Featuring a whos-who of award-winning and best selling mystery and suspense authors and true-crime experts, Key West Mystery Fest is a funfilled meet and greet where authors from all over can catch up and readers can meet their favorite authors! This weekend event is the perfect opportunity for you to collect signed books, participate in workshops, panels, and presentations where the most devious minds come together and explain how they and why they do it!
Register for Mystery Fest Key West Here and Book Your Schooner Wharf Brunch Now!
2019 Mystery Fest Key West
Schedule of Events: June 28-30
FRIDAY, JUNE 28 Reception
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Veranda of the Key West Art & Historical Society’s Custom House Museum, 281 Front Street, Key West
Proclamation: Mayor Teri Johnson
Welcome: Heather Graham
Wine and cheese
Followed by Sunset Celebration at nearby Mallory Square.
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
Mystery Fest Program
Location: Helmerich Auditorium at The Studios of Key West, 533 Eaton Street, Key West
8:30 a.m. Coffee and Pastries
8:45 Introduction: Shirrel Rhoades
9:00 – Forensics for writers
9:00 – 9:30 Lisa Black, New York Times bestselling author and working forensic scientist.
9:30 – 10:00 Jane Bock, author and forensic plant science expert; worked on JonBenet Ramsey case.
10:00 – 10:30 Micki Browning, author and police captain.
10:30 – 11:00 State of the Publishing Industry
Presented by Bob DiForio, literary agent; former President of New American Library
11:00 – 11:45 a.m. The Whodunit Mystery Writing Award
Presented by Robin Robinson
11:45 – 12:00 p.m. Presentation of the Florida Keys Community College Scholarship Winners
12:00 p.m. Luncheon
12:30 – 1:45 Keynote Speaker: Jeffery Deaver (“The Bone Collector”)
2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Panel: How I got started as a mystery writer
Heather Graham (Moderator)
John Cunningham
Diane A.S. Stuckart
3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Panel: Why I write the kind of mysteries I write
Mike Dennis – Noir (Moderator)
Cheryl Hollon – Cozy
Bill Craig – P.I.
Carla Norton – True Crime
Gray Basnight – Thrillers
4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Panel: How I plot a mystery
Rick Ollerman (moderator)
Wayne Gales
David Beckwith
Bob Coburn
Renee Kumor
4:45 – 5:30 p.m. Book Signings
Saturday Evening
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hemingway Rum Company/Papa’s Pilar Distillery, 201 Simonton St.
Presentation: How Rum is made
Rum Sampling
SUNDAY, JUNE 30
Location: Schooner Wharf Bar & Galley, 202 William Street, Key West
8:30 – 11:00 a.m. Brunch