Awaken your inner Agatha Christie at this popular mystery writers' conference.
Recently, I attended Malice Domestic for the first time, and it took weeks to recover. The experience was exhilarating and exhausting for all the right reasons. Even before I left, I couldn’t wait for Malice 2015.
I had long hoped to attend the DC-area convention that celebrates traditional mysteries, which typically contain “no explicit sex or excessive gore or violence.” Packed with authors and fans (and fans who are authors), the weekend event includes the Agatha Awards banquet to honor industry luminaries.
As a lifelong mystery fan and soon-to-be-published author — and complete Malice rookie — I came away with the following lessons.
- Consider a hotel stay. I commuted between Northern Virginia and the Hyatt Regency Bethesda each day. I didn’t realize how much after-hours fun I’d have, which meant early morning drives were a drag . . . and an afternoon nap would have been heavenly.
- Scrutinize the schedule. Malice guests have access to the program schedule well before the convention. It lists countless appealing options, so read it carefully and note your personal “must-dos.”
- Bring a friend. This isn’t a necessity, since Malice has such a relaxed, welcoming feel. But it’s fun to share the excitement with a fellow mystery buff, and if you’re at all introverted, a friend may put you at ease.
- Sign in early. I arrived after the registration table closed Friday, so I temporarily did without the fancy name tag, helpful resources, and duffel bag of goodies given to every attendee. I retrieved mine on Saturday, but wished I’d done so earlier.
- Believe you belong. I confess to being intimidated by a hotel full of amazing authors, bloggers, fans, publishing professionals, and others. By Sunday, however, I felt at home in the mystery world. Those initial butterflies were natural, but unnecessary.
- Introduce yourself. Plop down next to someone new and go for it. Tell an author how much you enjoy his or her work. Ask about other readers’ favorite mysteries. Focus on making genuine connections. And bring business cards that make it easy to stay in touch.
I could go on and on. (Attend the awards banquet! Learn about the grants program! Visit the dealers’ room! Thank the organizers!) Instead, I’ll encourage you to experience Malice for yourself. I hope to see you there next year!
Susan O’Brien is the author of Finding Sky, coming October 7, 2014, from Henery Press.
