Killer Nashville 2012

What is your favorite season of the year? Spring? Fall? Mine is conference season. And it's here now.

This year's Killer Nashville mystery writers' conference in Nashville, Tennessee closed yesterday. It was another great conference. 

My conference highlights:

* Dr. Bill Bass (founder of the University of Tennessee's "Body Farm") presenting the opening session.

* Agent/Editor Round tables - 2 page (kind) critiques with feedback from publishing professionals & a chance to submit a manuscript.

*The Killer Nashville Crime Scene - a mock crime scene attendees try to solve. The winner gets a free registration to next year's conference.

*Presenting the workshop "Using Archetypes to Create YA Characters: Heroes, Villains, and Sidekicks" with my friend, Cate Hart. Nervewracking, but fun!

*Seeing writer friends.

I look forward to next year. Until then, the Killer Nashville community meets year-round on the conference blog.

Killer Nashville 2011

I attended the Killer Nashville mystery writers’ conference this weekend. I did not solve the murder in the parking garage, but I did pick up some tips on sleuthing and storytelling.

Killer Nashville 2009

I attended my first mystery writers’ conference this weekend. Killer Nashville is a great place to be for writers of any genre who want to study the craft of writing or for anyone who wants a beginner’s insight into the science of forensics.

In some ways, it was very different from a romance writers’ conference or a kid lit conference. I attended panels on surveillance, the legal system, and investigators’ interview techniques. There was a mock crime scene in the hotel boiler room. The conference opened with a presentation of a retelling of a real murder investigation by Lee Lofland, author of the Writer’s Digest book, Police Procedure & Investigation: A Guide For Writers (which I purchased).

Some things were familiar, pitch appointments (with the usual jitters) and workshops by agents, editors, and authors. Two of my favorite panel discussions were on using backstory and setting in your novel. Guest of Honor author, J.A. Jance’s speech was inspiring.

Killer Nashville is a great conference for writers starting their first novel who are primarily interested in learning the craft of writing and for writers with complete manuscripts looking for a home.

For more information on this conference, go to the website for testimonial videos and to sign up for conference news.