From Trains With Strangers to Staged Disappearances
Plus, a "surprising new A.I."
Hello fellow readers!
It’s mystery con season! I’ve only attended two of the biggies myself, Bouchercon 2020 via Zoom (because Covid) and Malice Domestic 2018 and 2019 in person. Sadly, Sleuthfest, Left Coast Crime, etc have remained out of my reach due to distance and finances. Here’s a super comprehensive list of these cons from the Mystery Writers of America Norcal Chapter. Be sure to research and see if an event is a good fit for you before buying tickets. Some of these cons are directed at fans/readers and some are focused on the writing craft.
If you’re curious what goes on at mystery cons, mystery author Ellen Byron at Chicks On The Case posted about the most recent Malice Domestic earlier this month (and dispels a misconception that prevents many readers from attending). Malice Domestic holds a dear place in my heart because my first published story was included in the 2019 Malice Domestic anthology (“Murder Takes The Cupcake”, Mystery Most Edible). At the close of each Malice Domestic, the next anthology’s information is announced and Mystery Most Senior is the current theme, in case you’d like to submit your own story for consideration. If you do, best of luck with your entry!
Bottom line, if you love mystery novels and want to connect with fellow mystery lovers, go to a con. You never know who you’ll meet or what may happen.
And now, your regularly scheduled links…
Speaking of writing cons…
If you are considering writing your own mystery story with law enforcement for Malice Domestic’s anthology or another platform, keep these tips on What Every Writer Should Know About Real Policework by D. L. Williams on Killer Nashville in mind. You can find information about the next Killer Nashville conference while you’re there.
Not all cons are amazing experiences. I’m talking about fiascos like the now infamous A Million Lives Book Festival that recently happened in Baltimore, MD. Leigh Stein at Attention Economy has an excellent write-up on what went wrong at A Million Lives and how it could have gone better, based on her personal experience in organizing writing cons.
Blasts from the Past
Did you know Abraham Lincoln wrote a true crime novel? Read all about it on Mental Floss, courtesy of Jake Rossen.
Also on Mental Floss, are you a paperback fan? If so, you’ll want to check out the story of How Paperbacks Transformed The Way Americans Read.
At CrimeReads, Tom Milani contemplates The Enduring Influence Of James M. Cain.
EA Mayes’ Mysteriousities examines the underlying America Dream at play in Alfred Hitchcock’s adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith classic, Strangers On A Train.
In his newsletter, Equip Story, Geoffrey Golden talks powerpoint parties, VCR games from the 80s, and (briefly) Clue.
Books and Book Clubs
On Murder at the Manse, Adam Thomas has two book reviews that caught my eye. The first is for Writing the Murder, edited by Dan Covon and Richard V. Hirst. I adore essay collections on mystery writing by mystery writers. The second is for Agatha Christie’s Marple: Expert in Wickedness by Mark Aldridge (yes, the same one who contributed to the BBC Maestro Agatha Christie class). I have this one, but haven’t been able to properly dig into it yet. Thomas’s review has made me excited to do so.
John Copenhaver of The Twisted Plot celebrates the satisfaction of a successfully written slow burn novel.
At The Big Thrill, Tracey Devlyn shares author recollections of unexpected happenings during book club events. My fav is Heather Gudenkauf’s cave story.
Mystery Mashup
Ever wondered what jobs some of today’s writers had before publishing their first words? Lauren Nossett at Thriller Thursdays has some surprising answers.
On One Tired Mother, Jessica Payne reveals How to Stage Your Own Disappearance on Mother’s Day.
Not Mystery Related
But still important. A plea from Ann Handley to use a “surprising new A.I.”—Analog Intelligence.
That’s all for this edition. One last note, I’ve completed BBC Maestro’s controversial AI Agatha Christie class and will be posting a write up of my thoughts in the next week or so.
Thanks for reading!