Thrill Writes

Comments (0) By Wynter Holden Thursday, Jun 23 2011

Mystery writers are a strange breed. Agatha Christie had imaginary friends well into adulthood, Stephen King killed off his alter-ego Richard Bachman with “cancer of the pseudonym,” and Patricia Cornwell reportedly had an unhealthy obsession with unmasking the identity of Jack the Ripper.

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Learn what makes modern-day mystery authors tick at the 2011 Poisoned Pen Conference at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. The three-day event includes a roundtable discussion of classic British and historical mysteries, writers' workshops, a Saturday night pajama party featuring author readings, and signings with noted authors including Juliet Blackwell, Marcia Clark, April Smith, and Peter Lovesey.

Why are mystery stories so appealing to readers? “People love the journey from the rent in societal fabric to the resolution,” says Poisoned Pen owner Barbara Peters. “And in a mystery series, people get attached to the characters -- both lead and ensemble cast -- in the same way that viewers get absorbed in soaps or film franchises.” Which, when you think about it, isn’t so different from Christie and her imaginary pals.

June 24-26, 2011