Catherine Dilts
  • About Catherine
  • Catherine Dilts - Blog
  • Rose Creek
  • Short Stories
  • Annie's Fiction
  • Survive Or Die
  • Rock Shop Mystery Series
  • About Catherine
  • Catherine Dilts - Blog
  • Rose Creek
  • Short Stories
  • Annie's Fiction
  • Survive Or Die
  • Rock Shop Mystery Series
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

News 

5/13/2014

Malice Domestic Begins

Picture
I arrived at the Malice Domestic convention Thursday evening. I wandered around for an hour, attempting to learn the layout of the hotel. One set of elevators takes you up to the guest rooms. Across the hallway, another set takes you down to two underground floors.

What is it about conferences and elevators? The typical complaint is that they’re slow. At Malice, the challenge was getting on the correct one. Going up, or going down? I searched for the room where the first session was scheduled, and found myself on the lowest floor. You don’t take the stairs to the Lower Level because it is more than just two stories down.

“We’re under the subway right now,” a woman told me. “But try not to think about that.”

For the entire three days of the conference, people marveled or cringed at the idea that we were often well below ground level, with the Metro running over our heads.  

My adventuring done, I went to the lounge with the plan to schmooze, something at which I am unpracticed. The greeting protocol was quickly established.

“Are you a writer or a reader?”

When asked that question, I identified myself as both author and fan. Unlike many writers’ conventions, Malice Domestic attracts hundreds of readers. Fans of mystery fiction seek autographs from their favorite authors, and hope to discover new authors. Perhaps I could become some reader’s new find.

I met Patricia in the lounge area when she invited me to sit at her table. With a PhD in education, the Canadian professor had an additional purpose in attending the conference – study. Patricia’s academic career focuses on writing and writers. In her spare time, she is working on a mystery novel. I was delighted to have a conversation about the weightier aspects of the writing life. 

Picture
I wish I could say I awoke refreshed the next morning, but due to the two-hour time change, it was a struggle to crawl out of bed. In the hotel lobby, I asked a group of friendly women where one could find breakfast.

This became encounter number two with Canadians. They took me under their collective wing to their discovery – a local deli. We had a great, inexpensive breakfast while chatting about the conference, what we liked to read, and writing. 

Nourished and refreshed with coffee, I was ready for my first session. Being a Malice newbie, I thought it wise to attend the conference orientation. Judy Cater, Anne Murphy, and Barb Goffman gave insider tips on how to have a good Malice experience.

Next up, Malice-Go-Round. Also known as speed dating for authors.

Imagine sitting in a room packed with dozens of round tables seating ten. Two seats are empty. Suddenly, two authors appear, armed with postcards, bookmarks, and perhaps chocolates. One gives a two-minute pitch of his or her novel or body of work. 

A moderator yells “Time!” The second author gives his or her pitch. Then the moderator yells “Switch!”

Those authors vanish, replaced by two new authors. This went on for over an hour. I was amazed at how poised the authors managed to remain, in spite of the frenetic nature of the program. 

I noticed people scribbling in their notebooks. A woman sitting next to me suggested I use my program book to jot notes. This was her favorite part of Malice Domestic. The noise and seeming chaos provided readers with a rapid-fire introduction to dozens of authors. Since this took place on the first morning of the conference, they would have time to track down books in the dealers’ room, sit in on panels of authors they were interested in, and/or strike up conversations in the lounge or at mixers. 

What a wonderful gathering! People who write books mingling with people who want to learn about their favorite authors’ newest work, as well as find new series and authors. 

I snapped a few photos. Below is a mere sample of the authors participating in Malice-Go-Round. Everything was going too fast to allow for proper picture taking, note writing, and conversation. (Click on a photo to get the proper view.)

Next Tuesday, I’ll talk about meeting the editor of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, being an obnoxious fan of Carole Nelson Douglas, and conversations with authors Maggie Sefton, Cathy Ace, and Carolyn Mulford.

Jacqueline Seewald
5/13/2014 12:00:59 am

How nice that fellow writers were so friendly!

Catherine Dilts
5/14/2014 01:58:26 pm

Jacqueline, I am amazed at how supportive fellow writers can be.

Carole Price link
5/14/2014 02:59:34 am

I've not been to Malice, but have found friends in the conferences I have attended.

Catherine Dilts
5/14/2014 01:59:57 pm

Conferences are a great way to meet people, especially those whom you have "met" only on-line.

Sunny Frazier link
5/18/2014 04:00:41 am

Elevators are a great way to meet "big" authors. I went up several floors with Sara Paretsky and she had a cap on that said "Queen of Everything." Rode down the elevator with Margaret Maron. Nice!


Comments are closed.

    Subscribe to this blog:

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly