Schedule of Events

Friday, June 14

5:00 PM Appetizers, Cash Bar & Book Sales

5:45 PM 2024 Maine CrimeMaster: A Q&A with Michael Koryta

Michael Koryta will be presented with this year's CrimeMaster Award and will talk about his accomplished career with Katrina Niidas Holm.

7:00 PM Two Minutes in the Slammer

An amazing collection of Maine crime writers will share two minute pieces from recent work. The winner and runner(s)-up for the CrimeFlash Fiction contest will also share their work. Zakariah Johnson will MC.

Saturday, June 15

8:30 AM Coffee, Meetup, Book Sales

9:00 AM How True is Your Crime?

A panel conversation with crime and mystery writers about how they write about and are inspired by the facts of actual crimes and/or events that actually happened.

Panelists: Michael Koryta, Tiffany Ford, BJ Magnini, Tess Gerritsen
Moderator: Kate Flora

10:00 AM Coffee & CRIME

We’ll take a quick break to introduce ourselves and caffeinate our crime writing.

10:30 AM Passion Without Preaching: Weaving Social Issues into Great Novels

A panel conversation with crime and mystery writers about how they portray the social, political, and cultural issues of the day in their work.

Panelists: Chris Holm, Cameron Rosenblum, Carolyn Wilkins, E.K. Sathue
Moderator: Dick Cass

10:30 AM Examining the Bones (that Hold your Story Together)

Barbara Ross leads a small workshop on the structures of mysteries and thrillers. Click on the link to signup while space is available.

11:30 AM Vittles & Villany! (Lunch!)

12:00 PM Keynote Talk & Q&A

Writer and Soho Press Editorial Director Juliet Grames talks about “How to Be Crafty: The Genre Writer as Artist, Editor, and Publishing Professional.” Barbara Ross introduces and leads a Q&A with Juliet.

1:00 PM Go Short or Go Long? Short Stories vs Novels

A panel conversation with mystery and romance writers about what it takes to write a short story and what it takes to write novels.

Panelists: Gabriella Stiteler, Steven Rogers, Katherine Hall Page, Vaughn Hardacker
Moderator: Gerry Boyle

1:00 PM Plotting Your Book with Polka Dots

Jessica Ellicott leads a small workshop on how to plot mysteries and thrillers. Click on the link to signup while space is available.

2:15 PM 2024 Lea Wait Award

Gayle Lynds presents this year’s Lea Wait Award to Kate Flora.

3:00 PM Books Make Lovely Gifts! Book Sales & Signing

3:30 PM If I Ran the (Writing) World…

A mega-panel and freewheeling conversation with the audience about the sorrows, difficulties, and joys of writing.

Panelists: Michael Koryta, Jessica Ellicott, Chris Holm, Barbara Ross, Dick Cass, Carolyn Wilkins, Matt Cost, and Zakariah Johnson
Moderator: Brenda Buchanan