Sleuthfest 2016

Posted on 06 March 2016 by LeslieM

sleuthfesta

Author C.J. Box signs autographed books.

By Karen Newcombe

The Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America (MWA) held their annual conference “Sleuthfest” in Deerfield Beach last week, at the Doubletree by Hilton, from Thursday through Sunday.

The MWA is the leading association for professional writers of crime fiction and non-fiction. The conference focuses on technical topics for writers, and brings national A-list authors, editors and literary agents to speak and work with participants. Professionals in the criminal justice field conduct workshops on procedures and technical aspects of crime solving, the law and other factors important to the crime writer.

This year, New York Times best-selling author C.J. Box, whose 18 books include the popular Joe Pickett series, was the keynote speaker at the Saturday luncheon. Box spoke about his life in Wyoming and the growth of his writing career. His experience as the owner of a marketing firm and as a journalist “working every aspect of a small, community newspaper” helped him develop the skills needed to become a successful author. Box is known for combining authentic details of Western life into his masterfully-plotted novels. Box’s newest Joe Pickett mystery, Off the Grid, will be available on March 8.

Other keynote speakers included P.J. Parrish – the pen name of sisters and co-authors Kristy Montee (a Ft. Lauderdale resident) and Kelly Nichols – former CIA operative Valerie Plame, and John Hartnett of Jack Farrell and Associates, a talent recruiting agency for the publishing and media industry.

Mystery Writers of America

Victoria Landis, the co-chair of Sleuthfest, told The Observer that about 250 attendees were at the conference from all over the United States, Canada, and even from Ireland and Spain.

The Florida Chapter of MWA is one of the most active in the country,” Landis said. “The MWA has 11 regions. Membership is $115 per year, and is open to professional writers who are paid by an approved publisher for their work.”

The MWA board reviews all applications and writers must meet other criteria as well; for example, self-publication does not qualify. An Associate Membership category is open to publishing agents, journalists, filmmakers and others in related fields.

Our focus at the conference is to offer support to writers at all career levels. We have workshops for new writers, those in mid-career and those who are already successful but want to learn how to move up to the next level.”

Writers attending the conference could schedule time to meet with literary agents and editors, including Neil Nyren, the well-known editor-in-chief of G.P. Putnam’s Sons division of Penguin Random House; Anne Speyer, editor at Ballentine Books; Kirsten Carleton, literary agent at The Prospect Agency, and many others.

For information about joining the MWA, visit www.mysterywriters.org, or for upcoming meetings of the Florida chapter, www.mwaflorida.org.

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