November 10: Texas Writes in ATX

This weekend I’ll be speaking at Texas Writes in ATX. It’s going to be a great two days of presentations on writing, and I hope I’ll see some of you there.

Texas Writes in ATX
Sunday, November 10, 2019
ACC Riverside Campus
1020 Grove Boulevard, Austin, TX 

My schedule:

Sunday, 2:55-3:25pm: 
HARD CHOICES: PUTTING YOUR CHARACTERS TO THE TEST
How do you create compelling characters and put them in memorable conflict? Meg Gardiner, author of fourteen acclaimed thrillers, will talk about heroes, antagonists, and how, by forcing them to face hard choices, you can ramp up the suspense and tension in your story. 

Sunday, 4:10-4:55pm: 
Panel discussion

Come on down, y’all!

It’s my Bouchercon schedule, y’all

This year, Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention, is being held in Dallas from October 31 — November 3. I’ll be there, because where else do I get to hang out for a few days with mystery and thriller fans, talking dawn to midnight about books and writing?

Here’s my schedule, including an off-site event at the Half Price Books Flagship store.

Halloween Mystery Panel
Thursday, October 31, 7 PM
Half Price Books Flagship
5803 E. Northwest Hwy
Dallas, Texas

Friday, November 1, 3:30 PM
Mystery Writers of America signing table
Bouchercon Book Room

Saturday, November 2, 11 AM
Panel Moderator: The Rogues

Saturday, November 2, 1 PM
Panel: The Name of the Game Was Murder

Sunday, November 3, 10 AM
Panel: Beyond This Point There Be Monsters

I hope I’ll see some of you there. All y’all, if possible.

Upcoming events: Sept. — Oct.

I’ve got several events coming up this month and next. If you’re in the neighborhood, check them out.

Noir at the Bar
Tuesday, September 10, 7:30 p.m.
Radio Coffee & Beer
4204 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX
With Meg Gardiner, Amy Gentry, Puja Guha, Edwin Hill, Laura Oles, May Cobb, and host Scott Montgomery

Author Visit: Barnes & Noble Round Rock
September 16, 2019 — 1 p.m.
Meg will speak to the Round Rock New Neighbors Book Club — free and open to the public
Barnes & Noble
La Frontera Village
2701 Parker Road Bldg A Suite 700
Round Rock, TX 78681
512-600-0088

Texas Writes at the McCulloch County Library, Brady, TX
September 21, 2019
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
McCulloch County Library
401 E. Commerce
Brady, TX 76825
With Meg Gardiner and Rachel Starnes
Free and open to the public
If you’re interested in attending, please contact the library to pre-register at (325) 597-2617.

FallCon 2019
Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association Trade Show and Conference
Thursday, October 10 – Saturday, October 12, 2019
Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel
Friday, October 11: Thrilling & Mysterious Author Panel

Bouchercon
October 31 — November 3, 2019
Dallas, Texas

Hope to see some of you in the coming weeks!

Coming Feb. 18, 2020: The Dark Corners of the Night

Hey, I have news! My next novel is now available for preorder. The Dark Corners of the Night comes out February 18, 2020. Here’s a taster:

I am the legion of the night.

He appears in the darkness like a ghost, made of shadows and fear — the Midnight Man. He comes for the parents but leaves the children alive, tiny witnesses to unspeakable horror. The bedroom communities of Los Angeles are gripped with dread, and the attacks are escalating.

Still reeling from her best friend’s close call in a bombing six months ago, FBI behavioral analyst Caitlin Hendrix has come to Los Angeles to assist in the Midnight Man investigation and do what she does best — hunt a serial killer. Her work is what keeps her going, but something about this UNSUB — unknown subject — doesn’t sit right. She soon realizes that this case will test not only her skills but also her dedication, for within the heart of a killer lives a secret that mirrors Caitlin’s own past. Hesitancy is not an option, but will she be able to do what must be done if the time comes?

You can preorder it in hardcover, digital, and audio. And preorders make an author, and her publisher, extremely happy. But don’t just listen to me. The Real Book Spy lists The Dark Corners of the Night as one of “15 Thrillers Coming Out in 2020 that Should Already be on Your Radar.”

Why you should be excited about it: Meg Gardiner’s scary-good new series is one of the best in crime fiction today, and after switching publishers—a move that resulted in delaying its publication to 2020—absence has surely made hearts grow fonder, making her next UNSUB book one of next year’s most anticipated new releases.

Preorder:

Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million

July 10 — 13: ThrillerFest 2019

Next week I’ll be teaching and speaking at ThrillerFest in New York City. If you’re around, here’s my schedule:

ThrillerFest XIV
July 10 — 13, 2019
Grand Hyatt, NYC
New York City

• Thursday, July 11 | CraftFest Instructor | PLOT TWISTS | 8:00 am – 8:50 am
• Thursday, July 11 | CareerFest Panelist | DISCOVER THE ROAD TO HOLLYWOOD | 11:10 am – 12 pm
• Friday, July 12 | ThrillerFest Panelist | FAULKNER, HEMINGWAY OR LUDLUM? Greatest Writing Influences | 9:00 am – 9:50 am
• Saturday, July 12 | ThrillerFest Panelist | DARK, UPBEAT OR UNHINGED? Voice In Thrillers1:00 pm – 1:50 pm

I hope I’ll see some of you there!

This week: Book Expo & Book Con, NYC

I’m excited that this week I’ll be attending BookExpo America and its fan cousin, BookCon. Both will take place at the Javits Center in New York City.

If any of you are in the NYC area, I’d love to see you there!

BookExpo America
May 29 – June 1, 2019
Javits Center, New York City

Audiobook New Titles Showcase
May 29, 4:15 PM – 5:00 PM, Choice Stage
With panelists Meg Gardiner, Guy Oldfield, Caitlin Garing, Maggie Stiefvater, Mo Rocca, and Dan Zitt

Blackstone In-Booth signing:
Thursday, May 30th: BookExpo
10:30AM — 11:15AM

BookCon

Blackstone In-Booth signing:
Saturday, June 1st: BookCon
11AM — 11:45AM

Pen, paper… writing

Earlier this week, I posted this photo on Twitter, with the caption: “Today’s writing tools.”

Novelist and screenwriter Howard Michael Gould responded with a question. Are pen and paper “outside your usual MO?”

Here’s how I answered him, for anybody out there who’s interested in my writing process.

Why am I writing with pen & paper today? (‘Cause I do normally write on my laptop.) A few reasons:

I wanted to clear my mind and focus. Which meant I had to unhook from the web and its ever-tempting supply of shiny things… https://t.co/09WF2tSTfU

— Meg Gardiner (@MegGardiner1) May 21, 2019

… I could have simply turned on MS Word’s Focus feature, but: I also love the feel of a good pen in my hand, and th… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
Meg Gardiner (@MegGardiner1) May 21, 2019

I have a sloppy document that is, essentially, the building blocks of my next novel. But it's a mess of ideas, them… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
Meg Gardiner (@MegGardiner1) May 21, 2019

The pen gives me the freedom to draw, rearrange ideas, move character connections, and play with the story in a fre… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

—
Meg Gardiner (@MegGardiner1) May 21, 2019

Maybe it’s quirky, but it works for me.