like a Country Song” -- When a struggling country artist kills for what he knows to be the perfect song, he learns he’s intruded upon a deal made by the devil.

Steven James’ “Second Thoughts” -- A boyfriend seeking revenge for his girlfriend’s rape begins to wonder if his victims deserve his vengeance.

Daco’s “The Virgo Affair” -- When Agent Jordan Jakes is assigned to get close to an inventor who owns a DC bar, she finds the situation complicated and potentially lethal.

Clay Stafford’s “Savage Gulf” -- A high school reunion leads to unexpected complications from several hidden love triangles.

I hope you might check out Killer Nashville Noir: Cold-Blooded. Haven’t you been looking for a few really good short stories? What other short story anthologies would you recommend?