When have we ever been more curious about the future? As in, what the heck is going to happen to us next? If you’re a mystery writer, aspiring writer, or eager reader, here’s your opportunity to learn more. Join us for CrimeCONN:“The Shape Of Things To Come. The Future of Mystery Writing” on Saturday, May 6 at the Ferguson Library in Stamford, Conn. Registration is available at: https://www.fergusonlibrary.org/events/crimeconn.
At this one-day conference, you’ll hear from New York Times best-selling suspense writer Joseph Finder, sci-fi mystery writers, futurists, publishers, agents and reviewers how the future is already changing our lives, and creativity. AI, chatbots, human augmentation, pandemics, genetics, alternative energy and so much more. Lots of food for thought (with lunch included). Also a one-hour workshop on how to write in the coming times, how DNA research cracks open cold cases, and what the publishing industry thinks of all this.
CrimeCONN is co-sponsored by the New York chapter of Mystery Writers of America and the Friends of the Ferguson Library. In-person and Zoom tickets are available for the hybrid event.
Before April 6, tickets for the in-person event (including lunch) are $40 per person. After April 6, they are $60 per person and $45 for MWA and Friends of the Ferguson Library members, seniors and students. Livestream registrants pay $25 per person.
Program for CrimeCONN: The Shape of Things to Come. The Future of Crime Writing.
8:30 Registration and coffee
9:00 Welcome
Alice Knapp, Al Tucher, Mally Becker and Chris Knopf
Welcome to the Future – Brad Paisley
9:15 to 10:00
“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” ~ Theodore Hook
Mystery writers who write sci-fi. And vice versa.
Reed Farrel Coleman moderator. Vinnie O’Neil, Russ Colchamiro, Elizabeth Crowens
Theme from Blade Runner – Vangelis
10:00 to 10:15 Break
10:15 to 11:00
“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” ~ Malcolm X
Publishers and commentators tell us where crime fiction is heading.
John Valeri moderator. Kelley Ragland, Sarah Weinman, Dan Conaway, Kristin Sevick
The Jetsons Theme
11:00 to 11:15 Break
11:15 to 12:00
“The future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed.” ~ William Gibson
Futurists tell us what’s to come.
Dan Haar moderator, Eric Knight, Steve Shwartz, Anatole Gershman
Space oddity – Chris Hadfield
12:00 to 1:00
Lunch
Charles Salzberg’s writers workshop. How to write a novel in today’s new world.
1:15 to 2:00
“Keep on the lookout for novel ideas that others have used successfully.” ~ Thomas Edison
How DNA research and genealogy are cracking cold cases.
Michelle Clark with Dr. Claire Glynn
She blinded me with science – Thomas Dolby
2:00 to 2:15 Break
2:15 to 3:00
“I never think of the future, it comes soon enough.” ~ Albert Einstein
Mystery writers finding their way in a new reality.
Mally Becker moderator. Alex Segura, Gary Earl Ross, Rob Hart, Deborah Goodrich Royce
Keynote
Chris Knopf interviews Joseph Finder