Panelists/Committee 2008
| Guest of Honor Harlan Coben Agent/Editors |
Panelists Peter Abrahams Mark Ammons Stephen Anable Linda Barnes Sibylle Barrasso Brunonia Berry Gary Braver Timothy M. Burke Catherine Cairns Alex Carr Susan Conant Sheila Connolly Kathy Lynn Emerson Hallie Ephron Kate Flora Rosemary Harris Lynne Heitman |
Panelists (cont.) Roberta Isleib Daniel Judson Amy MacKinnon Richard Marinick Joe Meyers Paula Munier Joseph Olshan Vincent O'Neil Katherine Hall Page Randall Peffer Pat Remick Stephen D. Rogers Hank Phillippi Ryan Susan Schwartzman Chris Knopf Eugenia Lovett West Leslie Wheeler Raffi Yessayan |
Committee Members Catherine Cairns Hans Copek Judy Copek Sharon Daynard Michele Dorsey Hallie Ephron Kate Flora Janet Halpin Vaughn Hardacker Rosemary Harris Roberta Isleib Ruth M. McCarty Paula Munier Ray Salemi Mo Walsh Leslie Wheeler |
 Harlan Coben GUEST OF HONOR |
International bestselling author Harlan Coben was born in Newark, New Jersey. After graduating from Amherst College a political science major, Harlan worked in the travel industry. He is the winner of the Edgar, Shamus and Anthony
Awards - the first author to win all three. Harlan's critically-acclaimed Myron Bolitar series debuted in 1995, and his most recent novels including, THE WOODS, PROMISE ME, THE INNOCENT, have appeared on the top of all the major bestseller lists. In Harlan's latest novel, the stand-alone thriller HOLD TIGHT, the lives of five families intersect in unexpected, tragic and violent ways. Harlan now lives in New Jersey with his wife, Anne Armstrong-Coben MD, a pediatrician, and their four children.
www.harlancoben.com |
 Peter Abrahams |
 Mark Ammons |
Mark Ammons...
|
 Stephen Anable |
 Linda Barnes |
 Sibylle Barrasso |
 Brunonia Berry |
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Brunonia Barry studied literature
and creative writing at Green Mountain College in Vermont and at the University of New Hampshire.
She cofounded Smart Games, a company that creates brain teaser puzzles, and lives in Salem,
Massachusetts, with her husband and their believed golden retriever, Byzy. The Lace Reader is her
first novel.
www.lacereader.com |
 Gary Braver |
Gary Braver is the bestselling author of seven critically acclaimed suspense novels, including Elixir, Flashback (the only thriller to win a Massachusetts Book Award), and his latest, Skin Deep.
As Gary Goshgarian, he is an English professor at Northeastern University, teaching Modern Bestsellers, Science Fiction, Horror Fiction, and Fiction Writing. He also teaches workshops at the Maui Writers Conference.
www.garybraver.com |
 Timothy M. Burke |
In his recent book release, THE PARADISO FILES: BOSTON'S UNKNOWN SERIAL KILLER,
Burke makes his case against Lenny "The Quahog" Paradiso, a serial killer who operated undetected in
the Boston area for nearly fifteen years. Burke asserts that Paradiso assaulted many young women and
was responsible for the deaths of as many as seven. In his presentation Burke will describe his
interaction with a serial killer, highlighting the flaws and strengths of the judicial system.
He will reveal how he took a horrific story and transformed it into closure for the families of the
murdered victims. Burke will also show video footage from the trial of Paradiso, allowing the reader
to visualize the actual events as they occurred contrasted with how they were illustrated through his writing.
|
 Catherine Cairns |
Cathy Cairns has
published short mysteries in the anthologies RIPTIDE and SEASMOKE, Woman's World
magazine and RavenElectrick.
She is a web designer and webmistress for www.crimebake.org, has written for newspapers
and teaches memoir writing. She is a past president of NE Sisters in Crime. Like the heroine in her
Casey O'Hara mystery series, Cathy has a passion for history and a penchant for finding trouble.
www.catherinecairns.com |
 Alex Carr |
 Susan Conant |
 Sheila Connolly |
Sheila Connolly tried plenty of careers before she finally
settled on writing mysteries. Five years and sixteen shelved manuscripts
later she sold two series in a year. ONE BAD APPLE, and THROUGH A GLASS, DEADLY and its sequel PANE OF DEATH (written as Sarah Atwell) were all published in 2008.
www.sheilaconnolly.com |
Kathy Lynn Emerson |
Kathy Lynn Emerson also writes as Kaitlyn Dunnett. Kathy's most recent book, written as Kaitlyn Dunnett, is SCONE COLD DEAD, a Liss MacCrimmon mystery. As Kathy Lynn Emerson, she writes two historical mystery series, the Elizabethan FACE DOWN mysteries and the Diana Spaulding Quartet, set in 1888. She also wrote HOW TO WRITE KILLER HISTORICAL MYSTERIES.
www.kathylynnemerson.com |
Hallie Ephron |
Hallie Ephron is the author of WRITING AND SELLING YOUR
MYSTERY NOVEL: HOW TO KNOCK 'EM DEAD WITH STYLE (Writers Digest Books) which was
nominated for a 2006 Edgar award and a 2006 Anthony award. She is also co-author of
the Dr. Peter Zak five of psychological mysteries by G. H. Ephron from St. Martin's
Minotaur, including GUILT. Sge writes a monthly “On Crime” book review column for the
Boston Globe and won the 2005 Ellen Nehr Award for Excellence in Mystery Reviewing.
www.hallieephron.com |
 Kate Flora |
Kate Flora is the author of 10 books, nine works of crime fiction
and the Edgar-nominated true crime FINDING AMY: A TRUE STORY OF MURDER IN MAINE, which was also
a finalist in the Maine Literary Awards. Readers and reviewers have praised Flora for her capacity
to create complex, multi-layered characters. She has published numerous short stories,
profiles of other writers, and essays about writing. Flora has taught fiction writing for more
than a decade. She is currently working on an MFA at Vermont College.
www.kateflora.com |
 Rosemary Harris |
Rosemary Harris is a former bookstore manager, video producer and media executive ( WNET, Crown Publishers, ABC-TV Video.) She is VP of NE/SinC and a board member of MWA/NY. PUSHING UP DAISIES is the first in the Dirty Business mystery series featuring amateur sleuth Paula Holliday. A short story that is a prequel to the book appeared in STILL WATERS, an anthology of New England Crime Writers. Book two in the series, THE BIG DIRT NAP is due next March. Rosemary and her husband split their time between New York and Connecticut where she is a certified master gardener.
www.rosemaryharris.com |
 Lynne Heitman |
Lynne Heitman is a past co-chair of the Crime Bake Committee and has
served two terms as President, MWA New England. Her Alex Shanahan thriller series grew out of
her fourteen-year career with American Airlines and her experiences as general manager for
American Airlines at Boston's Logan Airport. THE PANDORA KEY, the fourth book
in the series, is available now from Pocket Books.
www.lynneheitman.com |
 Roberta Isleib |
Clinical psychologist Roberta Isleib's series
starring a Connecticut psychologist and advice columnist debuted in 2007 with
DEADLY ADVICE. She
says the work of the detective in a mystery has quite a bit in common with
long-term psychotherapy: Start with a problem, follow the threads looking
for clues, and gradually fill in the big picture. So this career move
turned out to be a natural progression! Roberta is a member of MWA, the
president of National Sisters in Crime, and the past president of the New
England chapter. Her books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha,
Anthony, and Macavity awards.
www.robertaisleib.com |
 Daniel Judson |
Daniel Judson...
|
 Chris Knopf |
Chris Knopf writes the Sam Acquillo Hamptons Mystery series.
In a starred review for HEAD WOUNDS (08), Publishers Weekly said "it's the endearing and deeply flawed Acquillo
that's the heart and soul of this exceptional series."
Knopf is a principal with Mintz & Hoke Communications group in Avon, CT.
www.sameddie.com |
Amy MacKinnon |
Richard Marinick |
Richard Marinick ...
|
 Ruth McCarty |
Ruth M. McCarty is an editor and partner in Level Best Books.
Her short mysteries have appeared in UNDERTOW, RIPTIDE, WINDCHILL, and SEASMOKE: Crime Stories
by New England Writers. Ruth has received honorable mentions in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery
Magazine and N.E.W.N. for her flash fiction.
www.ruthmmccarty.com |
Joe Meyers |
Chicago native Joe Meyers writes about movies and books for
the Connecticut Post in Bridgeport, CT. A collection of Joe's pieces about film
stars of the past - "Whatever Happened to..." – went through several printings.
Recently, Joe has hosted several "Critics' Choice" evenings at the non-profit Avon Theatre
Film Center in Stamford, including a screening of "The Producers" which was followed by
Joe's Q&A with the film's star Gene Wilder.
http://forum.connpost.com/joe |
 Paula Munier |
An acquisitions editor by day and writer by night,
Paula Munier is the Director of Product Development for Adams Media and the author
of ON BEING BLONDE and YA novel EMERALD'S DESIRE. Her short stories have appeared
in such anthologies as HERSTORY, ANGEL OVER MY SHOULDER, TOUR OF DUTY, HORSE CRAZY,
SCRIPTURE TO LIVE BY, RAGING GRACEFULLY, and LETTERS TO MY TEACHER. She's currently
at work on THE LADY LUCK DETECTIVE AGENCY, a mystery set in Las Vegas.
|
 Vincent H. O’Neil |
Vincent O’Neil is the author of the Malice Award-winning Frank Cole
mystery series (MURDER IN EXILE, REDUCED CIRCUMSTANCES, and EXILE TRUST). A native of Massachusetts,
he holds a Bachelor of Science from West Point and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from
The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
www.vincenthoneil.com |
 Katherine Hall Page |
Katherine Hall Page is the only writer to date who has won an
Agatha in the three categories: Best First Mystery, Best Novel, and best Short Story. Her
traditional mystery series featuring amateur sleuth and caterer Faith Fairchild are set in
the fictitious town of Aleford, Massachusetts with forays to the coast of Maine, France, Norway,
and the Big Apple, Faith's hometown. Page had a long career in Education and holds a doctorate
in the field. She has been a full-time writer since 1990.
www.katherine-hall-page.org |
 Randall Peffer |
 Pat Remick |
Winner of the 2007 Al Blanchard Award, Pat Remick has stories in
the DEADFALL and STILL WATERS anthologies, and is working on a novel. The veteran journalist and
freelance writer also co-authored two non-fiction books with husband Frank Cook. They live in
New Hampshire with their two sons.
www.patremick.com |
 Stephen D. Rogers |
 Hank Phillippi Ryan |
Award-winning investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan is currently on
the air at Boston's NBC affiliate, where she's broken big stories for the past 22 years. Along with her 26 EMMYs, Hank's won also won dozens of other journalism honors. She's been a radio reporter, a proofreader, a legislative aide in the US Senate and on staff at Rolling Stone Magazine. Her first mysteries, PRIME TIME (winner Agatha Award for Best First Novel
of 2007, double RITA nominee and DAPHNE nominee and FACE TIME (Book Sense Notable Book), were best sellers. The next in the series, AIR TIME and DRIVE TIME, are also coming soon from MIRA Books.
www.hankphillippiryan.com |
 Susan Schwartzman |
Eugenia Lovett West |
 Leslie Wheeler |
An award-winning author,
Leslie writes the "living history" mystery series featuring
amateur sleuth Miranda Lewis. Titles include MURDER AT PLIMOTH PLANATION and
MURDER AT GETTYSBURG. Leslie is currently at work on the third book in her series, MURDER AT MYSTIC
(Seaport). Her crime stories have appeared in WINDCHILL and SEASMOKE, anthologies by Level Best Books.
A former VP of NE Sisters in Crime, she now serves as Speakers Bureau coordinator for the chapter.
She is also a member of MWA and the Crime Bake Committee.
www.lesliewheeler.com |
Raffi Yessayan |
Raffi Yessayan is the former chief of the Gang Unit in the Suffolk County DA's Office in Boston. He is currently in private practice as a criminal defense attorney. During his career in the DA's office he prosecuted many violent offenders and lectured nationally on the issues of gangs, guns and crime prevention strategies. Through his work, he learned that the grand jury's subpoena power is one of the most effective tools in investigating and solving shootings and other violent crimes. Unless you have been prosecutor or have sat on a grand jury, you probably have no idea what goes on during this secret proceeding. His presentation includes powerful film footage of former gang members who learned first hand the tragic consequences associated with gang life. He also reveals the mysterious nuts and bolts of grand jury procedure and the more advanced techniques used specifically in the prosecution of violent crime. Yessayan will provide practical tips for translating such real-life experience into fiction.
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Luci Zahary |
One of man's earliest discoveries was the trinity of plants: beauty, utility and death. Come explore the range of effects from healing to agonized death found in the garden. Bring your plants, cuttings, dried blooms and seed packets for show and tell.
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