But what about the conference! Screenwriters from the television series MONK, MURDER SHE WROTE, DIAGNOSIS MURDER, CNN and others didn’t mind rubbing elbows with those of us who loved their work. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation set up a crime scene for attendees to solve at our leisure. (Like a crazy person I went late at night, alone to evaluate the murder and evidence! It too was in the hotel.) A bio terrorism expert, a black ops agent, a detective who hunted serial killers, a hostage negotiator and a forensic specialist all came to educate 400 mystery and thriller writers. New York Times best seller Lisa Jackson and Kurt Kruger were keynote speakers. Believe it or not I got up Saturday morning for a 7a.m. samurai sword fighting workshop. And yes I learned how to…well I probably shouldn’t give too much away. Needless to say it was a rush!
Although most of the conferences I’ve attended are craft driven, in other words you learn tricks for plotting, character development, marketing, etc., this one was totally different. Killer Nashville puts you in touch with real life crime fighters and experts. Panels on self publishing, writing crime fiction, marketing were also helpful. Killer Nashville even asked me to be on the debut novelist panel. I’d never attempted that before and it really was fun.
I went to the conference alone so my overall cost was around $1200. (Gas and food are included in the amount.) If I’d had a buddy to go along, my cost would have been half that. Granted I signed up for a few extra things that cost me more. I might not do that next time. This conference, although expensive, was worth every penny. The Omni Hotel was a stunning backdrop for this event. The volunteers and guest speakers were terrific to interact with at every turn. I made new friends from across the country and learned some incredible stories along the way.
So who is with me next year?
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| Holy skyline, Batman! |
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| Looking out from the 18th floor of the Omni Hotel |
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| The lobby and meeting rooms at the Omni Hotel This really was a stunning place to hold such an impressive conference. |
0 Responses
Tierney,
it was a wonderful conference and a pleasure for me and my wife Patty to meet you. Thanks for providing a new writer like myself with your great insight.Hope to see you there again.
Thanks.
Ed Wright