The Right Kind of Malice

Sujata Massey

When I began writing fiction, I didn't know conventions for writers even existed. (I think the Murder is Everywhere gang might excommunicate me for the confession). Before I was published, I joined   the wonderful international program Sisters in Crime. Experienced women writers in that group told me that I would learn a lot to help myself at mystery conventions. For example, I could hear famous mystery novelists talk about how they wrestled with plots; make friends of readers who knew everything and everyone, and maybe even catch up with a literary agent.

Signature collector Risa hits up novelist Vivien Chien

The first mystery convention I visited was Malice Domestic, a fabulous convention that advertises it is "not everyone's cup of tea." Malice does not usually have pleasant connotations, but if you meet a Malice reader, chances are she will hug you before the conversation is over.

Photographer Iden Ford, Welsh author Cathy Ace, and author Donna Andrews

Mystery authors drawn here are primarily (but not exclusively women and the style of mystery storytelling is "traditional" (no gratuitous sex or violence). Yes, the favored mysteries are chock full of suspense and bad things happen--usually a murder that must be solved--but the reader will not feel like vomiting at language and painful images in a Malice book. Also, the mysteries of choice tend to be series books, rather than stand-alones.

My friend Patsy Asher in the hospitality lounge. Writers have filled a table with promo items!

And Malice Domestic is itself a long-running series, if you talk about location. Unlike many conventions, this one does not move around: it has been in the Washington DC suburbs for all of its 31 years, save a couple of years in downtown Washington, when something mysterious happened in an elevator that made the convention shoot back to the suburbs. Currently it's housed over a three-day weekend at a Marriott Hotel in North Bethesda.

Because of the recurring DC area location, many of the fans are from DC, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. It takes me about an hour to get to the con by car or train. What could be easier?

Kathy Harig with her assistant Dorothy from Mystery Loves Company Books in Oxford, MD.  are the primary sellers of new mysteries.

However--writers come here from Canada, England, and all over the country--and they also tend to be repeat offenders. Male mystery folk are welcomed like brothers come home from college, but to my unscientific eye they make up less than ten percent. Bloggers are a new crowd that came in over the last fifteen years or so...these hardworking, usually unpaid book reviewers are great company.

Hanging with Blogger Dru Ann Love of Dru's Musings

I began my association with this crew when I won a Malice Domestic Unpublished Writers Grant. In 1996, I submitted a partial manuscript of my first mystery novel into a contest that was overseen by longtime serious mystery readers on the Malice board including Bill F. Deeck, a marvelous mystery man who sadly passed away too young--and as a result, the award is now named in his honor. There are other awards, too: the Agathas, named in homage to the mother of the traditional series mystery, Agatha Christie. Malice attendees nominate their favorite novels, stories and true crime books that relate to writing mystery and the traditional mystery genre from the previous year. These are extremely coveted awards because they come in the shape of a teapot. Yes, an actual working teapot that is custom made to the convention's specifications, with a lovely new design revealed each season.

Beth Schmelzer, retired children's librarian, has been influential in bringing children's mystery authors to  Malice

I returned to Malice Domestic last weekend. Over the 23 years that have passed, I think I only missed six conventions because I'd moved to Minnesota. I always wind up having long, happy conversations with the friends I've met over the years--and I make new ones each time. In a way, Malice is like the high school you should have gone to, where everyone is welcoming, and everyone wants to read (as opposed to playing sports).

At my banquet table, you'll see mystery writers Maya Corrigan and James Ziskin from left.

This year, I was on quite a high because The Widows of Malabar Hill was one of five nominees in the Best Historical Mystery category. This first novel in my Perveen Mistry series brought me very good luck at the Left Coast Crime convention and the Edgar Awards, so I figured my luck had run out. And just look at these fabulous fellow writers who were nominated.

My fellow best historical nominee LA Chandler, left, and writer Lea Wait on right

I nearly passed out when I heard that I won...I managed to float through the ballroom up to the stage but proceeded on the exit stairway rather than the entry stairway, so I had to go down again to get my beautiful teapot before making my acceptance speech.

The teapot is just right for tea with my agent Vicky Bijur

Several days later, I am still reeling from the shock of this recognition for Perveen Mistry. I am so happy that a book set in India, telling a tale of strong women facing adverse circumstances and ending on an upbeat note, made it into the hearts of so many readers.

I am about to launch the second Perveen Mistry, The Satapur Moonstone. I don't expect lightning to strike twice, but the joyful celebration at the Malice convention will buoy me through whatever comes next.

My forthcoming tour has May dates listed below. More to come with my next posting in two weeks.

Wednesday, May 15: Ivy Bookshop, Baltimore, MD
Thursday, May 16: Astoria Bookshop, Queens, NY
Monday, May 20: Murder by the Book, Houston, TX
Tuesday, May 21: Boswell's, Milwaukee, WI
Wednesday, May 22: Once Upon a Crime, Minneapolis, MN
Thursday, May 23: Mystery to Me, Madison, WI
Friday, May 24: The Raven, Lawrence, Kansas
Saturday, May 25: Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, AZ
Monday, May 27: Facebook Live Book Discussion For All Readers Worldwide (at Facebook's Sujata Massey Author Page)

Malice Domestic 30

Annamaria on Monday

This year's Malice Domestic was the 30th annual celebration of
traditional mysteries.

It's a conference I can get to by train--my favorite
mode of transportation.

Saturday dawned with appropriately spooky weather.

The hotel coincidently hosted a meeting of doctors at the same time, so there
was medical help--just in case some fictional crime became too real.

My panel: practitioners of international historical crime fiction 

Brenda Blethyn, conference honoree for her role as Vera.

My fellow MWA-NYer--Kellye Garrett, winner,
Agatha for Best First for HOLLYWOOD HOMOCIDE

Happy me, sharing a banquet table with Sujata.  An MIE regular reader
came to tell us how much she enjoyed this blog.  How sweet is that!

Eight marvellous mystery fans signed up to share our table at the awards banquet.

I spied two iconic towers on my way home:

Annamaria's upcoming events:

May 10th

Manuscript deadline -- eeeeeeekk!! 

Malice Domestic and Transportational

Annamaria on Monday

Most of this blog would have been pictures anyway, because I spent the weekend at the Malice Domestic conference in Bethesda Maryland, and I would have reported on it—the premier conference for traditional mysteries in the USA. 

Babies making friends at Penn Station

Even with the hour-long train delay on the way from NYC to Washington to Union Station Washington, worth it for all the delightful distractions of being with my tribe, which in this case included our own fabulous Sujata. 

Then, once the conference was winding down, a stroke of what felt like luck—a chance on Sunday to take an earlier train and get home before 9 o'clock at night. Hurrah, right? Not so fast, my friend.

The quiet car, in which I hoped to work on my manuscript, had broken air conditioning. The temperature when I sat down in my seat felt around 99.  Okay, maybe it was only 97. And the rest of the train was packed on a Sunday afternoon. So off I went in a railroad car the conductor described as having a sauna temperature.  She brought us cold water, and I worked over my WIP.

But by the time we arrived at Philadelphia, my cheeks were red, and I had what felt like second-degree heat stroke.

I got up for a while and stood in between the cars so that I could cool off. I felt a little woozy. The conductor, a splendid woman who was doing a fabulous job controlling the tempers of a carload of overheated travelers, said she was going to put me in the first class car which was air-conditioned. How great, huh?

The conductor in the first class car took my hand to escort me over the bouncing connection between the cars and into first class. She let me go just as the train lurched – one of those 7.2 Richter scale lurches that, of all the railroads worldwide, only Amtrak can deliver. My left hip crashed into the arm of the nearby seat.  The railroad employee sitting there tried to help me by grabbing my arm, but ended up wrenching my shoulder.

Once I recovered my equilibrium, I let out a groan and sat down across the aisle. The occupant of the window seat next to me, a woman who seemed to be about my age said, "Oh, you’re not really hurt.  I can see you're a tough old bird."

You will all, I am sure, feel very proud of me. I did not weep. I did not punch her. I was perfectly cordial and answered her questions, even the one about my religious beliefs.  Even when she insisted that I must believe in God, because God is infinite love.

I have been home for a few hours now. And I am feeling better.

Medicine

Malicious Photos

Like a number of mystery writers, I went straight from the Edgar Week activities in New York to Bethesda, Maryland for the annual traditional mystery fest Malice Domestic.

It was my second time attending Malice, and I was happy to see many friends and meet new readers.

What with all the activities of last week and the weekend, I will tell you about it in mostly in photos. 

Your reporter with mystery writer friends Robert Knightly and
Ken Isaacson at the Edgar Awards Banquet

Atrium of the Hyatt in Bethesda

My panel "It's a Small World" included
Trish Carrico, May-Jane Deeb, Susan Froetschel, Peggy Hanson

The ingenious mystery fan, Theresa Rispoli, of Leesburg, Virginia--a midwife in real life--has solved the issue of getting her eBooks autographed.  She buys lucite guards for her iPad ($3 each from Amazon, she says) and asks authors of the books contained therein to autograph them with a Sharpie. 

Risa says when one guard is full she hangs it on her office
wall and replaces it with a fresh one for more autographs.

Note the autograph of Hank Phillippi Ryan who won the
Agatha this year for Best Contemporary Novel

Fans getting in the mood for the banquet

The crowd at the banquet.

My fellow Minotaur author, Julia Spencer Fleming with Best Novel
winner Hank Phillippi Ryan.

Next year the guests of honor will be the great writing team of Caroline and Charles Todd.  I'll be there if at all possible. 

Annamaria - Monday