Pictured (r) is author
Peter Durantine talking with
mystery book fan Jodi DeAngelis.
Images courtesy of Todd
DeAngelis Photography.
Murder. Intrigue. Dirty doings of all sorts.
Something foul is afoot in Mechanicsburg.
Yes, Mechanicsburg.
This month, “Murder As You Like It” creeps into town, one of just a handful of conferences in Pennsylvania designed for fans and readers of mystery books, as opposed to writers.
Mystery fans are a unique group. They love to escape the humdrum of everyday life by rooting for their favorite heroes, while solving the intricate puzzles that authors lay out for them.
This event is aimed squarely at them“I want each of the mystery fans attending the conference to have a chance to speak with their favorite authors and meet new ones,” said Debbie Beamer, owner of the Mechanicsburg Mystery Bookshop, which organizes the one-day mystery bash. “Many attendees are too shy to approach an author on their own, so I developed an atmosphere where they’d have an opportunity to do just that.”
Path to Murder
Beamer has peddled in the lighter side of homicide since opening her first bookshop more than two decades ago.
“I’ve always loved mysteries,” she said. “One day, I happened to see an ad in the newspaper that showed an Irish setter sitting in a green, wing-back chair with a caption that read “Mystery Books, Bethesda, Md.” I was drawn to visit the shop, and, as I searched through all those shelves of mysteries, told myself that one day I would own a mystery bookstore.”
Time passed before Beamer could live out her dream.
She worked for a trade association until 1987, when she started her own association management company. With her partner, she managed four trade associations, doing all of the membership, conference planning and accounting work. Then, in 1990, she opened a small mystery bookstore on East Main Street in Mechanicsburg and named it the Cloak and Dagger.
In 1997, she saw a chance to move to a larger building.
“I changed the name because I tired of receiving calls from people looking for a tailor to help adjust their cloaks,” she said, a smile coming over her face.
With the larger space, Beamer began to sponsor a variety of activities at the store, including a book discussion group and the “Stitch and Bitch” needlework club.
The mystery conference was born in 2011, the first one attracting 70 people. The next year, attendance grew to 85 and, this year, she hopes to top 100 fans.
In addition to meeting authors, fans will be able to attend a number of informative panels including, “Where Do Authors Get Their Ideas,” “The Art of Creating Memorable Characters” and “How Authors and Their Editors Work Together.”
Graham Hetrick, the Dauphin County coroner, will be the keynote speaker.
“Not every conference has a coroner as the featured speaker,” Beamer said. “But mystery fans enjoy the unusual. Besides, he’s a dynamic and entertaining speaker who has lectured throughout the United States on such topics as crime scene management and evidence preservation.”
As a special feature this year, a group of Mystery Writers of America authors, led by Annamaria Alfieri, the past president of the New York Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, will attend the conference. Beamer wants to provide attendees a chance to meet MWA authors and hear about the activities of the association, including its mentor program.
In addition, for one hour during the conference, each author will spend three to five minutes with a group of about five fans, a type of “speed-dating” for mystery book readers. The author will provide a short summary of his or her book then the attendees will have a chance to ask questions.
“I want my readers to get to know the authors and hear what they have to say,” said Beamer.
Ice Cream & Tombstones
While the mystery conference is an annual high point, Beamer sponsors a number of other events throughout the year. One of the most popular is an ice cream social held each August. After the author’s presentation, the frozen treats flow.
The Susquehanna Mystery Alliance is another popular series sponsored by the bookshop.
For example, on Oct. 22, local authors Joe Farrell and Joe Farley will be on hand to sign their latest book, “Keystone Tombstones Volume III.” This volume features stories about the tombstones of Joe Paterno, Art Rooney, victims of Flight 93, victims and survivors of the Titanic, Arlen Specter, Joe Frazier and many others.
As always, a presentation will be part of the event. That’s the nature of a bookshop that puts its readers first.
“Any author who visits the store for a signing must make a presentation,” Beamer said. “I’m proud that I have mystery fans traveling here from as far away as Connecticut, West Virginia, New Jersey and Virginia to attend my programs.”
GOING THERE
The “Murder As You Like It”mystery conference will be held at the Eagle View Middle School cafeteria, 6746 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20. Take the entrance to Cumberland Valley High School and drive past the high school to the middle school.
Pre-registration is required to ensure sufficient lunches are available. The fee of $20 covers the program, including lunch, refreshment breaks, materials and more. Contact the bookshop at 717-795-7470 or mysterybooks@comcast.net to register. For more information, go to the website at www.MysteryBooksOnline.com.
Don Helin published his first thriller, “Thy Kingdom Come,” in 2009. His recently published novel, “Devil’s Den,” has been selected as a finalist in the Indie Book Awards. He lives in central Pennsylvania and his latest thriller, “Secret Assault,” was published in August. Contact Don on his website, www.donhelin.com.
