So, I told you about the
Ginsberg exhibition at the National Gallery and about the
Peacock Room at the Freer. I'm tempted to tell you today about the bouillabaisse at Tony & Joe's or about the Thai marinated flank steak with jasmine sticky rice in papaya leaves at Bangkok Joes. But I didn't go to Washington DC for the museums or for the restaurants. I went for
Malice Domestic.
Malice is a "fun fan convention". Which is to say that the focus of the convention is not on the business of writing. The focus is on the love of reading. Hundreds of women (yes, the conference attendance is largely female), writers and readers alike, fans of cozy mysteries, some dressed as their favorite sleuth, get together annually for a three day cozy mystery book party.
I went to several panel discussions, but mostly I hung out in the book room, or the hallway, or the bar, chatting with readers and other authors. I caught up with some old friends and made some new ones. Sunday morning, I spoke on a panel about investigative techniques in amateur sleuth mysteries.
(from l to r, Audrey Liebross, Vicki Delaney, Clare Langley-Hawthorne, Jeff Markowitz, Sharan Newman)
Malice Domestic is not everyone's cup of tea. If you're not a fan of cozies, of traditional amateur sleuth mysteries, it's not for you. But there are some of you who read my blog (you know who you are) who should put Malice on your calendar next year. I had a lot of fun. You will too.
(from l to r, Audrey Liebross, Vicki Delaney, Clare Langley-Hawthorne, Jeff Markowitz, Sharan Newman)Malice Domestic is not everyone's cup of tea. If you're not a fan of cozies, of traditional amateur sleuth mysteries, it's not for you. But there are some of you who read my blog (you know who you are) who should put Malice on your calendar next year. I had a lot of fun. You will too.
Comments (10)
Hmmm. this sounds really interesting. I love to read end of story. I don't really have a favorite mystery author per se, but right now my fav mystery character Is Easy Rawlins. I think he rocks. Is this event in DC every year or is it located somewhere else each year. Please let me know.
@nubian_qween - Malice takes place annually in the metropolitan DC area. Next year, it'll be April 29 - May 1, in Bethesda, MD.
I wish I had know about this one. I love cozies. Maybe next year.
I am a great fan of all types of books, mysteries in particular. Sounds like a fun time! What did you find to be the most interesting discussion?
@Nance1 - On my own panel, several of the authors write historical mysteries. Clare Langley-Hawthorne, for example, writes a mystery series set in Victorian England. And Vicki Delaney has written about the Alaskan gold rush. I don't typically read historical mysteries, but I particularly enjoyed listening to these authors talk about their books.
@squeakysoul - You might enjoy Deadly Ink, in NJ, June 25-27.
@doahsdeer - Sometimes you can find great new books just by listening. I have a good friend who is a retired librarian. She leads me to all sorts of things. Right now, she is into books about long term friendships among women because we have a group of friends who have been together for over 40 years. She recommended The Girls from Ames to me and I recommended Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral to her.
My daughter-in-law also gives me some great book tips.
Our daughter has led my husband and me to Harlen Coben's books and we particularly enjoy them.
If you want a great historical novel (not a mystery) try Moloka'i by Alan Brennert.
There's a lot out there!
Hmmmm.... One day, I must come.
I would love to go to Malice! Maybe next year.
@GoodGuyTheBoss - Yes. I think you would love Malice.