Mystery and thriller fans will gather for the 2015 Deadly Ink Mystery Conference, running Friday through Sunday, August 7 through 9, at the Hyatt Regency, 2 Albany Street, New Brunswick. Registration for the full conference is $250. There are also several cheaper a la carte options. For more information, visit www.deadlyink2015.org.
Authors and mystery fans can meet their favorite authors, discover new ones, and learn the secrets of writing a good mystery.
This year’s guest of honor will be Brad Parks, the only author to have won the Shamus, Nero, and Lefty mystery awards. He received the first two for his debut novel, “Faces of the Gone” — the first book in history to take both awards — and Leftys for his third and fourth books, “The Girl Next Door” and “The Good Cop.” His series, which features investigative reporter Carter Ross, also includes “Eyes of the Innocent” and “The Player.”
The toastmaster is E. F. Watkins, who specializes in paranormal mystery and suspense. Among her eight published novels are her Quinn Matthews Haunting Mysteries. The first, “Dark Music,” won the David G. Sasher Award as best mystery during last year’s Deadly Ink Conference; second in the series is “Hex, Death & Rock’n’Roll.”
This year’s fan guest of honor is Ilene Schneider, who also writes the Rabbi Aviva Cohen mystery series.
The conference will kick off with a full day of Deadly Ink Academy classes for aspiring writers, taught by authors Jane Cleland and Kathryn Johnson. Official registration for the conference takes place that evening, followed by a Deadly Desserts Party and a welcoming program. Saturday and Sunday feature continuous panels and presentations by more than two dozen authors and other mystery and crime experts.
Saturday afternoon, publishing industry veteran Alice Orr — who has worked as an editor and agent as well as an author and speaker — will offer a two-part workshop, “How to Write the Thriller-Mystery to Die For.” Also on Saturday, Watkins will interview Parks about his Carter Ross series; and Parks will give the keynote address that night at the awards dinner. All participating authors will have copies of their books available for purchase and will hold signings throughout the weekend.
