Thursday, November 17, 2022

Maya Corrigan--Baked Off

DEBORAH CROMBIE: It's been three long years since I've attended a mystery conference (a lack I hope to remedy next year!) and today's post reminded me how much I've missed them. Thank you, Maya Corrigan, for giving us a virtual conference treat! 




Mystery Fan Gatherings: Murder for Pleasure

 Maya Corrigan

 

Thank you. Deborah, for hosting me on Jungle Red Writers. I got to know all of you from mystery fan conventions, which I’ve enjoyed attending for two decades—Malice Domestic, Bouchercon, Sleuthfest, Left Coast Crime, and smaller local conferences and festivals. As a mystery fan since my Nancy Drew days and an aspiring writer, I was delighted to discover that mystery writers were friendly, welcoming, and funny, never taking themselves too seriously. At my first few conventions, I sat meekly in the audience during panels, jotting notes. A couple of years later, I became a panel moderator and finally ascended the dais as a writer, after my first Five-Ingredient Mystery came out in 2014.

In March of 2020 I was at Left Coast Crime in San Diego when Covid shut down the convention on the first day. The abrupt end to the weekend shocked all of us, but was especially hard on the organizers and volunteers who’d worked so hard to make the weekend a success. While sitting in a nearly empty plane back to the East Coast, I realized that upcoming mystery conventions would all be canceled, though I didn’t expect it would be two years before I went to another one.

Knowing how much I’d miss those murder-for-pleasure weekends, I decided to create one in my 8th Five-Ingredient Mystery. Coming out on Nov 29, 2022,  BAKE OFFED takes place at the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. My sleuths, café manager Val and her livewire grandfather, the Codger Cook, volunteer to help a friend who organized the weekend. At the fest they encounter delightfully idiosyncratic attendees and every conference glitch except Covid. Similar to actual mystery gatherings, the fest includes panels, author signings, and a charity auction. Plus, of course, a murder. Though the characters in the book aren’t based on anyone I’ve ever met at a mystery convention, a true crime case and an actual artifact of mystery history are part of the plot.

A small regional event, the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest is held in an old, reputedly haunted hotel. Exactly a year before the fest, the hotel was the scene of a murder. The victim was found dead after attending an interactive murder mystery staged at the hotel. This scenario comes from an actual 1990’s crime at a hotel on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where most of my books are set. That real murder was solved and the killer convicted, whereas the one in my book has yet to be solved.

Because I write culinary mysteries, I had to incorporate food into the plot, and I wanted to do that in a fun way for mystery lovers. Sitting around a table having a meal with fans and writers of crime fiction is one of the pleasures of mystery conventions, but not because of what’s on the plate. It’s banquet food, edible but unexciting. An idea of how to bring food into the fest came to me as I stared at my bookshelves. Among the many cookbooks I own are some with recipes inspired by the food fictional sleuths eat: DINING WITH SHERLOCK HOLMES, THE LORD PETER WIMSEY COOKBOOK, and THE NERO WOLFE COOKBOOK.  



My fest kicks off with a Deadly Desserts Bake-Off, in which each contestant assumes the role of a cook to a famous fictional detective and must make a dessert the detective would enjoy. Val’s grandfather, a recipe columnist who refuses to make any dish with more than five ingredients, is assigned the daunting role of Nero Wolfe’s gourmet cook Fritz. After flipping through several of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe mysteries, Granddad grumbles that he has found only “fancy dishes with scads of ingredients” and no desserts.

In the attic of his Victorian house, he discovers a unique item that belonged to his mystery fan aunt—a book-shaped box containing recipes from a Nero Wolfe book. Among the 34 recipe cards in the box, Granddad is thrilled to find a five-ingredient dessert recipe. He’s even more delighted when he learns how valuable the box is. As one of only a thousand promotional gifts from Rex Stout’s 1938 publicity tour for TOO MANY COOKS, the box is prized by collectors and worth far more than a first addition of the book. In case you’d like this artifact of mystery history, you can find one for sale online, where a rare book dealer is currently asking $3,750 for the recipe box in good condition.



The Deadly Desserts Bake-Off pits Granddad against stiff competition in the bake-off. A culinary arts graduate plays Bunter, Lord Peter Wimsey’s manservant. Taking the part of Mrs. Hudson, Holmes’s landlady, recipe columnist Cynthia Sweet pontificates about the proper way to make tea. Granddad blames her for ripping off the five-ingredient theme of his Codger Cook column to use in her own recipe column and cookbook. He’s not the only one who has a beef with her. Ms. Not-So-Sweet received an anonymous threatening note before the bake-off.

A few hours later Granddad’s prized recipe box has disappeared and Cynthia is found dead in her hotel room next to a whistling teakettle. How do the festival goers who love a murder on the page react to a murder in their midst? Some assume it’s a game devised by festival organizers. Others note echoes of classic mysteries and propose ingenious solutions. With a witness in jeopardy and a killer using every trick in the book to avoid detection, Val and Granddad must read between the lines to prevent another murder.  

I dedicated BAKE OFFED to the hardworking organizers of mystery fan gatherings who bring writers and readers together to celebrate their love of crime fiction. Having this book published in the year when those in-person gatherings resumed is the icing on the cake. I hope you’ll enjoy visiting the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest.

Maya (Mary Ann) Corrigan writes the Five-Ingredient Mysteries featuring a café manager and her grandfather solving murders in a Chesapeake Bay town. Each book has five suspects, five clues, and Granddad’s five-ingredient recipes. Maya’s seventh book, Gingerdead Man, takes place during a Dickens festival, and her newest book, Bake Offed, at a mystery fan festival. A Virginia resident, she has taught college courses in writing, literature, and detective fiction. When not reading and writing, Maya enjoys theater, travel, trivia, cooking, and crosswords. Her website, https://mayacorrigan.com, offers recipes, fun food facts, and mystery history and trivia.

DEBS: I adore the whole idea of the bake-off contestants taking on the roles of famous sleuths' cooks, and I'm dying to know what sort of recipes are in the Peter Wimsey cookbook! I'm hoping Maya will fill us in on that.

Here's more from Maya:

READERS: If you’ve attended gatherings of mystery lovers, what do you like most about them?

If you’ve never been to one, would you consider attending such an event? 

I’ll send a signed copy of BAKE OFFED to one person who leaves a comment.

63 comments:

  1. What fun, Maya . . . I love the idea of setting the story at a mystery fan gathering. But now I'm wondering about those bake-off recipes and just what Granddad's five ingredient dessert could be . . . .
    And, yes, a mystery fan gathering sounds absolutely delightful . . . . .

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    1. And congratulations on your newest book!

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    2. Thank you, Joan. Granddad finds a way to incorporate Nero Wolfe's five-ingredient recipe for sponge cake within a unique five-ingredient recipe that would appeal to Wolfe and his fans.~Maya

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  2. Maya, I'm so glad you're visiting Jungle Reds today and talking about Bake Offed. I love to come across books I didn't know I needed. Jungle Reds is always a good place to do that. I do so miss mystery conferences. Three years for me, too, Debs. I am registered and have my room for next year's Bouchercon in San Diego. I think I'll be ready to get on a plane by then. You are so right, Maya, about eating with friends at book conventions being one of the highlights of going. Gosh, I miss that. But, back to your new book. You have created such a clever story, with the contestants choosing a favorite author to pose as his/her cook. Congratulations on what is sure to be a success.

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    1. Thank you for your comment, Kathy. I managed to get to Malice Domestic in the spring and hope to go to Bouchercon.~Maya

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  3. This is great timing. I'm a third of the way into my ARC of Bake Offed right now and really enjoying it.

    I don't make it to as many conventions as I would like. In the past, it's been money. Now, it's time. They always seem to be during busy times at work. I have a pretty inflexible schedule, and that makes it hard to get away. I do hope to pop in at Bouchercon next year for Saturday.

    And shout out to one of my panelists at LCC San Diego 2020. We were the last panel of the convention, we just didn't know it when we were up on stage. It's definitely a day of mixed emotions. It was fun, I enjoyed hanging with everyone, but looking at what was about to happen. Since I left early, I went into work that day, and it was brutal for the next few weeks trying to deal with the effects of Covid on our industry. I work at Princess Cruises, and we announced our pause in operations that day while I was out of town. It's been interesting ever since.

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    1. Hi, Mark. You did such a great job moderating that last panel at Left Coast Crime. I hope you'll be my moderator again at whatever convention we both attend. ~Maya

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  4. What an intriguing description. Congrats on this newest book.

    I've never attended a mystery convention, but I have many a science fiction convention under my belt, a few romance conventions at which I was a speaker, and-- believe it or not-- a "The Young and the Restless" convention held in Lake Geneva, WI, at a former Playboy resort, the nearest large venue to the real Genoa City, where that soap opera ostensibly takes place. Fan conventions are such fun.

    What amazes me is the seriousness with which people take their positions in fandom. I could see them resorting to murder to eliminate a rival. Professional writers not so much, I would think. But the movie "Galaxy Quest" will definitely give you insights into science fiction gatherings.

    And then there is Sharyn McCrumb's genre-crossing, Edgar-winning "Bimbos of the Death Sun," which, if you haven't read it, you're missing out on a treat! (A murder mystery set at a science fiction convention!)

    (Ellen Kozak, still, alas, among the anonymous)

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Ellen. I've been to both mystery and romance conventions, but never sci fi gathering, except virtually in "Bimbos of the Death Sun," which I really enjoyed. That convention in Wisconsin at a former Playboy must have been great fun. ~Maya

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  5. MAYA: Hello to another San Diego LCC attendee! I was one of your guests at your author-reader connection lunch (with Ellen Byron). We had no idea the conventon would be abruptly cancelled later that afternoon. I am a long-time attendee of mystery conventions, going to LCC since 2000 and Bouchercon since 1992.

    I'm looking forward to reading about the latest goings-on at the mystery fan festival in BAKE OFFED.

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    1. I remember having lunch with you at the Greek restaurant in San Diego. It was fun, though getting there in the pouring rain meant we were all a little damp. Thanks for commenting. I think you'll enjoy the mystery festival in BAKE OFFED.

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  6. What a delightful premise, Maya! Congratulations, and I look forward to reading it.

    I returned a couple of days ago from the New England Crime Bake, another smaller regional conference. It was fabulous as always to see fellow authors and fans, but it still doesn't feel entirely comfortable to be out and about with so many people. Baby steps.

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    1. Thank you, Edith. I feel the same way as you do about large gatherings. It will take a while before any of us feels comfortable in a crowd.

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  7. Maya, congrats on the new book!

    I haven't attended a mystery convention before. I'd like to but the timing or the finances always get in the way. I definitely would like to. I think the best chance would be to go to New England Crime Bake since it is the closest to me.

    I'm sure the thing I would like the most by attending any of the varied conventions would be getting to meet a large mass of the authors I read at one time and getting my books signed.

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Jay. Authors love to meet readers as well. I hope you get a chance to attend a mystery convention before long. They really are fun! ~Maya

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  8. The best thing about mystery conventions is that we are all--authors and fans alike--readers. Even the most famous author is a fan of someone else, and it gives everyone a baseline of familiarity, I think.

    What a good idea, Maya, to set a mystery at one! I remember the first Bouchercon I attended, in Indianapolis, where there was a murder scene set up, chalklines on the floor and other clues strewn around, and the attendees were invited to solve the murder. I can easily see how a real murder would lead conference goers to believe it was all part of the fun.

    Can you speak to the true crime your story took cues from? Thanks, and congratulations!

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    1. Karen, we did that kind of crime scene at Crime Bake one year. It was fun!

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    2. The true crime--a murder in a hotel room after an interactive mystery dinner--took place in St. Michaels, Maryland, in the late 1990s. You can find out more about it online by googling "hotel murder St. Michaels." Thanks for commenting, Karen.~Maya

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  9. Maya, welcome to the Reds! This book sounds like so much fun. Did you set up the writer/reader lunch--what a good idea! I hope to see all or many of you at Bouchercon and Crime bake this year--at least!

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    1. Thanks, Roberta. The two Left Coast Crime conventions I've attended (Hawaii and San Diego) featured writer-reader connections. Writers propose a meeting time and place. The convention volunteers publicize the connection before the convention and handle reader sign-ups. It's my favorite mystery convention event. Hmm. Maybe I should have put one of those in my book.

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  10. A Lord Peter Wimsey cookbook!! I'll have to check this out. Thanks Maya for such an interesting post above. I really enjoyed reading about your new book and the relationship to true life events.

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    1. Thank you for commenting. Though the Lord Peter Wimsey Cookbook is out of print, I bought a used copy online. ~Maya

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  11. I have been to conventions--not many mystery ones--but really, you put some overly large egos together with a few ego-wannabes, hardworking normal people who get everything done, the fans, the hangers-on, well, I'm surprised there aren't more murders! ;-) Looking forward to reading Baked Off and getting to know Codger grandpa.

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Flora. The reason there aren't any murders at real mystery conventions is that we're all having so much fun talking about murders on the page. ~Maya

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  12. Welcome, Maya! I attended Malice Domestic this spring. Looking forward to Malice and Bouchercon in San Diego in 2023. The camaraderie and laughter is always the best.

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    1. Thanks for commenting, Liz. I was at Malice in April too, and I believe we met. It was my first in-person book event in two years. I'd almost forgotten how much fun mystery gatherings are. ~Maya

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  13. Oh, I adore a good bake off with a twist - fabulous premise for a mystery, Maya. I can't wait to pick this one up! Looking forward to Left Coast Crime and Bouchercon next year - not sure about Mailce yet.

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    1. Thank you, Jen. Malice is in my backyard, so I always go to it. Still deciding about LCC and Bouchercon, which are long plane trips away.

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  14. It sounds like so much fun but I'm not much for traveling.

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  15. No, but it sounds good! Thanks for the chance!

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  16. Maya, I wanted to add that I loved your cover!!

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    1. Thank you. Book cover designers are amazing. Using a couple of written suggestions, they create a work of art. I appreciate your hosting me today.

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  17. Maya, I love the premise of BAKE OFFED, and I suspect some of your readers will decide to join us at one of the regional mystery conferences after devouring this book! They are a lot of fun, and usually the only thing in danger is your book budget (or your liver, if you hang out at the bar...)

    I did have the pleasure of attending a mystery get-together where food was the whole point; it was, no surprise, the Wolfe Pack's annual dinner/ Nero Awards. The whole meal - plus accompanying wines - was amazing. If we got fed like that at conferences, I'd attend every banquet on offer!

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    1. Thank you, Julia. I've heard about the Wolf Pack dinners. They sound wonderful.

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    2. Julia, that sounds fabulous! I would join you!

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  18. I will be GOH at California Crime Writers in June, and also at Crime Bake in November, and am registering for Bouchercon in San Diego. I'd love to go to Malice, which I haven't managed in YEARS, but I think that would be one conference too many...

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  19. I love going to mystery conferences and enjoyed meeting you at the Kensington Cozy Con several weeks ago. That conference had been put on hold for a couple of years too and I'm glad that it was held.

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    1. I'm glad too. I really enjoyed getting to talk to readers and writers in person at the Cozy Con.

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  20. Yum! I have to find the Lord Peter book. My imagination is running wild. What a clever idea.

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  21. I've never been to a convention. I like the idea, but I'm not fond of crowds.

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    1. I feel the same way about crowds as you do, Libby. Bouchercon is rather overwhelming because of the number of attendees, but I enjoy smaller conventions and festivals like Malice, Left Coast Crime, Killer Nashville, as well as local festivals.

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  22. Maya, as one of the organizers of LCC San Diego, I really appreciate the shoutout. At the time, I was pretty numb, just trying to hold things together and do whatever I could to make people safe. When we got shut down I was relieved. I just did not want people to get sick, and sadly, I knew ending it was the only way to prevent that. Some time after I was able to feel what a real loss and disappointment it was.

    Lisa Brackmann

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    1. Thank you for being an organizer, Lisa. I felt really bad for all the people who worked so hard to pull off LCC despite cancellations and schedule changes, but none of us could ignore the health scare any longer. ~Maya

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  23. Five ingredients and five suspects. Love it! My first (and only) conference was Bouchercon in Dallas in 2019. I enjoyed meeting authors and putting faces to names. I found the crowds to be a bit overwhelming so I don't know that I'll repeat Bouchercon. Perhaps a smaller conference in the future.

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Pat. I also find Bouchercon overwhelming because of the number of attendees, but I enjoy smaller conventions like Malice, Left Coast Crime, Killer Nashville, as well as local book festivals.~Maya

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  24. Maya, I wondered if you were inspired by Jamie Oliver's five ingredient cookbook?

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    1. That cookbook came out in 2017, three years after my first Five-Ingredient Mystery. Hmm, maybe Jamie Oliver was inspired by my books... joking. I'll have to look for that cookbook.

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  25. Ooh you’re a new author to me and your book sounds fun and amazing! Adding your series to my TBR list!

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  26. I've been to a couple of events and met Tonya Kappes. A couple were murder Mysteries events and the other was an author event and they were all lots of fun. It's fun getting to know the authors and other readers.

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    1. And it's fun to get to know readers and other authors!
      Thanks for commenting, Dianne.

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  27. This sounds so wonderful , Maya! I do go to conventions, but they are stressful for shyish me. I'm GOH at Malice Domestic this year, though, and I am gloriously looking forward to it. (Being GOH at last year's Crime Bake was amazing, too--it truly brought tears to my eyes.) As for five-ingredient recipes--that is SO GENIUS! How did you think of doing that?

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    1. Hi, Hank. Thanks for commenting. I'm looking forward to seeing you as GOH at Malice. As for the five ingredients, my eyes glaze over when a recipe has more than 7 or 8 ingredients. I wanted to use six ingredients, but my agent said five sounded better. :-)

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  28. an exciting concept for this book, I look forward to reading it. I love to try new recipes.

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  29. I’d love to but I’m a semi invalid. It does t seem likely.

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    1. I'm sorry that you can't make it to a live mystery conference. Since Covid took hold, a few conferences have been online, making it possible to attend them from anywhere. I don't know if that will continue. All the best, Maya.

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  30. I'd like to attend a conference but I'm just not sure of going alone to such an event. Maybe there'll be a convention in Houston so I can talk my husband into going with me. I pre-ordered Baked Off because I love the 5-ingredient mysteries - the recipes don't intimidate me! Now that I know the source of the idea for Baked Off, I'm really excited about getting the book. If I win a signed copy, I'll donate my purchased copy to an organization so others can enjoy the mystery series. lnchudej@yahoo.com

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