Press Releases
Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference 19 Years of Bringing Diverse & Talented Writers Together
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2024 marks the 19th anniversary of the Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference (August 22nd through 25th at the Embassy Suites Nashville South/ Cool Springs Hotel in Franklin, TN), where established and aspiring writers from all over the world gather to network and develop their writing skills in the mystery, thriller, suspense, action, and romance genres.
This year’s distinguished guests of honor are USA Today and #1 internationally bestselling author of the award-winning psychological suspense novels The Marsh King’s Daughter and The Wicked Sister, Karen Dionne, and New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over sixty suspense, dark paranormal, and contemporary romances, Rebecca Zanetti. In addition, four keynote speakers and over 150 panel/workshop sessions will be offered ranging from the business and craft of writing to forensic and law enforcement presentations.
Other Killer Nashville offerings are:
Networking Opportunities
Agent Roundtable Sessions
Agent Manuscript Critiques
Mock Crime Scene
“Ready, Set, Pitch” Workshop
Killer Nashville Bookstore – Author Signings
Last year’s conference featured 179 authors/panelists, 153 presentations, over 400 attending authors, 352 Volunteers worldwide, 8 book signings open to the public, and multiple networking events!
In addition to the conference, Killer Nashville hosts two award contests. Winners and finalists of these awards are recognized at the Killer Nashville Awards Dinner on Saturday evening, August 24th at 7:00 p.m.
The Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award – This award seeks to recognize the best books published in North America in 2023 (Deadline is 4/1/24).
Killer Nashville Claymore Award – This award seeks to find new authors and help them realize their publishing dream (Deadline is 4/1/24).
Killer Nashville knows the importance of every voice being heard and encourages and strives to be a venue where writers of every background and orientation are free to thrive and grow in their skills.
Conference scholarships are available to authors who demonstrate financial need in an essay format.
For further conference details, visit www.killernashville.com.
Killer Nashville Founder, Clay Stafford, Named PW Star Watch Honoree
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN
August 1, 2019
Clay Stafford Named 2019 Star Watch Honoree
NASHVILLE — Founder of Killer Nashville, Clay Stafford, has been announced as an honoree in the fifth annual Publishers Weekly Star Watch program. A total of 50 honorees from the U.S. and Canada were selected by a jury composed of editors and managers of Publishers Weekly, Frankfurter Buchmesse, and the American Booksellers Association. According to PW, honorees were “chosen for their trailblazing spirit, innovative problem-solving, and leadership qualities.”
“I was very surprised when I heard the news that I was a Star Watch 2019 Honoree. My thanks to the editors and managers of Publishers Weekly, Frankfurter Buchmesse, and the American Booksellers Association for this honor,” said Stafford.
Of the 50 honorees, the Top 5 who stood out amongst the rest will be announced in the September 2, 2019 issue of Publishers Weekly. Of those, one “Superstar” will be named at a celebratory event in New York City.
The winner will receive a sponsored trip to the Frankfurt Book Fair.
For a complete list of honorees, visit the Publishers Weekly website.
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference Voted One of Nation’s Best
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN
February 1, 2019
Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference
Voted One of Nation’s Best
NASHVILLE — The Writer magazine, one of the nation’s oldest publications focusing on the craft of writing, recently asked readers from all over the U.S. to vote for the best writing conference in their respective states. Killer Nashville was voted the best writing conference in Tennessee.
Of Killer Nashville, The Writer says, “One of the best-loved genre events in the U.S., this conference attracts writers, agents, editors, fans of crime and thriller literature, and forensic experts from across the country.”
The annual Killer Nashville International Writers’ conference was created in 2006 as a way to give back to the writing community and educate/empower writers in all stages of their careers.
The 2019 conference will take place August 22 - 25 at the Embassy Suites in Franklin, TN. The 2019 Guests of Honor are Alexandra Ivy, David Morrell, and Joyce Carol Oates.
To register for the event, please visit https://killernashville.com/register/
Organization Contact:
Killer Nashville, contact@KillerNashville.com, 615-599-4032, www.KillerNashville.com
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
Johnson City, TN and Shaker Heights, OH Authors Win Writing Scholarship From Bestselling Author Lisa Jackson
The Killer Nashville Lisa Jackson Scholarship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nashville, TN — “Writers’ voices need to be heard,” says Clay Stafford, founder of the annual Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference. “And we are delighted to continue to discover the literary voices of tomorrow. This grant—given to Killer Nashville by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson—is a way for anyone to advance his or her writing career, no matter where they are in life. This is a scholarship that makes dreams come true.”
Johnson City, Tennessee author Katherine Bailey and Shaker Heights, Ohio author Angela Watts are this year’s Killer Nashville Lisa Jackson Scholarship Award recipients. Attending Killer Nashville has been a goal of both women for many years. Both are dedicated writers, but in terms of making it to the conference, something has always come up for each. Thanks to the financial support of Kensington romantic suspense author Lisa Jackson, these two women are finally coming to pitch their stories to agents and editors, and follow the successful paths of others before them.
Dreams do come true at Killer Nashville. Killer Nashville has been responsible for hundreds of author/agent/publisher connections, as well as several movie deals.
Lisa Jackson said, “Over the years, writing conferences have helped me connect with other writers, editors and agents. In my opinion Killer Nashville is one of the best, so I’d like to help other writers by offering this scholarship.”
Because it is an organization based upon giving back, Publisher’s Weekly says Killer Nashville gives “fledgling writers a supportive environment in which to develop their talent” and both Clay Stafford and Killer Nashville play “an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers” throughout “the nation’s book culture.”
The annual Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and genre literature. The conference draws attendees from as far away as Portmahomack, Scotland; Rome, Italy; and Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. Each winner this year will be in an international mix of publishing professionals who are in a place to guide her in her publishing career.
On August 20, 2016, in Nashville, Tennessee, both Katherine and Angela will be talking to a group of authors at the Guest of Honor Dinner about why their literary voices matter. In the audience will be none other than the likes of bestselling authors Janet Evanovich, Kevin O’Brien, Robert Randisi, Anne Perry, Charles Todd, William Kent Krueger, and more, all pushing for each lady’s future success. The public is invited to attend.
Anyone with dreams of becoming a writer is encouraged to apply for the scholarship for Killer Nashville 2017 at http://www.killernashville.com/awards-and-scholarships/
For more information please visit www.KillerNashville.com.
Press Contact:
Chelsea Apple/ (615) 928-246-5105/ chelsea@jkscommunications.com
Organization Contact:
Killer Nashville, contact@KillerNashville.com, 615-599-4032, www.KillerNashville.com
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
Top 10 Finalists for 2016 Killer Nashville Claymore Awards Announced
Killer Nashville Logo
THE KILLER NASHVILLE CLAYMORE AWARDFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Nashville, TN. July 26, 2016Nashville, TN — “Nothing makes the Killer Nashville Claymore Award judges happier than discovering writing gems,” says Killer Nashville founder Clay Stafford. “And that’s what we found in this year’s Top 10 selections. These will be the writers you’ll want to discover for tomorrow.”The Top 10 2016 Killer Nashville Claymore Awards finalists are:
Alicia Anthony (Jeffersonville, Ohio)
J. J. Beall (Arlington, Virginia)
R. G. Belsky (New York, New York)
Patricia James Dusenbury (San Francisco, California)
Mercedes King (Pickerington, Ohio)
Marlene Kurban (Bristol, Connecticut)
Laura Renee Oles (San Marcos, Texas)
Peggy O’Neal Peden (Nashville, Tennessee)
Roger Toll (Los Angeles, California)
S.B. Woodson (Woodbridge, Virginia)
All of these authors blew away Killer Nashville Claymore Award judges (all bestselling and award-winning authors in their own right) and Morgan Elwell, the final judge at Kensington Publishing.Since 2006, the Killer Nashville organization has been encouraging and discovering new talent in genre writing.Publisher’s Weekly says Killer Nashville gives “fledgling writers a supportive environment in which to develop their talent” and both Clay Stafford & Killer Nashville play “an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers” throughout “the nation’s book culture.”Stafford says, “These Top 10 are where you are going to find your next superstars.”The Killer Nashville Claymore Awards recognize the first fifty pages of an unpublished manuscript. The Top Ten Finalists are introduced to agents, editors, publishers, filmmakers and most find their work published and internationally available within the next two years, if not before. Some even find their work optioned for Hollywood. These are traditionally published books with traditional author advances. These ten authors now find themselves in that exclusive company.The Top 10 Runner-Ups and the Killer Nashville Claymore Award Winner will be announced in Nashville, Tennessee on August 20, 2016 at the Killer Nashville Guest of Honor and Awards Dinner. In attendance at the ceremony will be bestselling authors Janet Evanovich, Kevin O’Brien, Robert Randisi, Anne Perry, Charles Todd, William Kent Krueger, and more. The public is invited to attend.Readers are encouraged to come and meet these authors—and others—at all of Killer Nashville’s author-friendly activities. FREE book signings will be ongoing all weekend through Killer Nashville’s bookstore partner Parnassus Books onsite at the Embassy Suites in Cool Springs. http://www.killernashville.com/parnassus/For more information please visit: http://www.killernashville.com.Writers may enter their unpublished manuscripts for next year’s awards at http://www.killernashville.com/awards/claymore-award-2/A FREE-TO-THE-PUBLIC online signing schedule and other reader-friendly Parnassus Books-sponsored events are at http://www.killernashville.com/guests-of-honor/ and http://www.killernashville.com/parnassus/.
Press Contact:
Chelsea Apple/ (615) 928-246-5105/ chelsea@jkscommunications.com
Organization Contact:
Killer Nashville,
, 615-599-4032,
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2015 November 10 - 2015 Killer Nashville Award Winners Named
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. November 10, 2015
NASHVILLE – Recipients of Killer Nashville’s Silver Falchion and Claymore Awards were recognized Saturday, October 31, during the Killer Nashville Awards Dinner at the Omni Nashville Hotel.
The Silver Falchion Award honors the best books readily available to a North American audience in both fiction and nonfiction from the previous year. This past year, nearly 600 authors entered the competition.
A team of professional writers, published authors, avid readers, and librarians read all Silver Falchion submissions. A special rubric is used to determine finalists and winners. In most categories, five titles were selected as finalists.
For the first time, to recognize all who have submitted books, Killer Nashville offered a new component to the Silver Falchion competition, The Readers’ Choice Award. All submissions to the Silver Falchion were considered for this award, and the winner was determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to visit the Killer Nashville website to select their favorite 2015 Silver Falchion submission.
“We were pleased to receive so many great submissions for this year’s Silver Falchion Award,” said Clay Stafford, Killer Nashville Founder and CEO of American Blackguard, Inc. “Our dedication to select and recognize the best from our pool of talented and hard-working authors proved to be particularly challenging this year, as the entries were all of a superior caliber. All of the authors deserve recognition for their hard work and for taking part in this competition.”
Killer Nashville is also pleased to announce that Michael F. Stewart is the winner of this year’s Claymore Award for his novel The Boy Who Swallows Flies.
Stewart, who lives in Ottawa, Canada with his wife and four daughters, says he has always wanted to be a writer, though he had a short career as a venture capitalist before he was given the chance to do so. He first discovered Killer Nashville in 2013 after his publicist approached him to see if he’d be interested in submitting a book for consideration in the Silver Falchion Award competition. Though he didn’t win that year, his receipt of this accolade proves that persistence can pay off.
When asked what being the 2015 Claymore Award Winner meant to him, Stewart said, “To have ‘Award Winner’ on your novel BEFORE you publish it? That’s a real coup. Juried awards like the Claymore are incredible in that they are judged by publishers, agents, and authors—It’s a wonderful stamp of approval as I seek out the best home for my book. Winning the Claymore builds confidence and it looks ridiculously cool on my bookshelf! I’m stunned and grateful.”
Killer Nashville founder Clay Stafford created the Claymore Award as a way to help aspiring authors along the pathway to publication. And, since its inception, Claymore Award winners and finalists have found success in the publishing industry, many with book and movie deals.
The competition is open to any author, whether published or not. However, the contest is limited to only unpublished manuscripts not currently under contract.
Ten finalists are chosen through a blind judging process. The winner receives an engraved replica of a claymore dagger, free admission to the current year’s Killer Nashville, and more. The top ten finalists also receive rewards.
Any manuscript of exceptional merit deemed ready for submission will be recommended by Killer Nashville to agents, editors, and publishers regardless of placement in the contest.
Also awarded during the banquet was the Dupin Detective Award, a special recognition for an individual who, through superior sleuthing skills, solves Killer Nashville’s most popular annual feature, the Crime Scene. Staged by forensic professionals, the crime scene is an adaptation of real crime scenes they have encountered.
Bobbi Blake took home this honor, which includes free registration to Killer Nashville 2016.
Blake has a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Michigan and has predeominently written non-fiction in past years—but now she is “trying [her] hand at writing a mystery.”
It would seem that Blake is a natural at dissecting a mystery, as dozens of would-be crime solvers were duped by this year’s mock crime scene. Blake, however, was able to piece all the evidence together masterfully, a feat she attributes, in part, to the information she gleaned from the suspect interviews.
“The biggest clue—marks on the victim’s neck from a stun gun or taser,” said Blake when asked what tipped her off. “In the first two interviews (with the Omni employee who discovered the body and then the hotel security officer), the victim, Ralph Reed, was described as ‘on his stomach with his hands tied behind his back’ with zip ties. That indicated pre-meditation.”
Blake is a repeat attendee of the Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference, and it doesn’t take a crack sleuth to figure out why.
“I particularly enjoyed meeting other aspiring and actual authors and hearing their stories at Killer Nashville 2015. They were amazing in their support to a new fiction writer,” Blake said.
The annual Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. The conference draws attendees from as far away as Portmahomack, Scotland; Rome, Italy; and Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. For interviews or more information: www.KillerNashville.com, Contact@KillerNashville.com, 615-599-4032.
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2015 July 27 – 2015 Killer Nashville Attending Agents and Editors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. July 27, 2015
NASHVILLE – Nine leaders of the publishing industry will share their expertise – and search for new clients – at the 2015 Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference October 29-November 1 at the Nashville Omni Hotel.
From Los Angeles to New York City, the agents include Sheree Bykofsky of Sheree Bykofsky Associates; Mary Cummings of Diversion Books; Deni Dietz of Five Star Mysteries; Susan Finesman of Fine Literary Agency; Cate Hart of Corvisiero Agency; Jennifer Johnson-Blalock of Liza Dawson Literary Agency; Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary Agency; Elizabeth Poteet of St. Martin’s Press; and Alec Shane of Writers House.
The agents and editors are instrumental to the four-day writers’ conference. They will serve as a valuable resource to the more than 500 conference attendees, discovering new writing talent in social settings such as Thursday night’s Killer Nashville Wine Tasting Event, Friday night’s free Sisters in Crime Party, Saturday night’s free Mystery Writers of America Cocktail Party, and the Killer Nashville Guest of Honor Dinner. Registered attendees will also get individual attention as agents and editors review manuscripts in roundtable group settings with several writers and agents working together, and through one-on-one manuscript critiques and advising, as well as informal bar chats.
“Every year the conference attracts the best and brightest agents and editors,” said Clay Stafford, founder of the Killer Nashville conference. “This year is no exception. Having quality agents and editors who are actively seeking new clients is so important to our conference mission and we provide multiple ways for writers to meet with these people, either individually or in group settings. I think that is why our author placement with agents and publishers has been so successful. We want our attendees to receive the best and most relevant industry-related advice possible. And finding traditional representation and publication for these authors is icing on the cake.”
Killer Nashville is a division of American Blackguard, Inc., and is a volunteer-supported charitable literary organization that connects authors with professional information, other writers, new readers, and industry professionals through an annual conference and an online magazine, among other supporting events and publications.
This year, Killer Nashville will celebrate its 10th anniversary with panel discussions, workshops, presentations, activities, and its first free Killer Nashville BookCon October 31 at the Nashville Omni Hotel and Convention Center.
Press Contact:
Sarah Frost, JKS Communications, sarah@jkscommunications.com, (615) 928-2472
Organization Contact:
Maria Giordano, Killer Nashville, contact@KillerNashville.com, 615-599-4032, www.KillerNashville.com
Primary Web Resources:
www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com
www.KillerNashvilleBookCon.com
Secondary Web Resources:
American Blackguard http://americanblackguard.com/
Clay Stafford http://claystafford.com/
Omni Hotel Nashville http://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/nashville /
Sheree Bykofsky Associates http://shereebee.com/
Diversion Books http://www.diversionbooks.com/
Five Star Mysteries http://www.cengage.com/search/showresults.do?N=197+4294916909
Fine Literary Agency http://fineliterary.com/
Corvisiero Agency http://www.corvisieroagency.com/
Liza Dawson Literary Agency http://www.lizadawsonassociates.com/
Talcott Notch Literary Agency http://www.talcottnotch.net/
St. Martin’s Press http://us.macmillan.com/publishers/st-martins-press /
Writers House http://www.writershouse.com
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2015 June 22 – Thriller Writer to be Honored at Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. June 22, 2015
NASHVILLE Author John Gilstrap has been named Guest of Honor at the 2015 Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference October 29-November 1.
A New York Times bestselling author, John will meet with Killer Nashville Founder Clay Stafford for an interview and will be recognized during the four-day conference’s culminating ceremony guest of honor dinner October 31 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. He will also be on hand to meet with other writers and fans during the first Killer Nashville BookCon.
“Killer Nashville is one of the most highly-buzzed conferences out there,” John said. “What I hear most often is some variation of, ‘It’s my favorite conference for crime fiction anywhere.’ To be named Guest of Honor is breathtaking, humbling. It’s even more humbling when I look at the names that have preceded me, all of whom are writers I deeply admire. What a thrill!”
John will join past Guest of Honor alums such as Peter Straub, Lisa Jackson, Jeffery Deaver and Anne Perry, to name just a few.
John is author of Against All Enemies, End Game, High Treason, Damage Control, Threat Warning, Hostage Zero, No Mercy, Nathan’s Run, At All Costs, Even Steven, Scott Free and Six Minutes to Freedom. In addition, John has written four screenplays for Hollywood, adapting the works of Nelson DeMille, Norman McLean and Thomas Harris. He is contracted to write and co-produce the film adaptation of his book, Six Minutes to Freedom.
A frequent speaker at literary events, John also teaches seminars on suspense writing techniques at a wide variety of venues, from local libraries to The Smithsonian Institution.
Outside of his writing life, John is a renowned safety expert with extensive knowledge of explosives, hazardous materials, and fire behavior. John lives with his wife in Fairfax, VA.
This year will be the 10th anniversary of the Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference October 29-November 1, 2015 to be held at the Omni Nashville Hotel.
www.KillerNashville.com
www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com
The annual Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. The conference draws attendees from as far away as Portmahomack, Scotland; Rome, Italy; and Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. For interviews or more information: www.KillerNashville.com, Contact@KillerNashville.com, 615-599-4032.
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2015 June 22 - Killer Nashville Donates to the Nashville Public Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. June 22, 2015
NASHVILLE – Killer Nashville founder Clay Stafford recently gifted more than 200 books to the Nashville Public Library on behalf of the Killer Nashville organization.
The books will be processed for circulation at the main library, branches throughout Davidson County, and for literary programs sponsored by the public library. Many of the titles offered are from former Silver Falchion nominees and winners who participated in the Killer Nashville literary competition.
“One of the goals of Killer Nashville is to encourage reading and writing, and to give back to the community,” said Clay Stafford. He arranged the library donation through Betsy Fisher, manager of reference and nonfiction materials, and Kyle Barber, manger of adult services such as the inmate reading program.
Earlier this year, another nearly 300 books were donated to Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee; Heritage Middle School in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee; and Father Ryan High School in Nashville.
“We really welcome the donation,” said Betsy, explaining that the books will benefit the library throughout the system. There are 20 branches serving Davidson County residents.
In the Nashville Public Library’s Grand Reading Room are, from left, Maria Giordano of American Blackguard Inc., Kyle Barber, the library’s manager of adult services, Clay Stafford, CEO of American Blackguard and founder of Killer Nashville, and Betsy Fisher, senior researcher. Stafford donated more than 200 books to the library Friday, June 19, 2015. Click on the photo to see it in hi-resolution.
Some of the books will replace existing books that have been damaged or lost. Others will provide a print copy for titles they have in eBook form only. In some cases, they will have multiple copies of a title, and others will be new authors for them.
The Nashville Public Library began circulating as the Howard Library in 1898. Over the years, it has grown through donations from the likes of Andrew Carnegie. As Nashville grew, so did its library and its branches. The new Nashville Public Library on Church Street opened in 2001.
In 2014, Killer Nashville donated over 2,400 books, valued at over $48,000, to needy schools, libraries, and literacy organizations. Past activities include outreach campaigns with libraries and literacy organizations, programs involving the international fostering and support of children, and the building of libraries in Africa.
Killer Nashville is a division of American Blackguard, Inc., and is a volunteer-supported charitable literary organization that connects authors with professional information, other writers, new readers, and industry professionals through an annual conference and other supporting publications and events.
This year, Killer Nashville will celebrate its 10th anniversary as an international writers’ conference with a four-day event to be held October 29-November 1 at the Nashville Omni Hotel.
For interviews or more information: www.KillerNashville.com, Contact@KillerNashville.com, 615-599-4032
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2015 May 1 - Bestselling Author Lisa Jackson Announces Killer Nashville Scholarship Fund for Needy Writers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. May 1, 2015
NASHVILLE — Before Lisa Jackson became an internationally known bestselling author, she was a single mom struggling to put food on the table. She hoped against hope that someone would pay for her stories and that day came.
Lisa is now the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 85 novels, including Close to Home, Never Die Alone, and next January, After She’s Gone. She is also the co-author of the “Colony” series with her sister Nancy Bush. There are over 20 million copies of Lisa’s books in print in 20 languages.
Lisa has been a big supporter of the annual Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference because of its advocacy for writers. The 10th anniversary of the conference is October 29-November 1, 2015 to be held at the Omni Nashville Hotel.
Every year, organizers of the Killer Nashville event select successful authors to share their story and to serve as Guest of Honor at a special dinner. Lisa was one of the Guests of Honor at the 2014 conference.
Now, Lisa wants to give back, and has donated money to start a Lisa Jackson / Killer Nashville Scholarship Fund. Her wish is to help authors struggling financially who want to attend the Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference.
Jackson says, “Over the years, writing conferences have helped me connect with other writers, editors and agents. In my opinion Killer Nashville is one of the best, so I’d like to help another writer or two to have the opportunity to attend by offering this scholarship.”
Funds will be awarded to authors who demonstrate need in an essay format. The money will be used to pay for attendance to the conference, breakout sessions, a critique, lodging, and other expenses on a case-needed basis.
“Here’s to having a blast at Killer Nashville, where there’s a lot to be learned and fun to be found,” Lisa said.
To learn about scholarship guidelines click here.
www.KillerNashville.com
www.KillerNashvilleMagazine.com
The annual Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. The conference draws attendees from as far away as Portmahomack, Scotland; Rome, Italy; and Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. For interviews or more information: www.KillerNashville.com, Contact@KillerNashville.com, 615-599-4032.
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2015 January 6 - Killer Nashville Is Looking for The Best Books of 2014, Silver Falchion Awards Open for Nominations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. January 6, 2015
WHAT: 10th annual Killer Nashville® International Thriller, Mystery and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference
WHEN: October 29 – November 1, 2014
WHERE: Omni Hotel, Nashville, TN
Killer Nashville is looking for the best thriller, suspense, and mystery books of 2014 for the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award.
Last year, more than 25 new and revered authors were honored with this prestigious award during the annual Killer Nashville Guest of Honor and Awards Banquet held at the Omni Nashville Hotel August 21-24. Books published during 2013 were considered for this award.
As with previous years, authors have the opportunity to receive one of three major awards at http://www.KillerNashville.com, a premier international conference for mystery, thriller, and crime fiction authors and fans. Among the awards given is the Silver Falchion, which honors the best books readily available to a North American audience in both fiction and nonfiction during a calendar year.
Last year’s Silver Falchion award winners included authors Williams Kent Krueger, Jeffery Deaver, Maggie Toussaint, Sue Grafton and a host of others.
Killer Nashville is now accepting submissions for the 2015 http://www.killernashville.com/silver-falchion-award/.
“We’re looking for the best of the best,” said Clay Stafford, founder of Killer Nashville.
Last year’s winners were:
Best Novel:
Cozy/Traditional Mystery – Maggie Toussaint, Dime if I Know
Crime Thriller – Michael Sears, Mortal Bonds
Historical – Anne Perry, Blind Justice
Literary Mystery/Suspense/Thriller – William Kent Drueger, Ordinary Grace
Political/Adventure/Espionage Thriller, Jeffery Deaver, The Kill Room
Private Detective/Police Procedural/Mystery, Sue Grafton, “W” is for Wasted
Romantic Suspense – Lisa Jackson, Tell Me
Speculative/Horror/Science Fiction/Fantasy – Dean Koontz, Innocence
Long-Form Novelty Fiction: Poetry/Graphic Novel/Experimental – Lee Child et al., Inherit the Dead
Best First Novel:
Cozy / Traditional / and Historical – Dee Phelps, The Disappointment Room
Literary Suspense – Jamie Mason, Three Graves Full
Thriller / Mystery – Lisa Cutts, Never Forget
Best Nonfiction:
Academic (Tie) – Charles J. Rzepka, Being Cool: The Work of Elmore Leonard; and Bruce Shaw, Jolly Good Detecting: Humor in English Crime Fiction of the Golden Age
Craft and Business of Writing – Chuck Wendig, The Kick-Ass Writer
Mainstream Crime Reference – Brad Meltzer with Katie Ferrell, History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time
Memoir / Biography – Anne Serling, As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod Serling
True Crime – Judith Yates, The Devil You Know
Best Children, Middle Grade, and Young Adult (YA):
Children’s Picture Book – Janice S. C. Petrie (Writer, Illustrator), Did You Make the Hole In the Shell In the Sea
Children’s Chapter Book (Tie) – Annie Barrows (Writer), Sophie Blackall (Illustrator), Ivy + Bean Take the Case; and Lewis B. Montgomery (Writer), Amy Wummer – The Case of the Locked Box
Middle Grade – Jessica Scott Kerrin, The Spotted Dog Last Seen
Young Adult – Elisa Nader, Escape from Eden
Best Anthology, Collection, and Attending Author:
Multi-Author Anthology – Mike Ashley (Editor), Sisters In Crime: Early Crime and Mystery Stories by Women
Single-Author Collection – Barb Goffman, Don’t Get Mad, Get Even: 15 Tales of Revenge and More
Attending Author – Don Bruns, Reel Stuff
Publishers or authors may nominate a book for the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award at http://www.KillerNashville.com.
The deadline for author-direct submissions is March 1, 2015. From March 2-14, 2015, submissions will only be accepted from publishers.
The annual Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference, was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. The conference draws attendees from as far away as Portmahomack, Scotland; Rome, Italy; and Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. For interviews or more information: www.KillerNashville.com, Contact@KillerNashville.com, 615-599-4032.
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2014 May 29 – Killer Nashville’s Guest of Honor William Kent Krueger Wins Edgar Award for “Ordinary Grace”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. May 29, 2014
WHAT: 9th annual Killer Nashville® International Thriller, Mystery and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference
WHEN: August 21-24, 2014
WHERE: Hutton Hotel & Convention Center, Nashville, TN
Bestselling author William Kent Krueger says he is overwhelmed by the extraordinary reception for his Edgar® Award-winning literary achievement with “Ordinary Grace.”
Krueger, the 2014 winner of the prestigious Edgar® Award for Best Novel, will be one of the Guests of Honor at the 9th annual Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference occurring the fourth full weekend in August.
“I can’t adequately convey how happy I am that this story so special to me has been recognized in this way,” Krueger tweeted after being honored on May 1 at the 68th annual Edgar Allan Poe Awards in New York City, honoring the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television published or produced in 2013.
Krueger, who lives in St. Paul, Minn., is best known for his long-running New York Times bestselling Cork O’Connor series which is set in the north woods of Minnesota. But says he is most proud of what he achieved with “Ordinary Grace.”
“It’s not a Cork O’Connor novel, but it’s the best thing I’ve ever written,” Krueger said. “Sometimes, as an author, you’re given a story. It comes, just comes, and it’s so compelling that it haunts you until you’ve written it. For me, that was “Ordinary Grace”…I put everything I know about storytelling into this book.”
Besides “Ordinary Grace,” Krueger also published his thirteenth Cork O’Connor book, “Tamarack County,” in August 2013.
“Having William Kent Krueger (2014 Edgar Winner) as our Guest of Honor is just another example of the high quality of our speakers this year,” said Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville. Joining Krueger as a Guest of Honor for the 2014 Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference is Lisa Jackson, who has written more than 75 novels, many of which are New York Times and USA Today bestsellers.
Krueger and Jackson will each have an interview, presentation and book signing on Saturday, August 23, followed by that evening’s Guest of Honor banquet. As the number of seats for the Guest of Honor dinner is limited, they are available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis.
Now in its ninth year, Killer Nashville has become one of the nation’s most prestigious book events. Last summer, Publishers Weekly named Killer Nashville and founder Clay Stafford as one of the top 10 Nashville literary leaders playing “an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers” not only in middle-Tennessee, but also extending “beyond the city limits and into the nation’s book culture.” (PW 6/10/13).
The Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference, held annually on the fourth full weekend in August, was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. The conference draws attendees from as far away as Portmahomack, Scotland; Rome, Italy; and Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. For interviews or more information: www.KillerNashville.com, Contact@KillerNashville.com, 615-599-4032.
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2014 May 29 – CSI Meets Law & Order in Killer Nashville’s Forensic Track
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. May 29, 2014
WHAT: 9th annual Killer Nashville® International Thriller, Mystery and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference
WHEN: August 21-24, 2014
WHERE: Hutton Hotel & Convention Center, Nashville, TN
On August 21, 2014, crime scene tape will go up at Nashville’s Five-Star Hutton Hotel, and hundreds of crime fiction readers and writers will converge to learn from and sometimes match wits with forensic anthropologists, psychologists, attorneys, and law enforcement professionals. The occasion is the Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference, a conference for fans and writers of thrillers, mysteries, and other crime literature.
In addition to a reader/fan track and three tracks of panels and presentations on the business and craft of writing, the conference offers an extensive forensics track certain to appeal to CSI fans or anyone with an interest in investigative techniques. One of Killer Nashville’s most popular annual features is a crime scene staged by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Attendees gather clues and try to solve the case. The person who best interprets the clues and solves the murder wins the Dupin Detective Award, which includes a free registration to the next year’s conference.
During the three full days of sessions, attendees will learn about various aspects of criminal investigation. Dr. Mike Tabor, recipient of the most prestigious award in the field of forensic odontology, will discuss forensic dentistry and its uses in criminal investigations, while Derek Pacifico, 22-year veteran of the San Bernardino police force will give a presentation on Friday morning. Other topics include forensic psychology, firearms, serial killers, mass murderers, organized crime intelligence, and much more.
All this helps authors add authenticity to their work while providing them with the networking with forensic professionals they need. “That’s what Killer Nashville is all about,” says Clay Stafford, the founder of Killer Nashville. “It’s about making connections for authors.”
The Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference, held annually on the fourth full weekend in August, was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. The conference draws attendees from as far away as Portmahomack, Scotland; Rome, Italy; and Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. For interviews or more information: KillerNashville.com, Contact(at)KillerNashville(dot)com, 615-599-4032.
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2014 May 29 – Killer Nashville Announces 2014 Attending Agents & Editors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. May 29, 2014
WHAT: 9th annual Killer Nashville® International Thriller, Mystery and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference
WHEN: August 21-24, 2014
WHERE: Hutton Hotel & Convention Center, Nashville, TN
This coming August, eight acquiring agents and editors will arrive at Nashville’s five-star Hutton Hotel in search of talented new authors. The occasion? The Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference, which brings together aspiring authors and publishing professionals. The conference has resulted in offers of publication and/or representation. Agent/Editor Round Tables provide an opportunity to receive feedback and the possibility of representation, while receptions and other informal gatherings offer opportunities to network and establish relationships with the attending publishing professionals.
The attending agents and editors are:
Elizabeth Copps of the Maria Carvainis Agency
Denise (Deni) Dietz of Five Star Mysteries
Cate Hart of the Corvisiero Literary Agency
Michelle Johnson of the Inklings Literary Agency
Jill Marr of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
Matt Martz of St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books
Bryon Quertermous of Exhibit A Books
Adrienne Rosado of the Nancy Yost Literary Agency
Each agent and editor will participate on panels and in a series of Agent/Editor Round Tables in which they will give constructive feedback on the first two pages of each participating attendee’s manuscript. While the Round Tables focus largely on instruction, they also serve as pitch sessions for writers whose work is already submission-ready.
A limited number of private critiques are also available from the attending publishing professionals.
As the number of seats for the agent/editor round tables is limited, they will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference, held annually on the fourth full weekend in August, was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. The conference draws attendees from as far away as Portmahomack, Scotland; Rome, Italy; and Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. For interviews or more information: KillerNashville.com, Contact(at)KillerNashville(dot)com, 615-599-4032.
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2014 May 09 - Doing Time With Sisters in Crime - 2014 Killer Nashville Event
NEW SISTERS IN CRIME EVENT ADDED TO 2014 KILLER NASHVILLE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. May 9, 2014
WHAT: 9th annual Killer Nashville® International Thriller, Mystery and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference
WHEN: August 21-24, 2014
WHERE: Hutton Hotel & Conference Center, Nashville, TN
Many budding writers struggle to find that perfect opening sentence, that killer first paragraph, but no more. International organization Sisters in Crime is sponsoring a kickoff event at Killer Nashville that is sure to set writers on the right path.
Doing Time with Sisters in Crime: Great Beginnings is a half-day writing event on Thursday, August 21, 2014, the opening day of the ninth annual writers’ conference.
“Sisters in Crime has been a supporter of Killer Nashville from Day 1. This event is part of the ever-growing expansion of Killer Nashville and its benefits to writers,” said Clay Stafford, Founder of Killer Nashville.
Participants will work with four Sisters in Crime experts – Laura DiSilverio, Catriona McPherson, Cathy Pickens and Hank Phillippi Ryan – all multi-published authors with decades of writing, publishing, and teaching experience between them. Because of the intimate setting, seating is limited.
At the event, these four bestselling authors will analyze effective opening paragraphs from crime fiction novels to see what makes them reader-snaring and awe-inspiring. The panelists will then, in turn, teach attendees their specific techniques and tips to craft great novel beginnings by:
Critiquing attendees’ anonymously submitted first paragraphs, offering key suggestions for making them more compelling and virtually un-put-downable;
Laying out specific strategies for beginning a series that will have “legs,” that will have room to grow and expand to six, ten, or twenty-six books;
Finally, they’ll put it all on the table and discuss “Our Beginnings,” the varied ways they got their start in this biz, and answer (with complete candor!) any questions attendees might have
Additionally, four names will be drawn at random during the afternoon and the winners will have their first three chapters critiqued by the instructors
The cost is only $55 for Sisters in Crime members, and $160 for non-members. (Since a year’s membership to Sisters in Crime is only $40, attendees might consider joining, if not already a member, and save $65!)
Now in its ninth year, Killer Nashville has become one of the nation’s most prestigious book events. Last summer, Publishers Weekly named Killer Nashville and founder Clay Stafford as one of the top 10 Nashville literary leaders playing “an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers” not only in middle-Tennessee, but also extending “beyond the city limits and into the nation’s book culture.” (06/10/13).
The Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conferences, held annually on the fourth full weekend in August, were created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. The conference draws attendees from as far away as Portmahomack, Scotland; Rome, Italy; and Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. For interviews or more information: www.KillerNashville.com, contact@KillerNashville.com, 615-599-4032.
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2014 April 29 - Agents & Editors Find New Writers Through Killer Nashville's Claymore Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. April 29, 2014
Authors find representation and publication as a result of Killer Nashville’s Claymore Award – All from just the first 50 pages – Deadline for the next Claymore Award competition is April 30, 2014.
Agents and editors know the quality of Killer Nashville and the Claymore Award. In fact, Publisher’s Weekly has recognized Killer Nashville and its founder Clay Stafford as playing “an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers” throughout “the nation’s book culture.” (PW 6/10/13) And now, the writers’ conference is using that clout to help authors get published.
Jill Marr, an agent with Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, is just one of the many agents who will be scouting the manuscripts of Claymore entrants in search of the next big thing at the Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference. Last year, her new Killer Nashville client Jonathan Stone landed – not only publication – but also a major movie deal.
Getting a dream agent does not include all the other perks that separate Killer Nashville from other writing contests:
over $1,500 in prizes to winners
getting an advance
getting a book published through a traditional publisher
maybe even a movie deal, such as with the success of Jonathan Stone
“That’s what Killer Nashville is all about,” says Clay Stafford, the founder of Killer Nashville. “It’s about making connections for authors.”
It’s also a great way to connect with editors. For example, Deni Deitz, the Senior Editor at Five Star Mysteries, listens for new voices in the entries submitted to the Killer Nashville Claymore Award. Deni says the Claymore is an excellent way to attract her attention, or one of the many publishers, editors, and agents who regularly search for talented writers at the annual writers’ conference.
“There are lots of really good authors out there, U.S. and Canadian. Problem is, most busy agents only read a few paragraphs, perhaps a couple of chapters, and look for reasons to turn new writers down,” Deni said. The Killer Nashville Claymore Award is a great way to bypass that rejection.
All it takes is the first 50 pages of an unpublished manuscript not currently under contract. The manuscript does not even need to be complete.
Deni says, “For our 2014 list, I picked up Bryan Robinson (Limestone Gumption), Rosalyn Rikel Ramage (Millicent’s Tower), Mark Troy (Splintered Paddle), Jessie Bishop Powell (Murder at the Rue Morgue), Carl Filbrich (Heavenly Casino), and second books by Judy Dailey and Jen Danna.”
THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT COMPETITION IS THIS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014.
Rules and registration are available at www.ClaymoreAward.com. Winners will be announced during the award ceremony at Killer Nashville on Saturday, August 23, 2014.
Not everyone’s Killer Nashville success story will match the ones mentioned, but there’s always that dream – and that possibility! Since its inception in 2009, the writing contest has led to publication for many authors and to agent representation for still more.
Judges will consider any subgenre of mystery, thriller, and suspense, including action, adventure, children’s, comedy, cozy, CSI, detective, dystopian, erotica, faith-based, fantasy, gangster, historical, horror, legal, literary, middle grade, paranormal, police procedural, political thriller, private eye, romantic suspense, science fiction (sci-fi), spy, steampunk, urban fantasy, western, women’s fiction, and young adult (YA).
The Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference, held annually on the fourth full weekend in August, was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. The conference has drawn attendees from as far away as Portmahomack, Scotland; Rome, Italy; and Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. For interviews or more information: www.ClaymoreAward.com, contact@KillerNashville.com, 615-599-4032.
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2014 April 22 - First 50 Pages In Killer Nashville Claymore Award Provides A Springboard To Author's Success Story: An Agent & a 2-Book Deal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. April 22, 2014
Deadline for the next Claymore Award competition is April 30, 2014.
Terry Shames entered the Claymore Award four years ago full of dreams. In the end, she wound up with so much more – two nominations for the prestigious Claymore Award, an agent, a two-book deal, and a nomination for a Squid Award (the 2014 Left Coast Crimes Award) and now A Killing at Cotton Hill is also a finalist for the Strand Magazine award for Best First Mystery. Killer Nashville is honored to have played a role in her success.
How influential is Killer Nashville and the Claymore Award? Publisher’s Weekly has recognized the Killer Nashville writers’ conference and its founder Clay Stafford as playing “an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers” throughout “the nation’s book culture.” (PW 6/10/13) Terry Shames had heard of Killer Nashville’s success stories and became one herself.
“I got a two-book contract for my Texas mystery series. Both of them were finalists for the Claymore Award,” said Shames, a native Texan who now resides in California.
“That’s what Killer Nashville is all about,” says Clay Stafford, the founder of Killer Nashville Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference. “It’s about making connections for authors.” This doesn’t include the other perks: over $1,500 in prizes to winners, getting a dream agent, getting an advance, getting a book published through a traditional publisher, maybe even a movie deal.
THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT COMPETITION IS APRIL 30, 2014. Rules and registration are available at www.ClaymoreAward.com. Winners will be announced during the award ceremony at Killer Nashville on Saturday, August 23, 2014.
“The first book, MURDER AT JARRETT CREEK (now A KILLING AT COTTON HILL, July 2013) was a 2010 finalist. Shortly after the announcement I got an agent I really wanted. Right after Killer Nashville made the announcement of my being a finalist again in 2012 for THE LAST DEATH OF JACK HARBIN, my agent called to say that I had an offer for the first book.
All it takes is the first 50 pages of an unpublished manuscript not currently under contract. The manuscript does not even need to be complete.
“I asked my agent if the publisher might be interested in a two-book deal. She sent them the 50 pages that I had sent for the contest, and they loved it and offered the contract for both books. Thank you Killer Nashville!”
Not everyone’s Killer Nashville success story will match Terry’s, but there’s always that dream — and that possibility! Since its inception in 2009, the writing contest has led to publication for many authors and to agent representation for still more.
Judges will consider any subgenre of mystery, thriller, and suspense, including action, adventure, children’s, comedy, cozy, CSI, detective, dystopian, erotica, faith-based, fantasy, gangster, historical, horror, legal, literary, middle grade, paranormal, police procedural, political thriller, private eye, romantic suspense, science fiction (sci-fi), spy, steampunk, urban fantasy, western, women’s fiction, and young adult (YA).
The Killer Nashville Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference, held annually on the fourth full weekend in August, was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. The conference has drawn attendees from as far away as Portmahomack, Scotland; Rome, Italy; and Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. For interviews or more information: www.ClaymoreAward.com, contact@KillerNashville.com, 615-599-4032.
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2014 April 18 - Author Finds Dream Literary Agent Through Killer Nashville Claymore Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. April 18, 2014
Previously published author enters Killer Nashville Claymore Award as a “game-changer” and hooks dream agent for next book – All from first 50 pages – Deadline for the next Claymore Award competition April 30, 2014
Jacob M. Appel published three books before his first trip to Killer Nashville, but wasn’t satisfied with the direction of his literary career.
It was Killer Nashville’s growing reputation as THE place to make literary dreams a reality that brought him to Music City and the annual Claymore Award competition. He had one singular lofty goal in mind — to find his dream agent.
Mission accomplished.
Jacob M. Appel was a Claymore Finalist with The Man Who Trounced God at Chess in August 2013. And at the writers’ conference, he connected with an agent who is helping him take his literary career to the next level.
How influential is Killer Nashville and the Claymore Award? Publisher’s Weekly has recognized Killer Nashville and its founder Clay Stafford as playing “an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers” throughout “the nation’s book culture.” (PW 6/10/13) Jacob M. Appel was aware of this.
“Being a Claymore finalist was a game-changing event in my literary career. I had already published three books, but thanks to the Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference, I landed the agent of my dreams and my newest manuscript has received attention I never thought possible,” Jacob said. This doesn’t include the other perks that separate Killer Nashville from other writing contests: over $1,500 in prizes to winners, getting an advance, getting a book published through a traditional publisher, maybe even a movie deal. “That’s what Killer Nashville is all about,” says Clay Stafford, the founder of Killer Nashville. “It’s about making connections for authors.”
“Most importantly, individuals whom I met at Killer Nashville have helped generate a buzz for my most recent novel, The Biology of Luck, that I could never have managed to create on my own,” states Jacob. “All in all, Killer Nashville is one of the best experiences for an aspiring writer available today.”
THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT COMPETITION IS APRIL 30, 2014. Rules and registration are available at www.ClaymoreAward.com. Winners will be announced during the award ceremony at Killer Nashville on Saturday, August 23, 2014.
All it takes is the first 50 pages of an unpublished manuscript not currently under contract. The manuscript does not even need to be complete.
Not everyone’s Killer Nashville success story will match Jacob’s, but there’s always that dream — and that possibility! Since its inception in 2009, the writing contest has led to publication for many authors and to agent representation for still more.
Judges will consider any subgenre of mystery, thriller, and suspense, including action, adventure, children’s, comedy, cozy, CSI, detective, dystopian, erotica, faith-based, fantasy, gangster, historical, horror, legal, literary, middle grade, paranormal, police procedural, political thriller, private eye, romantic suspense, science fiction (sci-fi), spy, steampunk, urban fantasy, western, women’s fiction, and young adult (YA).
The Killer Nashville International Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference, held annually on the fourth full weekend in August, was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. The conference has drawn attendees from as far away as Portmahomack, Scotland; Rome, Italy; and Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. For interviews or more information: www.ClaymoreAward.com, contact(at)KillerNashville(dot)com, 615-599-4032.
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234
2014 April 8 - Killer Nashville Claymore Award Nets Author Major Movie Deal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Nashville, TN. April 8, 2014
Author Goes From Killer Nashville Claymore Award Winner to Major Book & Hollywood Movie Deal – Sony, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Ron Howard. Deadline for the next Claymore Award competition is April 30, 2014.
Which is better? Winning a contest? $1,500 in prizes? Finding an agent? Getting a book published? Getting an advance? Getting a movie deal? How about all six? Winning the Killer Nashville Claymore Award may get you all this.
Nashville has long been known as the launching pad for successful country music careers, but author Jonathan Stone is an example of other success stories being written in Music City.
A longtime creative director at a New York advertising agency, Jonathan Stone’s writing career reached new heights after AGAIN won the prestigious 2012 Claymore Award at the Killer Nashville Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference.
Winning the Killer Nashville Claymore Award changed Jonathan’s career for the better. He also met his agent, Jill Marr of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, at Killer Nashville. And now the book is being developed into a movie. “That’s what Killer Nashville is all about,” says Clay Stafford, the founder of Killer Nashville. “It’s about making connections for authors.”
THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT COMPETITION IS APRIL 30, 2014. Rules and registration are available at www.ClaymoreAward.com.
Still amazed by the swiftness of how it all came together, Jonathan says AGAIN is currently re-titled MOVING DAY as a book and WRONG MOVE for film.
All it takes is the first 50 pages of an unpublished manuscript. The manuscript does not even need to be complete.
“My agent Jill (to whom I was also introduced through Killer Nashville after winning the Claymore Award) and her rights co-agent Andrea sent it to their Hollywood co-agent, who loved it,” Jonathan said.
“And next thing I know, he has five big production companies (Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment; Dan Lin, producer of the Sherlock Holmes movies, etc.) all taking it in to their respective studios – Sony, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, etc., etc.
“Then some folks we never even sent it to swooped in, made us an offer, and now have the rights – a team of two production companies – Nick Wechsler Productions (The Road, Time Traveler’s Wife, Magic Mike) and Steve Schwartz at Chockstone Pictures (The Host, Killing Them Softly, Tree of Life, etc.). Of course, a publisher made an offer two hours after the movie option deal – the tail wagged the dog! And it all got started thanks to a writing contest in Nashville!”
This kind of success doesn’t happen for everyone, of course, but winning the Claymore Award does indeed open the door to the possibility. Since its inception in 2009, the writing contest has led to publication for many authors and to agent representation for still more.
Killer Nashville’s Claymore Award offers aspiring authors more than $1,500 worth of prizes, plus a possible book advance and publication, plus possible agent representation, and – in the case of Jonathan Stone – a possible movie deal.
Judges will consider any subgenre of mystery, suspense, or thriller, including political thriller, cozy, police procedural, private eye, romantic suspense, paranormal mystery, and historical mystery.
Finalists will be posted on the Killer Nashville website and on our past winners page prior to the conference. Winners will be announced during the award ceremony at Killer Nashville on Saturday, August 23, 2014.
The Killer Nashville Thriller, Mystery, and Crime Literature Writers’ Conference, held annually on the fourth full weekend in August, was created in 2006 by author/filmmaker Clay Stafford to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature. The conference draws attendees from as far away as Portmahomack, Scotland; Rome, Italy; and Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. For interviews or more information: www.KillerNashville.com, www.ClaymoreAward.com, Contact@KillerNashville.com, 615-599-4032. Click here to download a copy of this release.
Killer Nashville | c/o American Blackguard, Inc. | 314 Watercress Drive | Franklin, Tennessee 37064-3234