Malice and Me

When you read this, I’ll be getting ready to attend my fifth Malice Domestic. Although I didn’t leave the bench until two years later, this conference marks the fifth year of my formal commitment to a writing career.

Malice is a mystery fan and writer conference. While there, I will wear both hats while appearing on a panel, networking with writers and fans, attending the Sisters in Crime breakfast, having lunch with the Guppies, sharing a drink with the Short Mystery Writers Group, and holding my breath at the banquet hoping nominated friends take home an Agatha. The conference is a busy few days, but it doesn’t end there because invariably I go home having new people I stay in contact with.

The other thing special about the 2012 conference was being invited to be one of the twenty-four authors showcased at the new authors breakfast. I arrived at the room and discovered there were twenty-four round tables each set for ten people. The authors were expected to grab a table and act as its host or hostess, except for the few minutes the author went to the microphone to answer a question and give a book blurb.

My table was in the back of the room. Not being well known, it wasn’t one of the first to fill.  Two women, looking for seats together, sat with me when the next table didn’t have room for them. From their faces, I knew they were disappointed at being unable to sit with that author. That changed when I comically handled my interview question. When I returned to the table, I had two devoted fans who I have enjoyed spending time with at each Malice since then. Although I have developed other fans, those two are very special to me.

Since that first Malice Domestic, I have been fortunate to be a panelist or a moderator at every Malice I’ve attended. Between the panels and my seating at the banquets, I have the opportunity to earn fans for Maze in Blue, Should Have Played Poker, and my short stories (this Malice, I’ll be on a short story panel and you can be sure I’ll mention the May/June Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine features, “The Night They Burned Ms. Dixie’s Place,” my first story accepted by AHMM) and I am able to mingle and become a fan and friend of established and starting writers

I love the books I bring home and the memories created, but I treasure the friends I make.  That’s what Malice is to me.

7 thoughts on “Malice and Me”

  1. Malice is dear to me, too. I think that’s because it’s the one I’ve been attending the longest and the one I’ve been to most consistently. I look forward to seeing you and many other writer friends there! Looking forward to our panel, too!

    1. I’ve made good friends there….and am looking forward to our panel and sitting together at B.K.’s table….but I also think fondly of many of the other conferences that I can point to for having made friends (Killer Nashville=Kaye George).

    2. I’ve made good friends there….and am looking forward to our panel and sitting together at B.K.’s table….but I also think fondly of many of the other conferences that I can point to for having made friends (Killer Nashville=Kaye George).

  2. Debra, you’ve accomplished quite a bit in such a short amount of time. Must be hanging out with all those crazy writers!

    1. No question about them being crazy writers who encourage and challenge me….but the writing, little compared to so many others, has enabled me to make friends like you. Next book … need to come to Deadly Pleasures so we can visit again.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Submit to Read the Full Story 

FREE

Submit to Read the Full Story 

FREE

Submit to Read the Full Story 

FREE

Book Cover - Free Cookbook - Simple Recipes for the Sometimes Sleuth

Get Your FREE Cookbook!!

FREE

Want the recipes from the Sarah Blair Mysteries? Just tell us where to send them!

Scroll to Top