Panelists & Moderators
2021 Panelists
Lou Berney is the author of November Road (winner of the Dagger, Hammett, Anthony, Barry, Lefty, and Macavity, and a Washington Post Best Book of 2018), The Long and Faraway Gone (winner of the Edgar, Anthony, Barry, Macavity, and ALA awards), Whiplash River, and Gutshot Straight, all from William Morrow. He’s also written a collection of stories, The Road to Bobby Joe, and his short fiction has appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, Ploughshares, and the Pushcart Prize anthology. He teaches in the MFA program at Oklahoma City University. louberney.com
Paul Doiron is the USA-Today and Apple Books best-selling author of the Mike Bowditch series of crime novels set in the Maine woods. His first book, The Poacher’s Son, won the Barry Award and the Strand Critics Award and was nominated for an Edgar for Best First Novel. His story “Rabid” was a finalist for the 2019 Edgar in the Best Short Story category. Paul’s twelfth book, Dead by Dawn, will be published on June 29 by Minotaur Books. Paulis also a Registered Maine Guide specializing in fly fishing. He lives on a trout stream in coastal Maine. pauldoiron.com
Trained as a medical doctor, Tess Gerritsen built a second career as a crime novelist. Her 30 novels include the Rizzoli and Isles series, on which the TV series "Rizzoli & Isles" is based. Her novels are translated into 40 languages and more than 30 million copies have been sold. tessgerritsen.com
A writer since childhood, Alexia Gordon continued writing through college but put literary endeavors on hold to finish medical school and Family Medicine residency training. Her medical career established, she returned to writing fiction. Gordon won a Lefty Award and multiple Lone Star Literary Bloggers’ Choice Awards, was nominated for an Agatha Award, became a finalist for a Silver Falchion Award, and was chosen one of Suspense Magazine‘s best debuts of 2016. She blogs with the Miss Demeanors and the Femmes Fatales, and hosts the Cozy Corner podcast. alexiagordon.net
Chris Holm is the author of the cross-genre Collector trilogy, the Michael Hendricks thrillers, and the forthcoming scientific thriller, CHILD ZERO. His work has been selected for THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES, named a New York Times Editors’ Choice, and won the 2016 Anthony Award for Best Novel. chrisholmbooks.com
Michael Koryta is the New York Times-bestselling author of 14 novels, a novella, and multiple short stories. His work has been praised by Stephen King, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Lisa Unger, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman, Daniel Woodrell, and Sandra Brown among many others, and has been translated into more than 20 languages. His books have won or been nominated for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Edgar Award, Shamus Award, Barry Award, Quill Award, International Thriller Writers Award, and the Golden Dagger. They’ve been selected as “best books of the year” by publications as diverse as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Amazon.com, O the Oprah Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, People, Reader’s Digest, iBooks, and Kirkus Reviews. michaelkoryta.com
Jess Lourey writes about secrets. She's the Amazon Charts bestselling Edgar, Agatha, and Anthony -nominated author of crime fiction, nonfiction, YA, and magical realism. She’s a tenured professor of creative writing and sociology, a recipient of The Loft's Excellence in Teaching fellowship, a Psychology Today blogger, and a TEDx presenter. jessicalourey.com
Award-winning author Isabella Maldonado wore a gun and badge in real life before turning to crime writing. The first Latina to attain the rank of captain in her police department, she retired as the Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics. During more than two decades on the force, her assignments included hostage negotiator, department spokesperson, and precinct commander. Selected to attend the FBI National Academy in Quantico, she uses her law enforcement background to bring a realistic edge to her writing. She lives in the Phoenix area where her uniform now consists of tank tops and yoga pants. Instead of bad guys, she chases around her young son when she’s not handcuffed to her computer. THE CIPHER, the first book in her new series featuring FBI Special Agent Nina Guerrera, was published in November 2020 and the sequel, A DIFFERENT DAWN, will be published in August 2021. isabellamaldonado.com
Carla Neggers is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 75 novels, including her acclaimed Sharpe & Donovan suspense series set in Boston, Maine and Ireland. Her books have been translated into two dozen languages and sold in over 35 countries. An avid runner, Carla lives in Vermont. carlaneggers.com
James W. Ziskin is the author of the Anthony and Macavity Award-winning Ellie Stone Mysteries. His short story, “The Twenty-Five-Year Engagement,” is a finalist for the 2021 Edgar Award, while his latest novel, Turn to Stone, is shortlisted for the 2021 Sue Grafton, Lefty, and Barry Awards. jameswziskin.com
Moderators & Hosts
Brenda Buchanan brings years of experience as a journalist and a lawyer to her crime fiction. She has published three books featuring Joe Gale, a newspaper reporter who covers the crime and courts beat, and is now hard at work on new projects. brendabuchananwrites.com
Richard Cass writes the Elder Darrow jazz mysteries, including In Solo Time, which won the 2018 Maine Literary Award in Crime Fiction. His short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Playboy, Gray’s Sporting Journal, ZZYZVA, and Best Short Stories of the American West, as well as other periodicals and anthologies.
rjcassbooks.com
Barbara Ross is the author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries and the Jane Darrowfield Mysteries. 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. barbararossauthor.com