Mystery in the Midlands is coming up on Saturday, October 10—this year with a focus on short stories and a killer line-up of presenters, including hosts Paula Benson and Michael Bracken, Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier, Carla Damron, Alex Mattingly, Katy Munger, Roger Nokes, Joseph S. Walker, and… hey! That’s me!
The event is officially presented by the Southeast Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, the Palmetto Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and Michael Bracken his own bad self.
The full schedule is below—and be sure to register here… for free! (The panels will also be recorded if you can’t tune in live.)
Mystery in the Midlands Goes Short 2026!
DATE: Saturday, October 10
TIME: From 11:15 am ET (10:15 CT/9:15 MT/8:15 PT) to 2:30 pm ET(1:30 CT/12:30 MT/11:30 PT)
11:15 am Welcome—Michael Bracken and Paula Gail Benson
11:30 am -12:25 pm Some Loose Thoughts on Tight Structures—Joseph S. Walker (President of the Short Mystery Fiction Society and author of Crime Scenes, published by Level Best Books, March 2026).
12:30 – 1:25 pm Short Stories as Building Blocks
Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier (Agatha award winner and author of The Bush Tea Murder, published by Crooked Lane Books in 2026); Carla Damron (award winning novelist and short story writer); Art Taylor (Edgar award winning author whose On the Road with Del & Louise won the Agatha Award for best first novel); and moderator, Paula Gail Benson
1:30 – 2:25 pm Editors Reveal All
Alex Mattingly (editor of Cold Caller Magazine); Katy Munger (the co-editor of the neo noir literary journal Dark Yonder); Roger Nokes (Editor-in-Chief at Rock and a Hard Place Press); and moderator, Michael Bracken
2:25 – 2:30 pm Final Questions and Comments