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Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Malice Domestic 30 - Fabulous Panels and not so much volunteering...



Today's post is about all the panels that I attended at Malice Domestic 30.  Last year, I volunteered to assist with every panel that I attended - not that I really intended to do that.  This year, I told them I would help with 3 of them.  I'll note those as I come to them.  So, in order of my attendance, here's 'All The Panels'.


 
Simply the Best: Our Agatha Best Contemporary Novel Nominees

(top L to R)
(bottom L to R)

Such a great group here.  A very lively panel and there was more than a bit of banter between Louise and Margaret.  Very funny.  It was clear why each had been nominated for this 'big' award.  If you haven't tried their books, well, what are you waiting for???



Poirot Award Interview: Brenda Blethyn

(L to R)

In case you've been 'under a rock' (ha!) and don't know this lovely woman - it's Brenda Blethyn, who plays Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope in the TV adaptation Vera - inspired by author Ann Cleeves books.  Great, great interview.  Martin Edwards is also an author and was a nominee for Best Nonfiction with his book, The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books.  I know many of you have enjoyed the books by Ann Cleeves, have watched the TV show Vera, and have also read Edwards' latest.  I loved listening to all of them.



The Art of Murder

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Molly Weston - Moderator
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I selected this panel because I wanted to hear Karen Olson, but I really enjoyed all the authors.  Alexia Gordon is a physician herself, but writes about Gethsemane Brown, a classical musician.  Robin Templeton has been a professional photographer and also contributed short stories to several anthologies.  



New Kids on the Block: Our Agatha Best First Novel Nominees

(L to R)
Margaret Maron - Moderator

I volunteered to help monitor this panel.  On purpose and pretty much begged for it.  I really, really wanted to meet Margaret Maron and I was able to do that.  One of my mystery author favorites for years and years.  She did a great job moderating.  Got to speak to all these ladies and sat at Laura Oles' table at the awards banquet.  She's from my area of the world, but more about that later.  Great panel - so very interesting.  And again, got to meet Margaret Maron!!  Take a look at my blog post from March here - I got to meet each and every one of those authors!!



Our Malicious Past: The Dark Side of Historical Mysteries

(L to R)
Verena Rose - Moderator (Chairman of Malice Board)

This was a very interesting panel.  Each of these ladies writes historical mysteries and they talked about the 'dark' side of the past.  Things like disease and war and death and undertakers, about dirt and 'how did they take care of calls of nature in those dresses'.  It was fascinating hearing about their research into all kinds of things.  Verena Rose, the Chairman of the Malice Board, was dressed in full costume.  And I'll talk a bit about Christine Trent tomorrow and Thursday - I had a special time with her.



Mysteries in Unique Settings

(L to R)
C. Michelle Dorsey - Moderator

This is the 2nd panel that I volunteered to assist.  I love mysteries set in interesting places.  Each of these authors have that going on and it was great to hear about whether they had actually visited the location of their books - some had and some hadn't.  Dane McCaslin is a big proponent of online camera research.  I visited with Christine Poulson a bit ahead of time and told her she was the reason I wanted to help with this panel.  Said I had heard great things about her books.  She seemed astonished, but pleased.  Her newest book, Cold, Cold Heart is the one I'm reading right now - set in Antarctica.  Matthew Iden also has a book set in Antarctica.  Matthew has been there - Christine has not.  Clare O'Donohue has a new series - World of Spies - and the first book is Beyond the Pale - yes, I got a copy.  Each will be set in a different country - first Ireland and next, Argentina.



Historical Mysteries: Back in the USA

(L to R)
Jeffrey Marks - Moderator

Another panel that I really enjoyed featuring historical mystery authors.  I found myself gravitating to these and think that some new historical series are definitely in my future reading.  These authors had such interesting things to say about their research.  I had seen Ann Parker before - she's published by the Poisoned Pen Press - but the others were new to me.  And I'd like to read them all.  Maybe I will!



Mysteries on the Edge of Night

(L to R)
Kristopher Zgorski - Moderator

This was the 3rd panel that I volunteered to monitor.  And it was a wonderful panel.  The room was absolutely packed.  People kept poking their heads in and then leaving because there were no seats left.  Malice is a conference for 'traditional' mysteries and these writers' books are on the 'edge' of that or really thrillers in a way.  I've read some of their books and met some of them before.  So excited to meet the rest.  Kristopher Zgorski had just been given an Edgar Award for his website - BOLO Books.  Catriona McPherson, who I have not shown as yet (on Friday at the dinner), was the Toastmaster for the conference.  I'll also have a picture of she and Lori taken right before Catriona's interview as Toastmaster that was conducted by Lori.  (I love Lori's books, by the way, and sat at her awards dinner table last year.)  So, they discussed darker mysteries and it was fascinating to this 'darker' mystery reader.



Murder in the Nation's Capital: DC-Based Mysteries

(L to R)
K.G. Whitehurst - Moderator

This was last 'official' panel that I attended and I was a little late arriving.  I missed a bit of it, but when I came in they were discussing women's roles in Washington, in the corporate world, in general.  Quite, quite interesting.  Arlene Kay shared that she had been with the IRS in her working life and talked a bit about being an agent there before there were many women at all in that role.  I understood as in my young years right after college, I worked for the State of Texas as a tax auditor.  And women were just beginning to be hired for those jobs as a 'normal' thing instead of the exception.  Sarah Shaber and Colleen Shogan both write historical mysteries set in Washington, so they had a lot to contribute from their research as well.  And Maggie Sefton, well, I love her books set in Colorado, but I haven't yet read her series set in Washington.  It's on my list.



A Toast to Catriona McPherson

This was a great interview and 'thank you' to Catriona McPherson (R) for her role as Toastmaster of this Malice conference.  Lori Rader-Day (L) did a great job talking with her and both women were funny, funny, funny - in a nice, snarky way.  I loved it.  If you get a chance to hear either of them, I suggest you take it.  You won't regret it.

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And that's all the panels that I attended or helped with.  A wonderful time had by me.  Tomorrow, come back to hear about the auction for a special charity (I won some fabulous things) and also to see the 'Books that came home to Texas...'.  

24 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing. It looks like such a good time. I would love to attend a mystery convention.

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  2. The panels sound so interesting! Of course, several of the panels had some of my favorite authors. :) Lucky you to be able to hear all of them! It sounds as if the authors often have a personal rapport with each other.

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    1. They were very cordial to each other and also teased each other a bit - like Louise and Margaret.

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  3. Gosh, you were busy! What a great picture of two of my old favourites - Brenda Blethyn and Martin Edwards - together with one of my new favourites - Ann Cleeves. That session must have been fun!

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    1. It was very good. Brenda was quite funny.

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  4. All panels sound really good but I think the one I would have been most into would have been the historical one just to hear about their research. This really sounds like such an amazing experience for every mystery lover!

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    1. I think you would love it, Iliana. And yes, I think my favorite part was hearing about all the research the authors do. For many, it is quite a lot.

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  5. Crime writers do seem to be a very funny bunch. A couple of years ago I went to a talk with three of them and their banter had the room in fits. And how wonderful to be at a panel with Brenda Blethyn, Anne Cleeves and Martin Edwards! Wow.

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    1. Yes, that panel with Ann, Brenda, and Martin was amazing. Brenda was quite funny, well, they all were. So many tidbits to tell about the making of Vera.

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  6. You did an excellent job putting this post together. I clicked on a lot of links. Again, as with the first post, I haven't heard of most of the authors. I haven't read any Ann C. but have watched both series. I prefer Shetland to Vera, though I so like Brenda B. I especially love her in the movie Saving Grace.

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    1. I loved getting to see Brenda in real life. A lot of the authors are new authors or maybe just ones you haven't come across.

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  7. Oh how fun and I love how you organized this by panel! There are a few authors I don't recognize and a few whose names I know but whose books I haven't read but I know so many of these names and faces. I'm not sure who I'd want to see more!

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    1. It was definitely difficult to choose at some time periods. More than once I wanted to be two places at the same time. Happily, they recorded all of them and will make them available to attendees at some point. Not sure how the quality will be, but I'll likely check them out and see.

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  8. These are great panels and panelists. There are many I am interested in.

    How wonderful that you got to talk to Christine Poulson and Margaret Maron. I want to learn more about the book set in Antarctica by Iden. I am also interested in Sarah Shaber's books.

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    1. I'm reading Matthew Iden's Antarctica book right now. Enjoying it very much. I really want to read Sarah Shaber's books too.

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    2. I ordered a copy of Iden's book last night and it should come soon. It will be hard to resist reading it right away.

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    3. I'm enjoying it right now.

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  9. I loved Karen Olson's tattoo series and am not sure why I haven't tried her others! I did meet her at Bouchercon in 2012. I really need to get back to one of conferences. I loved Bouhercon so much.
    Good for you for doing so much volunteering :)

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    1. Not so much volunteering this year. It was a good enough amount. And I plan to read Karen's newest series or at least start it very soon.

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  10. What fun! I am so jealous of you, Kay. :-) In a good way, of course. I am glad you got to go.

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  11. What a great write-up, Kay! You really did get to see a lot of wonderful authors, didn't you? I think I'd be a little overwhelmed. Very cool to hear Louise Penny and Ann Cleeves, not to mention Brenda Blethyn!! Thanks for sharing all the details of this event.

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    1. It was a bit overwhelming. So many events and places to be in a short period of time. Fun though.

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Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!