With Malice in our Hearts

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: It's that time of year - the Edgar Awards tonight (fingers crossed for our own Rhys Bowen, who's been nominated for Best Paperback Original and Hallie Ephron who's been nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award!), and the opening ceremonies of Malice Domestic tomorrow. All over the country, people who read mysteries, write mysteries, sell mysteries and critique mysteries are packing up and headed for the train station, the interstate or the airport. Destination: Bethesda, Maryland, for the 30th Malice Domestic conference. I'm not going this year (alas!) but I have so many memories surrounding Malice, I feel it's a part of my life, like the sleep-away camp you went to every summer, or the yearly trip to Grandma's house. 

Just as with summer camp or Grandmother's they're not all rosy recollections. There was the year I got a migraine a half hour before the Agatha Awards banquet was to begin. I was a nominee, and my publisher was expecting me at the table, so I popped one of my VERY strong anti-migraine pills. The pain and halos went away, but the medication made me strung-out and nauseous. I was happier than Louise Penny was when she won, because it meant I could take off for my room as soon as the event ended! Then there was another time I lost - yes, y'all, I am a MULTIPLE Agatha Award loser! - and my publisher, Andy Martin, decided to console me by ordering a nice bottle of wine at the after party. And then another. And then another... somehow I made it up to my floor and, with no one in sight, I literally crawled to my room. NEVER AGAIN.

Many of my best memories center around the times I was at the con with my husband. Taking place near the end of the school year, it was often harder for Ross to get a substitute, so he didn't come to Malice as frequently as he did, say, to Bouchercon. But if you met him at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, you'd remember - he was the bearded redhead handing out bound interviews with the Best First nominees and talking about his "beautiful and talented wife." Ross would get WAY overexcited at the charity auction and several times wound up with enormous baskets that were nigh-on impossible to bring home on a flight. When I pointed this out, the next year he switched up and bid on a character name... in our dear friend Jeff Cohen's next book. $300 for a name Jeff would have popped in if we'd asked him! The next year (I think in recompense) Jeff took us out for the ultimate "guy" dinner - a top-end steakhouse owned by, as I recall, a major league baseball player. I had never been in that sort of restaurant before, and we all got increasingly silly as the enormous slabs of meat emerged with sides of vegetables that appeared to have been exposed to nuclear radiation a la the 50 Foot Woman. I had a broccoli stalk bigger than most bonsai trees. When the waiter brought out a baked potato that was literally as large as Jeff's head, we all lost it.

But my favorite memory was in 2003, the moment the announcer said, "The Agatha Award for Best First Mystery goes to..." I had been concentrating so hard on my game face - I wanted to look pleased for whoever won and not show any disappointment - I didn't immediately register that she had said my name. Ross didn't miss it, though. He jumped straight into the air (in his tuxedo, mind) pumped his fist and said, "Yes!" loud enough for the rest of the ballroom to hear. It makes me smile to this day.

How about you, Reds? What's your memorable Malice moments?

 RHYS BOWEN: I've attended every Malice since 1998, except for last year when John was having major surgery and I didn't want to leave him. Oh, and the time I was in the hotel, but not actually able to attend because I had fallen and broken my pelvis and was awaiting a limo to take me home. And Carolyn Hart took such wonderful care of me and Hank and many others came to visit as I tried to smile bravely, while all the while screaming inside "I want to go home. Get me out of here!".

But my favorite Malice memory is when I won my first Agatha. The awards are usually given starting with best YA and moving toward best novel at the end. This presenter must have been nervous because she started with best novel. I thought I heard my name but didn't quite believe it. Then everyone around me was jumping up and down and beaming at me. I don't remember how I floated to the podium or what I said. I half expected, when I got there, that the presenter would say, What are you doing here? We didn't call you. But they did. And it was true. and it felt wonderful. 


I've been nominated many times since and won twice more but the thrill never gets old. The butterflies as the names are being read, the "gracious-loser" smile at the ready and the rush of pure joy when you hear your name.

From LCC, clockwise:Annette Rogers, Ingrid Willis, Jenn, Catriona McPherson, Rochelle Staab & Tammy Kaehler

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JENN McKINLAY: Oh, Julia, that sounds like a bushelful of wonderful and humorous (minus the migraine) memories. As for me, I've only been to one Malice. It was lovely, and I got to meet so many wonderful people. But it's just too darn hard to get to Bethesda (why is it always Bethesda?) from Phoenix, so I haven't made the trek again. Left Coast Crime makes up for it, and I do try to go there every year, except this year it was in Reno and I already have to go to Reno in May for the RT Convention because I've been nominated for the Reviewer's Choice Award and it feels like bad form if I don't show up. So many conferences so little time! Gah!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh, Julia, that is so wonderful! I love that Ross moment, and I can completely picture it.  Well, Malice, it's amazing, non-stop, seeing everyone and talking talking talking!
My very first year, before I have a book,  I was SO clueless, but I figured I'd better go get the lay of the land because Prime Time would be eligible for the next year. If I remember correctly, well, I was such a newbie, that Charlaine Harris was the guest of honor, and I had absolutely no idea who she was! I was friendless and lonely, until I figured out that there were lots of people just like me, and so I tried to talk to everyone, and it was fine.

Louise Penny and Hank

The next year--long story short--PRIME TIME won for Best First! I could NOT believe it. I am having a racing heart even just thinking about it! And that year was Louise Penny's first win, too, and we bonded and hooted and hollered about it. I will also never forget how incredibly happy she was. "I have an Agatha!" she pretend-bragged to me. "I do, too!" I pretend-bragged back. It was fabulous.

I have won several times since then, and each time is a total utter complete life-changing joy.

This year I don't have a book even eligible, since TRUST ME doesn't come out til this year, and SAY NO MORE (which lost to  Margaret Maron, so that's okay :-)) was in 2016.  So it'll be fun to go without any pressure!

Hallie with Susan Van Kirk, from her blog

But readers and commenters, count off! Who'll be there??
 
HALLIE EPHRON: Not me. I wish. I've been to Malice and loved it each time. You know, every mystery conference has its own special flavor, and there's a sweetness to Malice that reflects the content of the cozy mysteries and the generosity of its authors. 

 

Barb Ross, Lucy & Krista Davis

LUCY BURDETTE: I totally remember that moment when Ross shot out of his seat, Julia. He was the king of enthusiasm and your greatest supporter! I have missed the last few Malices, as it conflicts with our driving north with elderly pets or else other more exotic travels. It's a lovely conference--and so much fun to meet readers and see old writer pals. Penguin used to take all its authors to the Ruth Chris steakhouse where everyone would eat and drink too much and share state secrets. I've got to try to get there next year!



 

Sara Paretsky & Ingrid at Bouchercon

INGRID THOFT:  I’ve never been to Malice, but it sounds like I’m missing out.  Maybe you experts can answer a question for me:  Is it still a conference for “traditional mysteries” as the website says?  I admit I haven’t seriously considered attending because I’m not sure that my books fit that description!  Any thoughts, Malice Mavens?



 




DEBORAH CROMBIE: Julia, what great memories of Ross! Oh, gosh, thinking about Malice makes me a little sad. I haven't been in ages, and it was such a big part of my first few years as a writer. 

Kaye Barley, Debs, Marcia Talley &; Kate Charles

 I've been nominated twice, for Best First and for Best Novel, so you can put me in the multiple loser category! But I had a great time, regardless, and I met so many wonderful people there, some of whom have been my besties for years. But it just got to where two big conferences and a trip or two to England were too much to put in the schedule, and I have made it to Bouchercon every year I possibly could since 1991! Have fun, everyone!

JULIA: Ingrid, "Traditional mystery" covers a lot of ground, and I think your books would fit in fine. The attendees love cozies, but they're also BIG readers of every sort of mystery. Louise's series has a cop at the heart of the story. Hank's got a reporter, which falls squarely into the "shamus" category, Margaret Maron has a judge...I don't think a private eye is too far a stretch. 

How about you, dear readers? As Hank says, are you going? Or following along at home? And do you have any conference memories you'd like to share?

Note: The photo of me and Ross was taken by Sharon Wheeler of Reviewing the Evidence. For some reason, I can't caption it!