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 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