Mystery Fest Key West: June 16-18, 2017 & Whodunit Writing Contest

The 4th Annual Mystery Fest Key West - June 16-18, 2017

Join your favorite mystery writers, aspiring writers, and mystery fans in America’s southernmost city! From South Florida's favorite storytellers to writers of international renown, this is a meet-and-greet where authors can catch up with old friends and readers can chat with their favorite mystery writers, collect signed books -- and participate in workshops, panels, and presentations where bestselling authors explain how and why they do it.

The 2017 “Murder & Mayhem in Paradise” themed Mystery Fest Key West is to include multiple writers workshops, presentations, panel discussions and social events where attendees mingle with acclaimed mystery, suspense, crime fiction and true crime writers, including headliners John Hemingway, grandson of Ernest and author of “Strange Tribe,” Keynote Speaker Clifford Irving, and Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter past-President Randy Rawls; New York Times bestselling author Lisa Black, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Heather Graham; bestselling and award-winning author Nancy J. Cohen; award-winning crime and science fiction writer James O. Born; bestselling Buck Reilly adventure series author John H. Cunningham and many others. 

Register Here.

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Mystery Fest Key West has announced a call for entries for this year’s Whodunit Mystery Writing Competition. The winner will claim a book-publishing contract with Absolutely Amazing eBooks, free Mystery Fest Key West 2017 registration, airfare, hotel accommodations for two nights, meals and a Whodunit Award trophy to be presented at the 4th Annual Mystery Fest Key West, set for June 16-18 in Key West, Florida.

Sponsored by Absolutely Amazing eBooks and supported by the Marion Stevens Fund at the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, candidates wishing to compete for the 2017 Whodunit Writing Competition are invited to submit the first three pages (maximum 750 words) of a finished, but unpublished manuscript to whodunitaward@mysteryfestkeywest.com no later than April 15, 2017. There is no fee to enter, finalists will be notified by May 1, and will have until May 10 to submit full manuscripts.

“Why just the first three pages? That criterion is a nod to late author Jeremiah Healy, a world-class mystery writer and a great judge of mystery writing,” says Shirrel Rhoades, co-founder of Mystery Fest Key West. “Jerry's opinion was that a book either captures a reader in the first three pages…or it doesn’t. The competition judges all agreed with that assessment, and decided to use it as a yardstick for the competition.”

Complete Whodunit Writing Competition guidelines and submission details are available at mysteryfestkeywest.com.

Whodunit Award: 2016 Key West Fest

2016 Mystery Writers Key West Fest: WHODUNIT AWARD

Winner: Tequila Mockingbird by Lewis C. Haskell of Key West, FL

Nominees
Coronado’s Trail by Carl Bock of Loveland, CO
Murder with Kayaks in the Florida Keys by Elia Chepaitis of Grassy Key, FL
The Crayon Box by Paul Marion Geiger of Ocean City, MD

Candidates for the Award, which is supported by the Marion Stevens Fund at the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys and sponsored by Absolutely Amazing eBooks, were required to submit the first three pages of a finished, but unpublished manuscript to a judging committee led by mystery author Sandra Balzo. Ted Hertel, an attorney, author, reviewer and past executive vice president of Mystery Writers of America; Gary Warren Niebuhr, library director, reviewer and author of numerous nonfiction works on the subject of crime fiction; and Shirrel Rhoades, an author, film critic, media consultant and publisher of Absolutely Amazing eBooks completed the judging team.

Mystery Writers Key West Fest: June 10-12, 2016

2016 Mystery Writers Key West Fest: June 10-12, 2016
Doubletree Resort by Hilton Grand Key

The 3rd Annual Mystery Writers Key West Fest
Robert K. Tanenbaum  is the keynote speaker along with a criminally stellar hit-list of award-winning and bestselling crime fiction authors and true-crime experts.

Schedule of Events: June 10-12 FRIDAY, JUNE 10 1:00 Workshop - Monroe County Sheriff’s SWAT Team and Key West Police Department Team Members (subject to change) 2:00 Workshop - James O. Born - “How to Write a Novel, Part 1" 3:00 Workshop - James O. Born - “How to Write a Novel, Part 2" 4:00 Workshop - Lisa Black - "Real Forensics and the Mystery Writer" 5:30-8:30 Reception at Smokin’ Tuna Saloon in Old Town Key West 6:00 - 6:30 Welcome - County and City Officials 6:30 Sit-down dinner at Smokin' Tuna Saloon (included in registration + $20 for each additional guest) 7:00 - 8:30 Mystery Roast – James O. Born, MC SATURDAY, JUNE 11 8:14 a.m. Welcome comments from Michael Haskins & Shirrel Rhoades 8:30 a.m. Panel Discussion: How I Write – Blank Screen to ‘The End’ 8:30 a.m. Moderator Siera London Robert Coburn Rick Ollerman Victoria Landis Sandra Balzo Bill Craig 9:45 a.m. Panel Discussion: Creating Suspense 9:45 a.m. Moderator Mike Dennis Heather Graham Lisa Black Anna Castle Don Bruns 11 a.m. The Whodunit Award Presented by Shirrel Rhoades and Sandra Balzo. Introduction of last year’s winner J.E. Irvin Presentation of the 2016 Mystery Writing Award 11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Luncheon with Special Guest Author Robert K Tanenbaum (included in registration - + $30 for each additional guest) 1:30 p.m. Panel Discussion: Believable Dialogue. Moderator: Anna Castle Timothy Hallinan Siera London Mel Taylor Deborah Sharp 2:45 p.m. Panel Discussion: Noir Moderator: Shirrel Rhoades Mike Dennis Jake Hinkson Paul McGoran Lewis M. Weinstein 4 p.m. Panel Discussion: Local Law Enforcement Moderator: James O. Born FDLE - FLorida Department of Law Enforcement - Carol Frederick JIATF Joint Interagency Task Force - Jim Linder KWPD – Key West Police Department MCSO – Monroe County Sheriff’s Office JIATF – Joint Interagency Task Force

To Contact Mystery Writers Key West Fest To Contact: Mystery Writers Key West Fest Please write to: Mystery Writers Key West Fest, 926 Truman Avenue, Key West, Florida 33040 or Email Us Register Now Event registration includes all panels, presentations and four meals. It's a steal at just $175 We'll be holed up at the luxurious DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Grand Key Call 305-293-1818 to make your booking. Registrant rooms are specially priced at $199.00 per room, per night with Code Word MY3. This special will end May 15, 2016. Room coordinator Becky Swope is available to assist attendees in finding room-mates to share cost of room: beccaswets@gmail.com

Evening Events:
5:15 p.m. Depart hotel for sunset and dinner at the waterfront Turtle Kraals Restaurant and Tower Bar
6 – 7 p.m. Sunset cocktails (cash bar)
7 p.m. Dinner (included in registration + $35 each for additional guests)
7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Guest speaker Timothy Hallinan
9:00 p.m. Sloan’s Haunted Key West Ghost Tour:  Join New York Times and USA Today best selling author Heather Graham who will co-host this haunting Old Town walk-about. (included in registration - + $15 for each additional guest)

SUNDAY, JUNE 12

8 – 11 a.m. Brunch at Schooner Wharf Bar at the historic Key West waterfront. Sponsored by Mystery Writers of America - Florida Chapter (included in registration + $15 for each additional guest).

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WHODUNIT AWARD

Four finalists have been announced in a nationwide competition to claim the 2016 Mystery Writers Whodunit Award, to be presented at the 3rd Annual Mystery Writers Key West Fest.

Coronado’s Trail by Carl Bock of Loveland, CO
Murder with Kayaks in the Florida Keys by Elia Chepaitis of Grassy Key, FL
The Crayon Box by Paul Marion Geiger of Ocean City, MD
Tequila Mockingbird by Lewis C. Haskell of Key West, FL

Candidates for the Award, which is supported by the Marion Stevens Fund at the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys and sponsored by Absolutely Amazing eBooks, were required to submit the first three pages of a finished, but unpublished manuscript to a judging committee led by mystery author Sandra Balzo. Ted Hertel, an attorney, author, reviewer and past executive vice president of Mystery Writers of America; Gary Warren Niebuhr, library director, reviewer and author of numerous nonfiction works on the subject of crime fiction; and Shirrel Rhoades, an author, film critic, media consultant and publisher of Absolutely Amazing eBooks completed the judging team.