Tag: Malice Domestic

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Swag Bag Fun

Jackie Layton

Malice Domestic is a fan conference for mystery readers. This was the third year I’ve attended, and it just gets better and better.

I enjoy meeting readers, and I like to make swag bags to leave in the hospitality room.

Then I was selected to participate in Malice Go Round, and I wanted to make additional swag bags for the participants of that event. Malice Go Round is like speed dating between readers and authors.

So I took on a project that was about more than I could handle. I decided to make beachy ornaments because of my beach setting. I’ll be honest. Some turned out better than others, but like every shell is unique so is every ornament.

And I have to thank Tim for helping me find and clean the shells and for dying the string.

Tim also went to Maryland with me and helped me transport all my stuff.

It was good to see my agent, Dawn Dowdle, and many friends. I also got to meet many mystery readers. Kate Jackson, Heather Weidner, Korina Moss, Ruth Hartman, Chris Romeril, TJ Krieg (beachbumbookworm) and Desiree DiFabio were just a few friends I connected with.

If you have an opportunity to attend Malice, I urge you to go. You won’t be disappointed.

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Spring, Easter, and Family

Jackie Layton

Hi friends,

I hope you are having a beautiful and safe spring. Living in the South spoils me. No more Easters with snow. Yay! South Carolina has also spoiled me with lovely warm weather. I don’t deal well with the cold anymore. So, I say welcome spring!

The only negative to living on the coast is we’re far from our family. So, I’m going to take a couple of weeks off to focus on family.

Then I’ll be back in the thick of things. Zoom meetings, Malice Domestic, and I’m honored to be the featured author on May 16 at the Moveable Feast. The luncheon will be held in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. If you’re in the area, I’d love to see you there. If you have a specific question, just let me know.

Heather Weidner and Misty Simon will be at Malice Domestic along with me and two-hundred mystery authors. It’s a fan-focused event. And it’s FUN!

Until then, I hope you have a happy Easter and spring days!

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Malice Domestic and Sidekicks

Jackie Layton

Malice Domestic began in 1989, and it became an annual fan convention for mystery lovers.

I attended my first Malice Domestic in 2019. Since then I became published, but the pandemic put a stop to Malice the last two years. This was the first time I’ve attended a conference as an author, and I was both excited and scared.

I participated in my first live panel, and we discussed secondary characters and sidekicks.

Toni LP Kelner was the moderator of our panel. Arlene Kay, Libby Klein, Lisa Q, Mathews, and Charlaine Harris were also on my panel, and they were all amazing. They were also very kind to this newbie.

This is my BRLA family led by Dawn Dowdle. It was great bonding with my agency mates after two years of Zoom meetings.

Because the topic of my panel was sidekicks, I plan to invite others to share their favorite sidekicks with us this year.

Do you have a favorite sidekick?