Q and A with the Walmart blog

A little while ago I talked to the Walmart blog, Favorite Reads, about the inspiration for my UNSUB series, the research that goes into the novels, and why mystery writers don’t necessarily make good real-life detectives.

Q&A with Meg Gardiner, author of The Dark Corners of the Night

We sat down for an exclusive interview with Edgar Award-winning author Meg Gardiner to discuss her latest release, The Dark Corners of the Night, one of the most highly anticipated thrillers of 2020, that is already garnering rave reviews as her best thriller yet. In The Dark Corners of the Night, FBI profiler Caitlin Hendrix returns to hunt down a terrifying new UNSUB—unknown subject—The Midnight Man, who Gardiner based on the real-life serial killer, The Night Stalker.

Check out the whole thing at the link.

Upcoming Events: Edgars, Bay Area Book Fest, Noir at the Bar

Welcome to spring 2020, when events have scrambled to move online. It has of course been hugely disappointing to cancel celebrations — like the Edgar Awards banquet, which I was supposed to emcee in New York City — but so many organizations are making the best of this situation. And that means that you can all attend.

Here’s what’s coming up in the next few weeks.

The Edgar Awards
Thursday, April 30, 2020
11 AM Eastern
The awards will be announced by Mystery Writers of America via Twitter: @EdgarAwards

Bay Area Book Festival Unbound
Queens of Mystery: Writer to Writer with Meg Gardiner and Rachel Howzell Hall
Moderated by Laurie R. King
Program will air Tuesday May 5th, 7:00 PM Pacific

Noir at the Bar Queens
Friday, May 8, 2020 7 PM Eastern
Watch via Crowdcast
Books sold by Kew & Willow

Poisoned Pen blog, Writer Types podcast

The Poisoned Pen bookstore put me In the Hot Seat ahead of my event in Phoenix on Monday, February 17 (with Tess Gerritsen!) where I’ll be launching my new novel, The Dark Corners of the Night. Take a look.

I’ve read this, but many readers may not have. Your UNSUB books are based on actual crimes. Would you tell us about that?

Every novel in the series takes a real crime as its starting point. The books are fiction, but grow from a kernel of fact. Partly that’s because UNSUB cases are some of the most difficult and fascinating investigations in law enforcement history. Partly it’s because I want to understand what motivates serial predators. And I want to explore what drives the people who take on the burden of stopping them. UNSUBwas sparked by the Zodiac—probably the most notorious unsolved serial murder case in America. The second novel was inspired by Ted Bundy. The Dark Corners of the Night was kindled by a killer who cast a pall of fear over Southern California: the Night Stalker.

I talk about The Dark Corners of the Night, Caitlin Hendrix, living in London, winning Jeopardy! and more.

And at the Writer Types podcast, I guest co-host with pod host Eric Beetner to interview Dana Hayes and Brad Taylor. Give it a listen.

And here’s your reminder that The Dark Corners of the Night drops February 18th, and you can preorder!

The Poisoned Pen | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Apple

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.

The Edgar Awards 2019

What a fantastic night in New York City. Mystery Writers of America celebrated the 73rd Edgar Awards with a gala at the Grand Hyatt. And, as 2019 MWA President, I was privileged to emcee the ceremony.

Congratulations to everyone who was nominated, and especially to this year’s winners. The entire list is here.

It was great to see so many friends and writers I idolize, including MWA’s outgoing president, Jeffery Deaver, who presented the Raven Award to the New York Times crime fiction critic, Marilyn Stasio (and introduced me with a Jeopardy!-style quiz, in the form of questions).

Now to put my feet up. And read a whole bunch of amazing books.

Edgars week 2019

This is a big week for the mystery writing world, and for me in particular. As this year’s president of Mystery Writers of America, I’ll be emceeing the Edgar Awards in New York City. Ahead of that, I’ll be moderating a panel at the annual Edgar Symposium.

EDGAR WEEK SYMPOSIUM
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Grand Hyatt Hotel – Mezzanine Level – Regency Room
East 42nd Street @ Grand Central Station
10:00 – 10:50 a.m.

Legalize It: Lawyers & Legal Professionals as Protagonists
How do writers capture the complexity of law—and the gray areas of morality—in fact and fiction?

Moderator: Meg Gardiner (2019 MWA National President)
Panelists:
Mike Lawson (2019 Best Novel Nominee – House Witness)
Sujata Massey (2019 Mary Higgins Clark Award Nominee – The Widows of Malabar Hill)
Michaeley O’Brien (2019 Best TV Episode – “Episode 1,” Mystery Road, Acorn TV)
Jonathan Green (2019 Best Fact Crime – Sex Money Murder: A Story of Crack, Blood, and Betrayal)

Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Thursday, April 25, 2019
Grand Hyatt Hotel
New York, New York

It should be exciting. Wish me luck!

This week: Left Coast Crime, Vancouver

This week I’m heading North-Northwest to Vancouver, British Columbia, for Left Coast Crime 2019. This is a terrific conference, and I’m looking forward to seeing everybody who’s attending. I have a couple of official and semi-official events on the schedule:

Mystery Writers of America reception
Thursday, March 28
Following opening ceremonies — 7:15pm-ish.

Panel: Writing Villains
Friday, March 29
1:30-2:15pm

It should be fun. I hope I’ll see some of you there!

Upcoming events

I have a number of events coming up in the next few months. Here’s a preview:

Left Coast Crime
March 28-31, 2019
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Texas Writes at the Sterling City Public Library
April 11, 2019 10:00AM to 1:00PM
Sterling City Public Library
301 Main St.
Sterling City, TX 76951

Edgar Symposium
April 24, 2019
Grand Hyatt New York
New York City

Oklahoma Writers’ Federation: Turning the Page Conference 2019
May 3 & 4, 2019
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
Meg will be the 2019 conference Keynote Speaker

ThrillerFest
July 10-13, 2019
New York City

Bouchercon
October 31 — November 3, 2019
Dallas, Texas

Hope to see some of you along the way!