The Family You Choose

         On August 12^th I had the pleasure of attending the third annual Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival (SMAF) in Suffolk, Virginia. It’s a one-day festival celebrating all kinds of mysteries, from cozies to paranormal, from noir to thrillers. There’s something for every mystery lover.

Me in Suffok

             I wrote a bit about this festival on Novel Spaces back in 2015 (http://novelspaces.blogspot.com/2015/01/guest-author-amy-m-.reade-those-other.html), but I want to give it a little more space today. 

            The first big difference between the SMAF and other, larger, festivals is that there is no registration fee for authors. Having shelled out hundreds of dollars at the bigger conferences only to find myself lost in a sea a gazillion other authors, this has a strong appeal for me. I’m not saying that the SMAF will always be free for authors to attend, but for now it’s a bargain that can’t be beat.

            The second big difference between SMAF and many other festivals is that it’s free for readers and fans, too. My husband was recently charged $185 to attend a conference with me, just so he can see what a writers’ conference looks like. Again, this perk at the SMAF has a strong appeal for my family. There is one caveat to the SMAF: there is a VIP Meet & Greet before the panels begin on the day of the festival, and currently the cost for a reader to attend is $20 (including hors d’oeuvres)- it’s free for the authors. It’s a great opportunity for readers and authors to mingle and chat for an hour before the real business of the festival begins.

            Third, there is a limited number of authors who are able to attend the SMAF. Due to space considerations, the author limit was thirty this past weekend. There may be an increase in the number at some point in the future, but this cap on author numbers helps foster the friendly, even cozy, atmosphere at the festival.

            And that brings me to my next point, the most important of all, which is that I’ve never felt as blessed to be an author as I do at the SMAF. I connect with readers and writers I only get to see in person once or twice a year, and from the moment the authors get there on Friday night to the closing dinner we share on Saturday night, I feel like I’m with family.

This is me with Katie Kelley, the Suffolk Tourism Development Manager and best hostess ever!

            The SMAF hosts panels much like you’d find at any other festival, but here’s the difference: for the most part the panelists know each other (often from prior visits to the SMAF) and their panels become more of a friendly discussion than a series of nervous questions and answers.

            And the building where the SMAF is held- don’t even get me started. It’s an old high school that now houses the Suffolk Center for the Cultural Arts. Think soaring ceilings, light-filled classrooms where authors hold readings and workshops, and a gorgeous restored theater where the panels are held.  The author signings take place in an art gallery. The paintings and photos only add more character to a space that is already steeped in history.

            And speaking of history, the authors and their families are treated on Friday night to an historical tour of some sort in Suffolk- last year it was a Ghost Walk, this year it was a tour of a stunning 19^th-century home that once belonged to generations of one of the most prominent families in Virginia.   

            If you want to learn more about the SMAF, you can visit their website at http://www.suffolkmysteryauthorsfestival.com/. I encourage you to try to attend someday, whether you’re an author or a fan of mysteries.

You’ll be glad you did.