Events that bring us together: Celebrating CRIME BAKES

 HALLIE EPHRON: Every year, one conference in particular feels like a homecoming. This year it was especially sweet -- the 25th annual New England Crime Bake.

I was "in the room" ages ago (1999?) when we were arguing about whether an annual conference sponsored jointly by the New England chapters of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America was even feasible.

Where would we hold it?

Could we coerce a strong enough name headliner to draw the crowd size we needed to (at a minimum) cover our costs? 

Our first Guest of Honor was Jeremiah Healy who, among other things, gave a brilliant and much needed talk, covering everything a crime fiction writer needs to know about guns and ballistics (from pistols to Glocks). Along with potent warnings to GET IT RIGHT because people who read crime fiction know from guns.

A scary thought.

I took notes and promptly set about revising the manuscript I had underway. (Ballistics 101: Glocks don't have bullets.)

This year the conference featured with TWO guests of honor: Joseph Finder and Lisa Gardner.

It was a full house. And I was on a panel (with Hank and Crime Bake founder Kate Flora...) and we got to reminisce about memorable early Crime Bakes...

The first Crime Bake was notable because it was in a lecture call at a college somewhere north of Boston, and no one had told maintenance to turn the heat on. It was COLD. And the forensics expert who was supposed to give a talk failed to show up... I like to think that was because they were at a crime scene. 

We'll never know, but it was early days and we were still new at pulling off such a complicated endeavor.

An early guest was Janet Evanovich! She came despite having a wicked cold and, as she shared with us from the stage, she'd just undergone a facelift. She was and is the ultimate Stephanie Plum, a Jersey girl. And just as hilarious as you'd expect.

I shared my memory of Lee Child, GoH at an early Bake. He drove himself to the conference which was then at the Hilton in Dedham, MA, and arrived in a red Jaguar with the license plate REACHER. He was accessible, hanging out in the bar at night with all of us wannabees. A consummate gentleman and all-around sweetie-pie.

And a big contrast to Robert B. Parker who came. In a limo. Surrounded by what felt like protective guardians who whisked him away after his talk and book signing. That we were lucky to have him at all was probably due to our working closely with Kate Mattes who ran the legendary Kate's Mystery Books in Cambridge.

The memories are always tinged with sadness because the then-chapter president of Mystery Writers of America Al Blanchard died in the middle of a Crime Bake. He's much missed and the Crime Bake has given a short story award in his honor every year since.

This year's winner: Claire Rounkles!

There was the year we had a November blizzard....

Already I'm looking forward to next year's Crime Bake... Ace Atkins will be the Guest of honor!!

Hopefully it won't snow.

Were you at this year's Crime Bake? Please, share!!

Is there an annual-ish event you try to go to faithfully. Maybe a family reunion? Maybe a labor union meeting? Maybe just old friends staying in touch? Share!

Dinner with (imaginary) Friends

INGRID THOFT

There’s a standard list of questions that writers get asked. One of the favorites (it’s in the New York Times’ “By the Book” section every week) is: Which writers would you like to have dinner with—living or deceased? This question elicits interesting responses, but I think an even more interesting question is, which fictional characters would you invite to dinner?

So, who would I like to see around my dinner table? Whose brain would I like to pick? The personalities I’ve chosen are strong, so no doubt, it would be a lively evening!

James Bond (and yes, I expect him to look like Daniel Craig.)

Ian Fleming's super spy is licensed to kill, and he knows how to do everything.  Fly a helicopter?  Check. Disarm a nuclear weapon? Check.  Choose beautiful dresses for his female companions?  Check.  I’d want to hear about his adventures and near-death experiences, and I’d like to breathe in his confidence i.e. arrogance.
  

Quinn Colson

Full disclosure: I have a crush on the sheriff of Tibbehah County in Mississippi.  I know, I know, he doesn't really exist, but Ace Atkins' creation feels real to me.  The head of law enforcement in an area full of underhanded deals, backstabbing, and tangled family trees, Quinn navigates it all with a quiet strength. And biscuits. I'd like him to bring some biscuits.

Barbara Havers

Yes, she’d turn up looking unkempt, but Elizabeth George’s detective sergeant is whip smart and not afraid to speak her mind.  Often in the shadow of her handsome, nattily dressed boss, Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, Havers holds her own. Time and again, she  proves a critical member of the Met’s investigative team.

What about your dinner party?  Which fictional characters would get an invitation from you?