So Many Seeds!

Last weekend I was fortunate to attend the 32nd annual Mystery Writers’ Conference at Book Passage in Corte Madera. And I have to say, it exceeded all my expectations. In my previous life as an audiologist, I regularly attended conferences with thousands of other professionals. I always learned a lot, networked a lot and came home exhausted. The writing conferences I’ve attended in the last few years have been on a smaller scale but have affected me in a similar way. And the culture at audiology conferences and writing conferences is comparable.  Somehow, whenever a lot of people get together, we form an “event hierarchy” of sorts. The keynote speaker doesn’t mingle with the “common folk”. The famous authors don’t share a table with the “newbies”.

But the Book Passage Mystery Writers’ Conference was different. It was smaller, more intimate. Over the 2 and ½ days, most meals were included and served in the courtyard to the 78 attendees and 2 dozen or so presenters and panelists together. The presenters didn’t sit at a special table – they sat with the rest of us. They were funny, self-deprecating, warm and helpful. I felt both honored and empowered.  

The presentations taught me so much. Practical things like, how do subpoenas work? Which law enforcement entity has jurisdiction over what crimes and why? What is a “chain of evidence”? I took classes on using humor in mystery writing, on controlling pace and building suspense and on how to write a villain. It was amazing! When it was over, I was exhausted as usual, but I was also excited. I want to dive in to my next book. (The Badass Widows will ride again!) To hell with the dirty laundry and the bill paying. . . I am bursting with ideas like seeds in the sun. Stay tuned.