Malice Domestic 2026 Slayed

Guest of Honor Annette Dashofy and ME at Malice Domestic 2026

A spring weekend in Bethesda, MD is wonderful, but getting to schmooze with writers I admire, meet other mystery readers and learn pro tips to improve my writing game at Malice Domestic '26 raised the awesome bar considerably. Yes, I got to shop at the Gap (not an outlet, a real Gap store, Nicole!) and eat a crab cake sandwich and walk around outside wearing short sleeves but that's barely exciting compared to the other memorable moments seared into my memory.

Author Annette Dashofy, this year's Guest of Honor, was my table partner at the anthology signing last Friday night. She graciously signed my anthology and her path to become a best selling mystery writer is so fascinating. This woman had done it all, no joke! (And yes, the actress Shelly Long looks just like her.)

What anthology? Why reader, the Malice Domestic Mystery Most Senior short story anthology featuring 22 writers, including Annette (who said I can totally call her that because we're friends now). Did I mention how I also signed the anthology? My short story "A Nasty Habit" featuring the Nun the Wiser Mysteries protagonist Sister B is included! Over 400 stories were submitted this year. Only 22 were published, including stories by the conference's featured mystery writers Annette Dashofy, Jaqueline Winspear (yes, THAT Jacqueline Winspear of Masie Dobbs fame!) and Ellen Byron. I feel positively gobsmacked, astonished, and chuffed to have my work chosen by the team of editors. If having my story selected wasn't validating enough, I even get paid for it!

THE Jacqueline Winspear, writer of Maisie Dobbs! Signing her story in my anthology!

The cover is SO fun, isn't it?

THE Ellen Byron signing her story in my anthology!

My panel discussion "Thou Shalt Not Kill: Spirituality + Murder" was a hit, offering a range of insights about how writers conceive of spirituality and include it as part of their characters' back stories. The hour was thoughtful, instructive, and inspiring. I'm grateful I got to be part of the conversation and meet Judy Cater, Avram Lavinsky, Ilene Schneider, and Debbie Viguie. (I wish I had a picture. I'm hoping someone at Malice Domestic took one.)

Me with the NICEST READERS!

Me with fellow podcaster and author Elle Hartford (who has the BEST laugh in the whole world--check out her podcast Cozy Alchemy if you like books with magical elements)

That's me with THE Dru from Dru's Book Musings!

Me with three of the Miss Demeanors!

More juicy tidbits and selfies from my THIRD Malice Domestic experience will appear in my newsletter (Out May 1st! Subscribe to read!). Three days jam-packed with interesting people writing amazing stories filled my cup to the BRIM.

If that weren't enough, my friend Lauren Small picked me up and brought me to Baltimore for a night of more fun before I returned home. We got to attend the final performance of the Shriver Hall Concert series featuring British cellist Steven Isserlis and Canadian pianist Connie Shih. What a night! The talent on display was extraordinary.

What a program!

Fabulous to see a female composer included. Her story is truly remarkable.

Of particular interest was the inclusion of a piece by Vítězslava Kaprálová, a female composer from Czechoslovakia who wrote some of her music in reaction to the Nazi threat to her country. She died of tuberculosis in 1940 at the age of 24. Her life was tumultuous and my little taste of her music Sunday night was a real treat. This concert overlapped with my last two Bumble Book Club reads: Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green and The Director by Daniel Kehlmann.

My next stop is the Lakefly Writers Conference in Oshkosh where I'm leading a workshop on humor writing. I'll return to Oshkosh on Saturday, May 11 at the Caramel Crisp Book Store because it's the Spring Wine Walk!

Spill it, reader. What wonderful thing has happened to you this April? I did a lot of bragging here, now it's your turn to pour the tea!