This past weekend, I attended the Malice Domestic Conference in Bethesda, MD. Although this mystery gathering is more an opportunity for fans to meet their favorite authors, a writer can also glean valuable information from the various panels.
In addition to author breakfasts, interviews, and the Poison Lady, I chose these panels: When Secrets and Lies Descent into Murder, Mysteries with a Touch of Magic, How Seasons Effect Story, Sleuthing with the Dead, When Music and Painting Lead to Murder, and Cozy in the City.
Carolyn G. Hart, one of my favorite authors who is publishing her 50th novel this year, spoke with me about writing, and not letting anyone try to change my words into their own.
On the other hand, when I asked a panel of published mystery authors when their body drops, here are their answers: first sentence, first chapter, first paragraph, and prologue. Another author on a different panel said it has to drop no later than the last chapter you submit to an agent, which is usually the first three. That beats the crap out of my body drop 1/3 of the way through my story. So now I need to decide whether to tackle a major rewrite and move it forward…sigh.
Not sure I will attend this particular conference until my own novel is published. That could be next year or a decade from now…who’s to know?
Debi Graham-Leard 
Those panels sound fascinating, what fun!
About your body dropping one third of the way through the book. Would it make sense to put in a brief-yet-mysterious prologue with The Body? Reworking is SO hard and since I’m lazy, that might be how I’d approach it. As a matter of fact, now that I think about it, it’s exactly how I DID approach it. Just be warned many literary agents hate prologues so don’t make it an info dump.
Karen… you’re right that a prologue would solve the problem, but you’re also right that agents and publishers hate prologues! I’m meeting with one of my writing groups on Saturday, and will hear their opinions.
Keep working at it Debi and as soon as it is published I will be the first buyer. I lost mystery and malice. Keep trying never give up. you will do it. Date: Thu, 9 May 2013 12:50:10 +0000 To: kentongirl@hotmail.com
The main thing is that you keep writing!
Phyllis
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