Another Malice Domestic conference - the 29th - is in the record books after the usual whirlwind of weekend events.
Malice Domestic chair Verena Rose (on left) introduces some of this year's honored guests: Guest of Honor Elaine Viets, Poirot Award recipient Martin Edwards, Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Charlaine Harris and Toastmaster Marcia Talley.
I've written about this conference before. I love the relaxed atmosphere, the opportunity to mingle with the more than 200 authors and 3-or-4 hundred fans who attend, the books donated by publishers to be distributed to all the guests, the charity auction, the panel discussions and interviews, the banquet, and, of course, the Agatha Awards.
Shawn Reilly Simmons (on the left) interviewed four of the five nominees for the best crime novel of 2016: Ellen Byron, Catriona McPherson, Barbara Ross and Hank Phillippi Ryan. (The fifth nominee, and eventual winner, Louise Penny, was unable to attend.)
So many highlights over the three full days of the conference make it hard to choose any one as the "best." Given my own preferences for "classic" mysteries, I was delighted to have the opportunity to hear Martin Edwards, the Poirot Award honoree (and, oh let's see, President of England's elite Detection Club of mystery authors, current President of the British Crime Writers' Association, author of The Golden Age of Murder - I could go on), interviewed by Canadian author Cathy Ace over a nice cup of tea (well it WAS 4 PM and he IS British) -
A lively interview that was both informative and hilariously funny.
Plans are already being made for next year's Malice Domestic - number 30. I'll have more details here very soon. I intend to be there - and I hope you'll be there as well.
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