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 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