Colorado CO • February 9-13
ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference are the premier global library events each year, bringing together the newsmakers, innovators, thought leaders, and influencers in the library field, from all over the world. News is made at these events, where important announcements are made, updates are shared, relevant legislation and policy are addressed, and discussions take place that have a major impact on libraries, their role, and their ongoing transformation. These events trend nationally on Twitter and are extensively covered in the media.
Boca Raton FL • March 1-4
Sleuthfest is a premier conference for writers and fans, writing workshops, social events, and pitch sessions. This year’s conference will feature — Keynote speaker: Andrew Gross, Forensic GoH Katherine Ramsland Ph.D., and guest authors Hallie Ephron, Hank Phillippi Ryan, P..J. Parrish and James R. Benn. Sponsored by the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
Murder and Mayhem in Chicago 2018
Chicago IL • March 17
2nd year for this new mystery con: Murder and Mayhem in Chicago! It is a one-day event featuring some of Chicago’s top mystery/crime writers and a few of their friends, too. This event is perfect for crime readers and librarians hoping to find new books to read and aspiring crime writers hoping to learn about the mystery community and writing and publishing careers. Visit the website for more details, http://murdermayhemchicago.com/
Virginia Festival of the Book: CrimeWave
Charlottesville VA • March 21-25
Special Guest: Attica Locke. More information, https://www.vabook.org/program_topics/crime-wave/
Reno NV • March 22-25
Guest of Honor Naomi Hirahara, Guest of Honor William Kent Krueger, Toastmaster Todd Borg, Ghost of Honor Mark Twain (McAvoy Layne).
2018 Edgar Symposium and Awards
New York NY • Grand Hyatt Hotel • April 25-26
Each spring, Mystery Writers of America present the Edgar® Awards, widely acknowledged to be the most prestigious awards in the genre. The Edgar Awards are presented on Thursday, April 26, 2018. See the nominees for the 2018 Awards, here: http://www.theedgars.com
Bethesda MD • April 27 – April 29
The annual “fun fan” convention in metropolitan Washington, D.C. salutes the traditional mystery—books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The conference honoring the traditional mystery will feature Lifetime Achievement Award Nancy Pickard with Toastmaster Catriona McPherson and Guest of Honor Louise Penny.
Nashville TN •May 4-5
A conference for fans of true crime.
Portland ME • June 1-2
Special guest Tess Gerritsen, Meg Ruley
Key West FL • June 22-24
Join your favorite mystery writers, aspiring writers, and mystery fans in America’s southernmost city! From South Florida’s favorite storytellers to writers of international renown, this is a meet-and-greet where authors can catch up with old friends and readers can chat with their favorite mystery writers, collect signed books — and participate in workshops, panels, and presentations where bestselling authors explain how and why they do it. More information is at the website, http://mysteryfestkeywest.com/
New Brunswick NJ • June 16-18
New Jersey’s biggest little mystery conference, Deadly Ink, will convene this year at the Marriott Renaissance in Woodbridge, New Jersey, from August 10-12. Toastmaster Roberta Rogow. Guest of Honor Meg Gardiner. Website: https://deadly-ink.com
New York NY • July 10-14
Thrillerfest is the premiere conference for thriller enthusiasts, bringing together famous authors and new ones along with industry professionals, agents, and fans. It’s a vibrant hub of literary networking and social interaction. Featuring 2018 ThrillerMaster George R.R. Martin, Spotlight Guest Megan Abbott, Silver Bullet Recipient James Rollins. For more information, visit www.thrillerfest.com
Pittsburgh PA • July 26-29
Guest of Honor: Joe R. Lansdale. The summertime destination for fans and collectors of vintage popular fiction and related materials, PulpFest seeks to honor the pulps by drawing attention to the many ways these throwaway magazines have inspired writers, artists, film directors, software developers, and other creators over the decades. Visit http://www.pulpfest.com
Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival
Suffolk VA • August 4
Held at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, this one-day festival will showcase multiple bestselling mystery, suspense, romance, paranormal, horror and women’s fiction authors who will participate in book signings, fan meet & greets and readings. Additional activities will include multiple workshops, a New Author Expo, and author panel discussions. Visit http://www.suffolkmysteryauthorsfestival.com/
Green Bay WI • August 9-12
Hands-on, interactive and educational experience writers can use to enhance their understanding of all aspects of law enforcement and forensics. This conference features real police, fire, and EMS training at an actual police academy. Top instructors and experts! www.writerspoliceacademy.com
Franklin TN • August 23-26
Killer Nashville features nine breakout sessions for intense smaller group interaction, an authors’ bar (free for hotel guests), a moonshine and wine tasting, free agent/editor roundtable pitch sessions, a mock crime scene designed by special agents and other law enforcement professionals, cocktail receptions, the Guest of Honor Dinner and Awards Banquet, film previews, and live music performances. www.killernashville.com
SinC Into Great Writing! Workshop 2018
St. Petersburg FL • September 5
Wednesday, September 5th – one day prior to Bouchercon. Fly in early and join us from 1 – 5:30pm for “Your Most Successful Book Launch” with Dana Kaye. Visit http://www.sistersincrime.org/?page=SIGW2018
St. Petersburg FL • September 6-9
Guests of Honor: Karin Slaughter and Sean Chercover; International Guests of Honor: Sara Blaedel, Mark Billingham; Toastmaster: Lisa Unger, Florida Guest of Honor: Tim Dorsey, Lifetime Achievement: Ian Rankin; Fan Guests of Honor: Judy Bobalik and Ayo Onatade. Ghost of Honor John D. MacDonald . http://bouchercon2018.com/
Lumberton NC • Robeson Community College • September 22
An Award-Winning Book Fair and Writer’s Conference. Free and Open to the Public!
Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference
Corte Madera, CA • September 27-30
This conference has a strong tradition of great authors and teachers. Mystery writers learn all the clues to a successful writing career. Editors, agents, and publishers share with participants what they need to know to get published. Authors offer classes on setting, dialogue, suspense and point of view. Panels of detectives, forensic experts, and other crime-fighting professionals provide invaluable information that allows writers to put realism into their work. http://bookpassage.com/mystery-writers-conference
Creatures, Crimes & Creativity 2018
Columbia MD • October 5-7
Our purpose is to gather readers and writers of mystery, suspense, thriller, horror, sci-fi, fantasy and paranormal. It will present three days of panels and workshops of interest to both writers and fans. We will all dine together and hear presentations from our key note speakers. http://creaturescrimesandcreativity.com
Magna cum Murder Crime Writing Festival XXIV
Indianapolis, IN • October 19-21
This year, the conference will be held in Indianapolis (rather than Muncie) at the historic Columbia Club on Monument Circle. Guest of Honor, Reavis Z. Wortham. International Guest of Honor, Peter Lovesey. http://cms.bsu.edu/academics/centersandinstitutes/ebball/magnacummurder
Dedham, MA • November 9-11
Guest of Honor Walter Mosley. The conference offers master classes in writing and selling your fiction, opportunities to meet with editors and agents, presentations on criminal justice and forensics, panels featuring New England’s best crime writers, and lastly fun, laughter, a pizza party, dessert reception, and banquet! http://crimebake.org/