2007

Killer Nashville 2007 Panelists, Presenters, & Moderators

August 17-19, 2007

	Donna Bagdasarian Donna Bagdasarian is a native New Englander who graduated cum laude from Boston University with a Master’s degree in Literature and Philosophy. She has worked with some of the most prestigious literary agencies in New York as well as striking out on her own in 2003 by forming DMB Literary. She joined the Maria Carvainis Agency in 2004 and lends her considerable experience to the management of the agency’s notable list of best-selling authors.
	Matt Bronleewe Matt Bronleewe is a recognized producer, songwriter and author. The former member of the band Jars of Clay has earned numerous awards producing and co-writing albums that have sold a combined total of over 20 million copies. He is currently penning a 5 book series for Thomas Nelson Fiction. ILLUMINATED, in stores now, begins the adventurous series about rare manuscripts and the mysteries within. ILLUMINATED, the first of the series, has just been released.
	Don Bruns Don Bruns loves writing: novels, music, advertising copy. His novels, set in exotic Caribbean locales, evokes the islands while following freelance music industry writer Mick Sever as he becomes embroiled in murder and mayhem.
	Robbie Bryan / Barnes & Noble Customer Relations Manager
	Chester Campbell Chester Campbell is the author of three Greg McKenzie mysteries, featuring a retired Air Force OSI agent and his wife. He is West Area Representative for MWA's Southeast Chapter and vice president of the Middle Tennessee Chapter, Sisters in Crime. He has been hooked on writing in many facets since 1947.
	Michael Connelly Bestselling NY Times author and Killer Nashville 2007 Guest of Honor.
	Lonnie Cruse Lonnie Cruse is the author of the Metropolis Mystery Series and the Kitty Bloodworth, '57 Chevy series. She is a member of MWA, SINC, WNBA, HWG, SIWG and the Antique automobile club of America. Lonnie resides in Metropolis, IL home of the Superman Statue.
	Jim Daher Jim Daher's debut novel is the first in a series of fast paced, suspenseful mysteries featuring FBI Agent Sarah James in "Righteous Kill". Jim began writing after enjoying a successful career in hospital administration. He and his wife live on St Simons Island, GA.
	Gena Ellis Screenwriter Gena Ellis' script, ANGELA'S DECISION, was named FILMMAKERS' American Gem Top 25 Script and was produced in Australia by director Mat King. The film won the RON TIBBETT BEST OF SHOW at the 2007 Tupelo Film Festival and South Australia's Gold ACS Award for Best Cinematography. Gena is also a veteran Army officer (1st Armored Divison, CID and Pentagon) and a freelance journalist.
	Hallie Ephron Hallie Ephron is the author of WRITING AND SELLING YOUR MYSTERY NOVEL: HOW TO KNOCK 'EM DEAD WITH STYLE (Writers Digest Books), which was nominated for a 2006 Edgar award and a 2006 Anthony award. She is also co-author of 5 Dr. Peter Zak series novels by G. H. Ephron and is the crime fiction book reviewer for the Boston Globe.
	Honora Finkelstein Honora Finkelstein, Lovey award winner and Agatha nominee, has been a U. S. Navy intelligence officer, college professor, prize-winning newspaper editor, workshop leader across the U.S., in Canada, and in Europe, and television talk show host (otherwise known as an "agent provocateur"). She is co-author with Susan Smily of the Ariel Quigley mystery series.
	Marilyn M. Fisher Marilyn M. Fisher grew up in Buffalo, New York, and now lives in Franklin, Tennessee. She has a PhD, MA, and MS in English and has been writing all her life. Her first novel, a mystery entitled THE CASE OF THE THREE DEAD HORSES, was released by American Book Publishing.
	Chris Grabenstein James Patterson discovered Chris Grabenstein and hired him as a junior copywriter at the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency in New York. His TILT A WHIRL won the Anthony Award for Best First Mystery, MAD MOUSE was named one of Kirkus Ten Best Mysteries of 2006, and WHACK A MOLE came out this summer. He also writes the Christopher Miller Holiday Thrillers (SLAY RIDE and HELL FOR THE HOLIDAYS) and his Young Adult Ghost Story series will debut in 2008 from Random House.
	Daniel J. Hale Mystery Writers of America Executive Vice-President and author of the Zeke Armstrong mysteries.
	Kathryn Knight / Editor / Dalmatian Press
	Lori Lacefield Lori Lacefield works as an educational analyst and writes mystery thrillers. She likes dogs, nature, and of course - justice. The Seventh Survivor, set in Knoxville, TN, is her first novel.
	Phillip Lacy Production and Post-Production Supervisor for American Blackguard, Inc., Phillip Lacy is a feature film and television producer, director, and writer. His work has won numerous awards and been distributed worldwide.
	Maryglenn McCombs Maryglenn McCombs has worked in the book publishing industry for nearly 14 years and is acquisitions editor for Oceanview Publishing. A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Maryglenn lives in Nashville with her husband, Tim Warnock, and their Old English Sheepdog, Garcia.
	Bill Moody Jazz musician, author of 5 Evan Horne mysteries, and teaches at Sonoma State University.
	P.J. Parrish (Kris Montee / Kelly Nichols) EDGAR-nominated and New York Times bestselling authors of the Florida set Louis Kincaid series (AN UNQUIET GRAVE, ISLAND OF BONES). A spin-off series, A THOUSAND BONES, debuts in July 2007.
	Rhonda Pollero USA Today best-selling author of more than 30 novels (THE ROSE TATTOO, and the Landry Brothers and Finley Tanner Mystery series) and two-time recipient of the RT Reviewer’s Choice Award and Career Achievement Awards.
	Chris Roerden Speaks from a 43+ year career as an editor of award-winning books. Former University of Maine instructor of writing and "How to Get Published" classes (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee). Author of the writer’s handbook, DON'T MURDER YOUR MYSTERY, winner of the Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction Book and current nominee for the Macavity.
	Dan Royse / Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Dan Royse, forensic scientist and Special Agent for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has testified as an expert witness in such varied areas as analytical toxicology, microanalysis, and firearm and toolmark identification. He is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the International Crime Scene Investigators Association, is a certified Diplomat of the American Board of Criminalistics, and has been the TBI Forensic Division Employee of the Year on two separate occasions. His current duties include TBI firearms instructor, TBI armourer, TBI Statewide Crime Scene Coordinator, and instructor at the TBI Basic Crime Scene and Criminal Investigations Schools. He has been the leader of TBI Violent Crime Response Team since 1996 and has written three published forensic articles.
	Mark SaFranko Mark SaFranko's stories have appeared in dozens of journals and magazines internationally, including Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. He was cited in Best American Mystery Stories 2000, won the Frank O'Connor Award for Short Fiction in 2005, has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and his lastest novel, HatingOlivia, has garnered rave reviews in England. His plays have been seen on many stages in New York and the United Kingdom.
	Chuck Sambuchino, Writer's Digest Books Chuck Sambuchino is the editor of Guide to Literary Agents and the assistant editor of Writer's Market (both Writer's Digest Books). He is a former staffer of several newspapers and magazines - most notably Writer's Digest. He is a produced playwright, with both original and commissioned works produced, along with being a freelance editor, award-winning journalist, magazine writer, and public speaker.
	Mary Saums Mary Saums lives in Nashville. Her fourth novel, Thistle & Twigg, is a comic Southern mystery from St. Martin's Minotaur, set in Bankhead forest in northwest Alabama.
	Susan Smiley Susan Smiley, Lovey award winner and Agatha nominee, taught elementary school for 25 years. An author, workshop leader across Canada and in the U.S., Australia, and Europe, public speaker, and playwright, she once acted in a production of her play, Pianissimo, in a festival off-off Broadway. She is co-author with Honora Finkelstein of the Ariel Quigley mystery series.
	Clay Stafford An award-winning writer and filmmaker whose work is distributed in 14 languages. He heads American Blackguard, a film and television production company in Nashville, and has served in supervisory and management positions at Universal Studios and PBS. His current project, a prime-time mystery series, is currently in development at Sony BMG.
	Sheila L. Stephens Sheila L. Stephens was the first female Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) special agent in the state of Alabama. She is a graduate of The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the Alabama State Trooper Academy and the University of Alabama, holding degrees in Deaf Education and in Criminal Justice. In September 2007, she will graduate from Boston University with a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Her new book on weapons will be released in 2008.
	Ted Swindley For over twenty-five years, Ted Swindley has directed and produced over 200 plays. He is nationally known for creating the hit musical ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE, which opened in New York in June, 1997, while continuing to play throughout the world.
	Beth Terrell Elizabeth Terrell is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Private Eye Writers of America, and the Tennessee Writers Alliance. This former special education teacher is also a graduate of the Citizen Police Academy, is certified in Equine Sports Massage Therapy, and has a red belt in Tae Kwan Do.
	Joel Tomlin / Landmark Booksellers Independent Bookseller
	Maggie Toussaint Maggie Toussaint writes romantic suspense and mystery. Trained as a scientist, she enjoys sloving the puzzle of a crime as well as exploring interpersonal relationships. She lives in coastal Georgia with her husband.
	Kathryn Wall Kathryn R. Wall is the author of the Bay Tanner mysteries, set on Hilton Head Island, SC, where she makes her home. The seventh in the series, SANCTUARY HILL, is just out from St. Martin's Press.
	Bob Williamson Bob Williamson writes a series about a reluctant amateur sleuth, Tom Hudson.
	Steven Womack A native of Nashville, Tennessee, best-selling author/screenwriter Steven Womack is the author of ten novels, six of which have received national recognition, including the highest award presented to writers in the field of mystery and crime fiction. He is listed in International Authors and Writers Who's Who and Contemporary Authors.
	Lisa Wysocky Lisa Wysocky is a Foreward award-winning non-fiction author, ghostwriter, and editor who is represented by Martin Literary Management in L.A. for all of the above. A PR and media coaching in the music industry for many years and now also do book PR, media consulting, and promotions. She edits the Luna Cruz mystery series for L.A.-based Cool Titles, administers acquisitions and distribution for Cool Titles, and is working on a cozy of her own. She also is a freelance editor and consultant for self-published authors and small presses.
	Janet Young / Ingram Books