Malice Domestic and the Agatha Awards celebrate traditional mysteries (think Agatha Christie, thus the name of the awards), so based on what I love to read and write, Malice has always been my "home" mystery event, even though it's across the country from me. So it's such an honor to be recognized with an Agatha Award for my 2024 locked-room mystery A Midnight Puzzle, which pays homage to Golden Age of detective fiction authors including John Dickson Carr and Agatha Christie.
Books are what bring us together, but people are what make this book convention so special. Getting to hang out with my fellow book people is amazing, and even though I'm an introvert who needs to recharge after doing so much people-ing, I always come home feeling SO inspired—and with so many new books and authors to read!
Here are some vignettes from this year's Malice Domestic:
Holding my Agatha teapot and toastmaster teacup after the banquet, I was so nervous with the breakable ceramics in my hands! Not because of my opera gloves, which I love and don’t impact my dexterity, but because the evening was a whirlwind and I truly wasn’t expecting to win the Agatha because of the other finalists: Ann Cleeves, Ellen Byron, Korina Moss, and Connie Berry. Wow.
The teapot and teacup were shipped home to me in California, and have just arrived safely. Though if they had arrived broken, I was fully prepared to use Kintsugi, the Japanese tradition of embracing imperfection by fixing broken ceramics with a lacquer mixed with gold. Ever since surviving cancer more than a decade ago, I’ve been pretty damn good at letting go of things I can’t control, like broken pottery, and instead focusing on things I can, like reading and writing the books I want to write—and spending time with my fellow book people!
It was wonderful celebrating with fellow Crime Writers of Color authors K.T. Nguyen, who won an Agatha for Best First Novel, and D.S. Mori, who won the William F. Deeck-Malice Domestic Grant for unpublished writers, the same grant that gave me my start as a writer. Both of them write under the traditional mystery umbrella, but neither writes “cozy,” so I’m glad that traditional mysteries of all kinds are recognized at Malice Domestic.
And no, I don’t know whether my own books are cozies or not, because it depends on who you ask! I never know what each book will become, so I write the books that feel right, and I’m happy for readers to connect with the books in whatever way is meaningful to them.
If you’re an unpublished writer working on a traditional mystery, broadly defined, I highly recommend you check out the grant.
The photo above is of two group gatherings: The St. Martin's Minotaur Books authors and publishing team arranged for a cocktail party for their authors, and Crime Writers of Color held a meetup. When I first began writing, there wasn’t nearly as much diversity in mystery fiction as there is now, and I love that there are so many great authors and books being published, making my To Be Read list even higher.
My Minotaur Books editor Madeline Houpt gives me the best editorial guidance. In fact, I dedicated A Midnight Puzzle to her! The dedication at the start of the book was, “For Madeline Houpt. Thank you for being my partner in crime in turning the shadow of an idea into a worthy puzzle.”
She was in attendance, so we got to catch up over a meal together and celebrate the Agatha together!
Several readers at Malice told me how much they enjoyed A Midnight Puzzle as an audiobook, which is great in audio thanks to narrator Soneela Nankani.
Celebrating with my editor.
With my writers group.
It’s only once a year that my writers group is all in the same place, so I made the most out of my time with Ellen Byron, Diane Vallere, and Lisa Q. Mathews. Ellen was also an Agatha nominee this year, showing just how fabulous my writers group is!
Two of us live on the West Coast and two on the East Coast, so we see each other via an hour-and-a-half video call once a week, so getting together in person was really special.
Coffee in the hospitality lounge with old friends Alexia Gordon, Shelly Dickson Carr, and Jeff Marks.
The convention’s hospitality lounge in the hotel is always stocked with coffee, tea, and snacks, so it’s a great spot to meet up with old friends and new. Most of the time I didn’t remember to pull out my phone to snap a photo, but in this case, Shelly made sure we took a photo as we wrapped up our conversation.
Alexia Gordon is the author of the Gethsemane Brown Mysteries, which are now being made into Hallmark movies. Shelly Dickson Carr is the granddaughter of John Dickson Carr, and a terrific writer in her own right. Her highly anticipated next novel is coming out soon, so I’ve got my fingers crossed I’ll be able to score an advance copy! And Jeff Marks is a mystery writer, mystery historian, and publisher at Crippen & Landru, a publisher that specializes in short mystery fiction collections, especially ones that keep classic mystery authors in print.
As toastmaster, in addition to presenting the opening ceremonies and banquet, and introducing the charity auction and tea, I was indeed tasked with making a toast. I ended my banquet remarks with a toast that included something like this (not exactly scripted, as I prefer to speak from the heart!): To old friends and new, to those who’ve come before us, to discovering our new favorite books and authors, and to finding our kindred spirits. Books and Malice Domestic are magic!
There were so many first-time attendees at Malice Domestic this year, and I was so pleased to hear from so many new folks that they found the convention just as friendly and inspiring as I do. When I first attended many years ago, I didn’t know a soul in the mystery fiction world, but as soon as I set foot in the Malice Domestic space, I knew I’d found my people!
I had the honor of introducing the one and only Donna Andrews (above), who was receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Guest of Honor Marcia Talley, and Fan Guests of Honor Les & Leslie Blatt.
I also shared a few words in tribute to “Malice Remembers” Guest of Honor Dorothy Gilman, the acclaimed author who wrote the delightful Mrs. Pollifax books—a cozy spy series I highly recommend if you haven’t discovered it yet. I’m guilty myself. It was only after Dorothy Gilman was named an honoree that I moved her books up in my TBR pile. I was immediately hooked, and devoured the first three books. I’m so glad I have many more to look forward to.
Poirot Award recipient Lucy Worsley was filming a new history show, so she wasn’t able to make it, but I look forward to seeing what she does next.
Fun times with my fellow Agatha nominees Korina Moss, Ellen Byron, Connie Berry, and our moderator Hank Philippi Ryan. Ann Cleeves was also nominated but couldn't make it to Malice.
At the banquet with Josh Pachter, Paula Benson, and Trisha Maniaci.
And huge thanks to the Malice Domestic board. This wonderful group of volunteers works tirelessly to put together the convention. Thank you to the board and to all the other volunteers who bring book people together!
I also need to thank long-time author pal Diane Vallere, who took photos for me at the Agatha banquet while I was on stage presenting, and romance and mystery author Amita Murray, who took me thrift store shopping in London a few months ago, and it’s thanks to her that I found the gorgeous vintage skirt I wore to the banquet. (I could go on and on with people to thank, but I need to stop somewhere, so I’m stopping there!)
Cheers! If you’re a mystery fan who likes traveling to events, I highly recommend Malice Domestic, and I hope to see you there next year!
