How to Find the Wickeds at Malice Domestic

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by Barb, writing on an April shower-y day

This week, four of the Wickeds–Barb, Sherry, Edith/Maddie and Julie/Julia–will be returning to the Malice Domestic conference after a two year hiatus because of the you-know-what.

If you’re at Malice (Friday, April 22 to Sunday, April 24, registration required), please say hello.

Here are the places you are sure to find us.

Panels

Barb and Edith/Maddie will be on the panel “Writing a Series: Keeping it Fresh” at 11:00 AM on Saturday, along with moderator Dru Ann Love, and Amanda Flower, Cheryl Hollon, and SC Perkins/Celeste Connally.

Julie/Julia will moderate the panel “The Place of Cozies in a Non-Cozy World” at 2:00 PM on Saturday, appearing along with Tina deBellegarde, Emmeline Duncan, KP Gresham, and Terrie Farley Moran.

Sherry will be on the panel “Sleuths with Unconventional Careers” at 10:00 AM on Sunday, along with Moderator Josh Pachter, and Heather Weidner, Mary Angela, and Grace Topping.

Other places

Wearing her alternate hat as Executive Director of Sisters in Crime National, Julie will be staffing various shifts of “office hours” at the SinC table. Members and non-members alike should feel free to drop by to chat about the organization.

2022 marks the first year since 2014 that no member of the Wickeds has been nominated for an Agatha Award. Making up for that in a big way, Edith will be at the banquet on Saturday evening accepting her 2020 Agatha teapot for her win for Best Historical Novel for Charity’s Burden.

And unofficially…

In addition to our official Malice events, we four Wickeds will be around all weekend. Come look for us in the lobby or the bar, the book room or the hallways. We would dearly love to chat with you.

Anticipation

Barb: Back when I signed up for Malice, it was hard to see the future and hard to know what I’d be willing to do. Registering was a leap of faith! Now that it’s upon us, I’m both excited and nervous. Excited to see so many members of the crime reading and writing community for the first time in ages. Nervous, not so much about the virus, as about being in a crowd at all. I’m never great at large social events. Usually, at the start, I square my shoulders and tell myself it’s my job. And then, once things get going, I have a wonderful time. Because how could you not–surrounded by people who love what you love? Despite what I’m sure will be another terrific time this year, I’ll be missing four people who were at the last in-person Malice and are no longer with us: Sheila Connolly, Ramona DeFelice Long, Lea Wait and Jan Kurtz.

Edith/Maddie: I will also miss those four so very much, Barb. Of course I’m excited to pick up my Agatha Award – and teapot – at long last, and hope the organizers give me a few moments to thank my support crew of the Wickeds, to express my gratitude for Ramona, who edited the book (and all the other Quaker Midwife Mysteries), and to applaud other nominees and winners in the historical genre. To be honest, despite having had my second booster, I am concerned about the virus. But I’m not staying home on that account, because I’m super delighted to see all my long-time author and fan pals – in person!

Sherry: I’m nervous/excited too. I’ve become such a hermit these past two years and I’ve always loved going to conferences and being in the thick of things with people. I’m also thrilled that I’ll get the certificate for my Agatha nomination for Best Contemporary Novel from last year’s online Malice. I always love spending time with the Wickeds, readers, and authors.

Julie: I’m really looking forward to seeing people at Malice. Like Barb, I will miss those who aren’t there, and raise a glass in their memory. Having been at Left Coast Crime, I know a bit about how emotional the weekend will be–seeing people and catching up. Malice Domestic was my first big conference, and holds a special place in my heart. Plus I get to spend some time with three of the Wickeds, check in with Sisters in Crime chapter leaders, see SinC board members, and cheer friends on. And I get to say hello to readers. In other words, the perfect mix.

Readers: Do you have something coming up that you’re excited/nervous about?

The Wickeds’ ad in the Malice Domestic program book

Published by Barbara Ross

Barbara Ross is the author of twelve Maine Clambake Mystery novels and six novellas. Her books have been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and have won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. She lives in Portland, Maine. Readers can visit her website at www.maineclambakemysteries.com

31 Thoughts

  2. Yes, we are leaving today to visit my 92 year old mother in law on Cape Cod for a few days and then we drive up to NH to see my son and my 3 precious granddaughters. Maddie the oldest called me a few days ago just to say she loved me and missed me. It melts the heart. Guess who will be getting spoiled for 7 days????

  3. Barb, thanks for remembering Jan. I’m excited about Malice and seeing everybody. But it will be the first one without Jan…Don’t think I’m worried about flying, just the procedures at the airport. Hoping I won’t have problems with the app I need to use to come back home (we can’t put in any info until 72 hours before we return home. It’s not like my name and vaccination info has changed).

  4. Excited, nervous, eager, anxious. I’m a jumble of emotions, but I do look forward to seeing all of you in just a few days!

  6. I’m excited for all of you. Have a ball.
    I’m looking forward to having a broken metal plate in my toe replaced on Friday. Not exactly fun 🙄, but I’ll be able to walk without pain, again. That’s exciting to me.

    1. Best of luck with your surgery. I am contemplating a knee replacement in the fall. Not looking forward to it but like you say, it would be nice to walk without pain.

      1. I had a double knee replacement last June. Best thing I’ve done in a long time.

  8. 88 books? That’s a lot of books!

    I’m wishing I were going. And, with when it is positioned in the month, I might have been able to go (it doesn’t conflict with month end). However, I will be at the LA Times Festival of Books on Sunday – the first since 2019. Meeting up with a friend. It will be a fun day.

      1. It’s not the same as it was when it was at UCLA. And some of the authors I would have spent time chatting with will be at Malice. But it will still be fun overall.

  9. The only thing making me nervous is that I haven’t packed on this scale in three years. I’m sure I’ll forget something really important.

    Can’t wait to see everyone!

    1. I am always nervous packing for Malice. The weather is going from a low of 37 on the day we arrive to a high of 82 on the day we leave. How do you pack for that? Fortunately, we’ll mostly be indoors.

  10. Yes— I’m also nervous & excited about Malice! My first conference, my first panel, my first time signing, my first time meeting people from my imprint & so many authors… Lots of firsts!

  11. I do not have anything coming up. Last Friday we went to Ann Arbor, Michigan for Brenda Novak’s author signing at Barnes and Noble. This was the first time I had ever been to an author signing.

  12. I look forward to seeing all of you at Malice. It will be my first trip/flight since COVID. I’ve been a hermit because of COVID along with some other issues. I’m also double boosted, but you may see me in a mask from time to time.

  13. My grandparents were Robert and Amelia Runyon from Texas. We are having a Runyon Reunion Roundup in Austin, Texas the first of July (the grandparents were married on July 4, 1913) in celebration of that day. We will be meeting many of our relations that we have not seen since 1992 or have never met. It should be great. S. C. Perkins, a first cousin once removed (cheers to her genealogy cozies) will be there and will talk about her books. So excited, but I have to do a presentation and am a bit worried about doing that, but I will be fine, and it will be fun!

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