Last weekend I attended Malice Domestic to celebrate In Myrtle Peril’s nomination for an Agatha Award. It was a whirlwind weekend of hobnobbing, hanging out with friends and fans old and new, and reveling in all things mysterious!
Words can’t fully capture the fun, so let’s just enjoy a few photos of the big event!
I think the certificates get more beautiful every year! I now officially have a collection of them (Three. But who’s counting?!)
As usual, I didn’t get nearly as many pictures as I’d have liked (too busy chatting!), so the Reader will have to use their imagination to fill in the blanks for the ones I missed, like almost every time gathered with my fellow nominees for Best Children’s Book, Greg Herren and Frances Schoonmaker. Almost.
I assure you the coordinating outfits were unplanned, but never let it be said we can’t Bring It. I think we’re ready to go on the road, once we get our act together.
Our panel, moderated by last year’s winner Alan Orloff, was a great success, delving into everything from talking to young readers about serious issues, research and building stories, to challenged books. (Here is the Toolkit from the Author’s Guild discussed at the panel.)
Signing books for readers after the panel. Thanks to Mechanicsburg Mystery Bookshop for providing book sales for the conference! Don’t miss their upcoming Mother’s Day event–there are more signed Myrtles available!
But I didn’t just play author while I was there—I’m a mystery fan, too, after all!
With Murdoch Mysteries creator Maureen Jennings at the screening of a new Murdoch episode! (Fun fact: Jennings is a huge fan of Canadian Handball.)
Victoria Thompson writes one of my favorite series, the Counterfeit Lady books. Such fun!
No mention of Malice would be complete without a shoutout to some of the folks who make the whole thing possible.
With Malice Domestic Chair Verena Rose, who is dressed as Amelia Peabody (no explanation necessary).
With fellow nominees Ellen Byron (Ellen and I share a peacock obsession) and Sisters in Crime President Jennifer Chow. SinC is a major sponsor of the event, and evidence of their involvement is everywhere. Thanks, SinC!
After a couple whirlwind days of panels, we all relaxed (well, some people relaxed; others were knotted with anxiety and anticipation) at the Agatha Awards banquet!
Fran and I hosted a table, and I’m pretty sure we had the most fun. Just sayin’.
…And an after party of sorts with some mystery luminaries: Lori Rader Day, Vaseem Khan, Marcia Talley, ecb, Martin Edwards, and Dame Ann Cleeves (with her Lifetime Achievement Award) |Photo: Susanna Calkins
Thanks to the organizers, sponsors, fans, and vendors who make Malice such a marvelous event. It was only my second time attending in person, and it surely won’t be my last.
Sounds like a fun time!
Wow, quite the star-studded event! Congratulations! Love Ms. Rose’s costume.
So fun! Glad you were able to go, and congrats on your nomination!
It sounds like a fun event. Congrats on your nomination.