Schedule of Events

Friday, September 26

4:00 PM True Crime Roadtrip!

Meet at the Maine Historical Society as a group to view Notorious: Maine Crime in the Public Eye. Special group discount available if you check the box at registration.

7:00 PM Noir at the Bar

A wild night of great readings at Novel in Portland. Details TBA.

Saturday, September 27

8:30 AM Coffee, Meetup, Book Sales

9:00 AM Opening Words

9:15 AM Speed Connections (Meeting & Greeting)

10:00 AM Break, Coffee, Bookbuying & Signing

10:20 AM Round Tables: The Craft of Writing

Roundtable conversations on: Playing the Long Game: Building an Addictive Series; One & Done: Writing Standout Standalones; Twists & Turns: Committing the Perfect Short Story; Choose Your Weapons: Writing Tools, Research, and Resources; Getting It Done: Planning, Outlining, or None of the Above; First Drafts That Kill; No Loose Ends: Revision Tactics; The Blueprint for Murder: Crime Novel Structures.

10:20 AM Workshop 1: The Author’s Six Hats with Matt Cost

11:10 AM Break, Coffee, Book-buying & Signing

Writer and Soho Press Editorial Director Juliet Grames talks about “How to Be Crafty: The Genre Writer as Artist, Editor, and Publishing Professional.” Barbara Ross introduces and leads a Q&A with Juliet.

11:10 AM Round Tables: The Business of Crime Writing

Roundtable conversations on: Crime Writing Business 101; The Path to Traditional Publishing; Hybrid & Self Publishing; Bring Your Book to Screen: Options; Short Stories: Characteristics, Markets, and Submissions; Online Marketing: Websites & Social Media; Talks, Events, and Conferences; MId-Career Blahs: Changing Agents or Publishers.

11:10 AM Workshop 2: How Not to Do a Reading with Barbara Kelley

12:15 PM Lunch & Two Minutes in the Slammer

1:00 PM Interview of 2025 Maine Crime Master Paul Doiron by Julia Spencer-Fleming

2:00 PM Break, Coffee, Book-buying & Signing

2:20 PM Round Tables: Many Mansions in the Room: Subgenres

Roundtable conversations on: The Call from Inside the House: Domestic Thrillers & Romantic Suspense; The World at Risk: High Stakes Thrillers; Professional Sleuths; Amateur Sleuths, Cozies, Traditional Mysteries; Out of this World: Paranormal/Supernatural; Younger Readers: YA/Middle Grade/Children’s; Plumbing the Past: Historical; True Crime.