I’ll be celebrating my birthday this year by interviewing my good friend Donna Andrews as the headline event at the Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival—one of our favorite mystery events and such a thrill to be part of the program again in 2024!
This year’s festival takes place Saturday, March 16, at the Suffolk Conference Center, adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn on the beautiful Suffolk Riverfront, 100 East Constance Road, Suffolk, Virginia. And here’s the schedule for the day—though need to point out that the VIP Reception has already sold out!
11:30am-12:45pm
VIP Reception (PRIVATE)
Advance Tickets Required; Limited Space; Includes Private Meet & Greet with Featured Authors, refreshments, souvenir ticket, and a festival swag bag full of goodies/books!
1:00pm
Festival Opens to the General Public
1:00-1:50pm
Opening Session:
Interview of Donna Andrews, Headliner, by Art Taylor
1:00-6:00pm
Featured Author Signings
Meet the authors and have your books signed! A limited number of books by each author will be available for purchase. Attendees are welcome to bring their own copies of books for signing.
2:00-3:00pm
Panel #1: Woman of the People: Inspiring Female Characters
Moderator: Shawn Reilly Simmons
Featuring: Courtney G. Foutz; Kristin Kisska;
K.L. Murphy, Nancy Naigle, and Christine Trent
3:15-4:15pm
Panel #2: Nerve Shredders: Crime Fiction To Keep You Up At Night
Are you a fan of mystery novels that keep you on the edge of your seat? Do you want to know how writers come up with unforgettable villains and create plots that feel like they were ripped straight from the headlines? Fans of thrilling suspense, nail-biting mysteries, and captivating investigations won’t want to miss out as these talented writers discuss their craft, share insights into their creative process, and answer your burning questions.
Moderator: E.A. Aymar
Featuring: Lee Clark; Sara E. Johnson; Hugh Lessig;
Rick Pullen; and Stacy Woodson
4:30-5:30pm
Panel #3: Cozy Does It: The Quirky Small Town Detective
If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie or JB Fletcher, you know the amateur sleuth is more popular than ever. Curl up with a cup of tea and lose yourself in the charming and suspenseful world of cozy mysteries. From the charming settings to the eccentric characters, learn from these dynamic cozy authors what makes a killer mystery that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
Moderator: Grace Topping
Featuring: Melissa Bourbon; Amy Patricia Meade;
Mindy Quigley; and Cathy Wiley
6:00pm
Festival Closes to the General Public