For fans of mysteries, thrillers and suspense novels, the little shop of murder –Mechanicsburg Mystery Books & Gifts – is offering readers another opportunity to investigate the writers of whodunits.
The second annual “Murder as you like it” Mystery Conference is scheduled for Sept. 22, where 17 authors will be on hand for panel discussions, workshops and book signings at the day-long event.
“A lot of people around here don’t get the chance to see so many mystery authors in one place,” said shop owner Debbie Beamer.
Beamer, a lover of good mysteries who opened her shop 22 years ago, had long ago wanted to start the conference. It had its debut last year at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church in Mechanicsburg, where it will again be held this year.
Early on in the business, she had customers tell her they didn’t like mysteries, but instead detective novels, thrillers or suspense novels like James Patterson and Mary Higgins Clark. Beamer gently explained that those, too, were mysteries.
“They’re reading them and they don’t know it,” she said.
The shop, which had been in downtown Mechanicsburg for awhile before she moved to the west end of town at the corner of Trindle and Clouser roads, also drew customers looking for Bibles.
“I really thought about having a Bible section because I had so many people asking for Bibles,” Beamer recalled.
But the shop is strictly mysteries. For fans seeking behind-the-scene peaks at mystery writing by local and national authors, the conference, Beamer said, should reveal some secretes about plot and character development.
Conference sessions include how authors create and write about worlds that don’t exist, tropes mystery and thriller authors use such as “turn in your badge” and “you’re off the case,” where plot ideas come from, and how to approach a publisher.
For young readers age 6 to 10, there is a kid’s writing session in which children’s mystery author Traci Vallano discusses how to develop a story.
“I hope we get a lot of kids,” Beamer said, thinking of the next generations of mystery readers and writers. “I’m amazed at how many kids want to write.”
For more information about the conference, its authors and to register, visit www.mysterybooksonline.com. The Mystery Conference is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 22, at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 5000 Simpson Ferry Rd., Mechanicsburg.
