by Lorie Lewis Ham
The Ladies of Intrigue one day mystery conference will be taking place at the Hotel Huntington Beach on October 2 and will feature an awesome group of female mystery writers. It will also be the career event finale of award winning mystery author Carolyn Hart, where she will be interviewed by Rhys Bowen. We took a moment to chat with Carolyn, and with Debbie Mitsch, owner of the Mystery Ink Bookstore, who is sponsoring the event this year.
Interview with Carolyn Hart:
KRL: I understand that this will be your last public appearance as an author-does this mean you won’t be publishing any more books, or it just a matter of travel becoming more difficult?
Carolyn: It will be my book travel finale but I have just started a new ghost book. I enjoy book events but I am not fond of flying.
Carolyn Hart
KRL: Why did you choose this particular event as your last book travel finale?
Carolyn: I am very fond of Southern California. It was a favorite holiday destination when I was growing up. Ladies of Intrigue is a superb event and I decided to combine a visit to SoCal and a great mystery gathering.
KRL: What will you be doing and talking about at this conference? Will attendees have the chance to meet you and will there be a signing?
Carolyn: Rhys Bowen and I will have a spot on the program to talk about mysteries. I would assume there will be a signing. And certainly, I will be happy to say hello to those attending.
KRL: Do you have books coming out yet this year?
Carolyn: Ghost Times Two will be published in October. Walking On My Grave, a Death on Demand mystery, will be out next May.
KRL: Yay, I can’t wait for the Death on Demand book! What have been your favorite books to write?
Carolyn: My 59th book will be out next May. It is hard to choose. Some of the WWII books are favorites, Escape from Paris, Brave Hearts, and Letter from Home. I will always be grateful for Death on the Demand, the first in that series. And I love writing about Bailey Ruth. I believe the new one, Ghost Times Two, is one of my favorites.
KRL: Anything else that you would like to share?
Carolyn: I am thankful for each and every reader who has enjoyed the books.
Interview with Debbie Mitsch:
KRL: I understand this is the third Ladies of Intrigue Conference, when and how did you come up with the idea for it?
Debbie: There is an event that has been going on for over a decade called Men of Mystery and it was decided by the Orange County chapter of Sisters in Crime and the Mystery Ink Bookstore that there should be a promotional event for the women mystery authors as well. Joan Hansen who is the founder of the Men of Mystery (as well as the Orange County Women’s Literary Guild) was our initial starting up committee for the Ladies of Intrigue.
KRL: Who put this event together and are sponsoring it?
Debbie: This year Mystery Ink Bookstore is sponsoring it and members of the San Diego, Orange County and the L.A. chapters are planning it and volunteering at it.
KRL: I understand that it is a fundraiser; can you tell me more about that side of it?
Debbie: It is mostly a promotional vehicle for the women mystery writers but if there is a profit, we plan on setting up a grant that will benefit writers.
KRL: How do you choose who will be speaking?
Debbie: We look for authors that have new books coming out, new local mystery writers as well as the New York Time Bestsellers and award winners that will help pull the fans in to the event.
KRL: What is the date, time, location, and price of the conference?
Debbie: Sunday, October 2, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It will be held at the Hotel Huntington Beach, 7667 Center Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA (across the street from the Bella Terra mall at the 405 freeway at the Beach Blvd. exit). It will be $65.00. Lunch and free parking are included.
KRL: What specifically will be happening at the event?
Debbie: We have two main speakers, Carolyn Hart (who will be interviewed by Best Selling author Rhys Bowen) and Robin Burcell. The other 14 authors will be on three different panels throughout the day.
Robin Burcell
KRL: Will there be signings and chances to meet the authors?
Debbie: The authors will all be sitting at tables with all the conference attendees throughout the day plus there will be a round table signing right before the lunch break as well a short signing at the end of the day.
KRL: Is it more geared to writers or readers or both?
Debbie: It is geared to both readers and writers.
KRL: Who are all the authors that will be there?
Debbie: Besides the main speakers mentioned above (Carolyn Hart with Rhys Bowen and Robin Burcell), the panelist include–Panelists: Kathy Aarons, Lisa Brackmann, Ellen Byron, Kate Carlisle, Donis Casey, Hannah Dennison, Kate Dyer-Seeley, Earlene Fowler, Daryl Wood Gerber, Naomi Hirahara, Linda O. Johnston, Carlene O’Neil, Laurie Stevens and Pamela Samuels Young.
Rhys Bowen
KRL: Where do people go to sign up?
Debbie: They can mail in a check (made out to Mystery Ink) to the Mystery Ink Bookstore, 8907 Warner Avenue, #135, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 or go to www.mysteryink.com to pay by PayPal with a credit card.
KRL: How many people typically attend?
Debbie: About 100.
KRL: Anything you would like to add?
Debbie: It is a great way for the fans to meet and talk with their favorite authors and get to know them personally. And, for the writers, a great time to mingle with other writers.
It sounds like so much fun! Don’t miss it. And watch for reviews of both of Carolyn’s new books as they come out.
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section.
Thank you KRL for a most interesting interview with Carolyn and Debbie. Many years ago, in a book store in Orange County CA, I met Carolyn Hart. We had a very nice chat. In one particular book, she had written about a cake called Burnt Sugar. Well, prior to my meeting Carolyn, I had lost the recipe that my mom had given me for that exact cake. Carolyn and I talked about the cake and lost recipe. When she returned home, she got together with her sister-in-law who had the recipe for Burnt Sugar Cake. Carolyn e-mailed me the recipe! That small, personal act, plus her marvels books has kept me a fan all this time.