|
Events
Summary
The 2004
Mystery Writer's Forum was changed from a Third
Thursday program to an all day event held on Saturday
January 24, 2004. A new name was also adopted: Murder Goes
South: Projecting the Beauty, History and Allure of the South
in the Mystery Novel.
Nine accomplished
authors were featured: Mignon Ballard, Evelyn Coleman, David
Fulmer, Phillip Depoy, Gwen Hunter, Walter Sorrells, Patricia
Sprinkle, Kathryn Wall and Fred Willard The program was hosted
at the Smyrna Public Library and ran from 10 AM to 4 PM. The
event was sold out.
The nine
writers were grouped into three panels of three. Each panel
was allocated 45 minutes to discuss aspects of their writing
pertaining to our three topics: History, Characters and Setting.
The first
panel consisted of Phillip DePoy, Evelyn Coleman and David
Fulmer. Each gave an outline of the particular section of
history that is mentioned in their stories. Lifestyles, mannerisms
and the Southern Charm of people they meet were reviewed as
the basis of Characters discussed by Patricia Sprinkle, Kathryn
Walls and Fred Willard. Writers Mignon Mallard, Gwen Hunter
and Walter Sorrels discussed the pros and cons of setting
stories in major cities like Atlanta versus small unknown
towns - fictional or real. They also discussed the use of
local dialects in their writing.
The lively
and entertaining discussions presented by the three panels
were very well received by the audience. Other events held
in the afternoon included a lunch catered by Café Michelle,
mystery workshops and book signings. The event was a resounding
success.
|
