Europe’s biggest crime fiction convention, CrimeFest is for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. CrimeFest draws top crime novelists, readers, editors and publishers from around the world and gives delegates the opportunity to celebrate the genre in a friendly and inclusive atmosphere.

This year’s featured guests are: Laura Lippman, Denise Mins, Lynda La Plante, and James Lee Burke. PD James will be the Ghost of Honour, and Cathy Ace will be Leader of Toasts.

It’s held over three days in Bristol, UK. Full details here: https://www.crimefest.com/

Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival is Wales’ first international crime literature festival, celebrating crime writing in its many forms – from fiction and non-fiction through to television and film.

Our intention is to provide visitors to the festival with an opportunity to meet and interact with top talent from around the world. Come and see the big names, discover new writers – and support Welsh talent.

The 2024 festival will be online, and held from 17th-19th April and 22nd-24th April.

Full information here: https://gwylcrimecymrufestival.co.uk/

Cathy Ace will be a participating author and moderator on the following panel:

Mesdames of Mysterious Murders: Monday 22nd April 8.00pm (UK time) online, live. With Cathy Ace, Sarah Ward and Mary Grand

Left Coast Crime is an annual mystery convention sponsored by mystery fans, both readers and authors. LCC is held during the first third of the year in Western North America. Conventions have been held from Anchorage to El Paso, from Boulder to Hawaii, and various locations in between.

Our purpose is to host an event where readers, authors, critics, librarians, publishers, and other fans can gather in convivial surroundings to pursue their mutual interests.

Cathy will be appearing on the following panel, at 9.00am on Saturday 13th April: Not Your Grandma’s Cozy: How the Subgenre Is Changing: Leslie J Hall (M), Cheryl Hollon, Katherine Bolger Hyde, Charlotte Stuart, Cathy Ace

Full details here: https://leftcoastcrime.org/2024/index.html

Bouchercon Mission

Bouchercon’s mission is to introduce, attract, and promote readers and writers by producing outstanding, inclusive events to grow and sustain the mystery community.

The World Mystery Convention is a nonprofit, organization which holds an annual convention in honor of Anthony Boucher, the distinguished mystery fiction critic, editor and author.

It is the world’s premier event bringing together all parts of the mystery and crime fiction community, and is pronounced [bough’•chur•con].

Bouchercon® is the annual world mystery convention where every year readers, writers, publishers, editors, agents, booksellers and other lovers of crime fiction gather for a 4-day weekend of education, entertainment, and fun!

The first Bouchercon took place in 1970 in Santa Monica, California. Subsequent Bouchercons have been held in many cities across the United States, as well as in Toronto and the UK.

A local organizing committee takes on the task of bringing each year’s convention to life.
It’s all BY FANS, FOR FANS.

Cathy Will be attending the entire convention and will be participating in two panels:

2pm Thursday 31st August

Agatha and Company: The Elements of Traditional Mysteries That Appeal to So Many

Panel: Cathy Ace, Martin Edwards, Lori Rader-Day, Ovidia Yu.

Moderator: Elly Griffiths

10.20am Friday 1st September

Tiny Town, Lots of Death:  Sleuths in a Small Community

Panel: Deborah J Ledford, Mary Keliikoa, Russell W. Johnson, Suzanne Trauth, Trish Arrowsmith.

Moderator: Cathy Ace

Cathy is honoured that she’ll be a Special Guest at this year’s WWC, in Calgary, AB, Canada. When Words Collide is an annual non-profit festival modelled after the volunteer conventions popular in the Science Fiction and Fantasy communities. Nobody is paid for attending (though guests of honour have their expenses covered) and even the organizers buy passes to attend.

The festival is designed to bring readers and writers together in a celebration of the written word. Up to 10 tracks of programming, beginning at 1 PM on Friday and running through 5 PM Sunday, offer informational, educational, and social activities covering a wide spectrum of literature including Mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Historical, Literary, Script-writing, Poetry, Comics, and Non-fiction. Roughly 780 readers, writers, editors, publishers, agents, and artists attend with over a hundred presenters in our program.

Organizers and presenters alike volunteer their time and talents to make When Words Collide as accessible and varied as possible, and one of the largest literary events in Canada.

Registration details here: https://calgaryartsdevelopment.com/directory/when-words-collide/

First organised in June 2008, CRIMEFEST is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. It has not only become one of the biggest crime fiction events in Europe, but is also one of the most popular dates in the international crime fiction calendar. The annual convention was featured as one of ‘the best crime writing festivals around the world’ in the Guardian and one of ‘the 50 Best Festivals’ in The Independent. CRIMEFEST draws top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world and gives delegates the opportunity to celebrate the genre in a friendly, informal and inclusive atmosphere.

In order to attend, you must purchase a convention pass. Full details at the convention website: CrimeFest website

Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival is Wales’ first international crime literature festival. Crime writing takes many forms – from crime fiction and non-fiction through to television and film.

Our intention is to provide visitors to the festival with an opportunity to meet and interact with top talent from around the world. Come and see the big names, discover new writers – and support Welsh talent.

Full schedule and tickets here: https://gwylcrimecymrufestival.co.uk/

NOTE: ALL TIMES LISTED ARE UK TIMES