I have been asked to moderate a panel for the New England Crime Bake. The title of the session is Sleepless in New England: Using local setting for its most chilling effect. Panelists include Charles Atkins, Kaitlyn Dunnett, Amy Patricia Meade, and Kieran Shields. I have downloaded the most recent book of everyone on the panel, and plan on writing to all of them and introducing myself. And then I will do my real homework. I need to figure out how to best use the 50 minutes.
I know that authors go to conferences to help sell books. And I know that the programmers of Crime Bake had to take a very challenging puzzle and create panels. I also know that by 3pm on Saturday, folks are flagging. Agent pitches are next, and then the banquet. If there is a section to skip, let’s face it, this slot is the one. In addition, Sharon Daynard is doing a short story panel at the same time, so my audience has a choice.
So, how do I make this a panel to remember? I could feed the authors questions based on their books, which could be great. Or I could try and embrace the theme, and start a discussion about setting. My third option? Ask for your advice. Most people have seen a panel of some sort. What works for you? What are the traps? Should I stick to setting questions, or focus on the authors? Would writer’s process about setting be interesting?
I am thrilled to be moderating this panel, and enjoy “having” to read the books. Just hoping for homework inspiration.
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J.A. Hennrikus is the ED of StageSource. Her story “The Pendulum Swings Until It Doesn’t” will be published in Level Best Books’ Blood Moon this fall. Her website is jahennrikus.com, and she tweets under @JulieHennrikus
I think sticking to setting would be excellent. I am not a crime story writer, but setting is so important in every story. Most of us concentrate on character development or trying to write dialogue that sounds natural. We tend to forget how important good setting development is:
Does it work well with the plot?
Do characters seem out of place?
Should setting compliment or contrast our story or characters? How to decide?
I am always interested in how other authors do things. That’s one of the top things that perk my ears up at workshops, panels, etc… Any time there is a “how to” in a title, either implicitly or explicitly, it gets my attention. Unless I know an author’s work already, I don’t get excited about getting to know another author. I don’t mind that, but it’s not what draws me.
I love moderating panels. I’ve not done author panels, but technical folks and Project Managers.
Here’s what works for me:
-Have at least an hour pre-conference chat with each indivdually.
-Ask them what quesitons they want to answer and avoid.
-Suggest ground rules and ask them how they want you to handle things, like interruptions (from audience or other panelist), too long answers.
-Suggest and give them some questions that all the panelists maybe asked.
-Let them know if you will allow for audience quesitons or particpation.
Yes, embrace the theme – what fun!
I would want to know their most chilling local setting…. and how they would incorporate it into current and/or future books.
Do a real time activity that uses all the panelist and the audience to create a chilling new england scence and provide how to steps as you go
Congratulations and best wishes!
Let us know how it goes in a follow up post – please!
Star
I like the idea of getting the authors to discuss why they chose the setting of their mystery, and what that setting brings to the story. Sometimes the setting is the story, and at other times it adds flavor the reader might never have experienced before.
There was a crime writers conference in harrogate recently that a friend of mine went to. He found the session where names were drawn out of a hat and the person had 3 minutes to outline the plot of their story. This person was then given feedback from the experts. he said it was fascinating and very thought provoking.
You can see a write up about harrogate Crime writers’ conference in October’s Writers News magazine at http://www.writers-online.co.uk
Hey Julie,
So glad you asked! I agree with other commenters–I’d love to hear how the authors go about incorporating setting into their novels, and why they chose the particular details that they did. That may involve reading snippets of their books, but that would be totally cool in my book!
Best of luck, sounds like it’ll be a great panel. You won’t have a single empty seat or snoozer in the crowd!
Warmly,
Diane
Do any of the chilling settings in the panelists’ books overlap or are they diverse? What are the surprises? How-to’s will be a great draw. And ‘setting as character’ is a personal favorite. Good luck!