CRIME: WHO SAYS IT DOESN’T PAY?

Tues • May 3 • 7-8:30PM

Crime Fiction—from Baldacci to Coben, many popular authors are doing it. But from where does their inspiration come? From true crime investigations that touch us to those that keep us awake at night, these best-selling authors create page-turning fiction sparked by actual events. Join Mystery Writers of Amercia—New York Chapter crime writers Andrew Gross, Robert Knightly, MJ Rose, Sharon Linnea and Jessica Speart to get the back story on the true-life crime scenes that paid off.

Moderator
Robert Knightly a former president of the Mystery Writers of America, New York Chapter, is a retired NYPD Lieutenant and veteran defense lawyer. His short stories appeared in the crime anthologies Brooklyn Noir and Manhattan Noir and he was also the editor of Queens Noir. His debut novel, Bodies in Winter was published in 2009. The Cold Room is due May 2011. Crimewriters.blogspot.com/

Panelists
Sharon Linnea spent happy years as an award-winning biographer, journalist and playwright; then one day, something snapped, and the bodies started piling up. The Eden Thrillers, Chasing Eden, Beyond Eden, and Treasure Of Eden were published by St. Martins, with new editions out in 2011. These Violent Delights, the first of her Movie Mysteries series, will be published by Arundel Publishing this spring. www.SharonLinnea.com

Andrew Gross is the author of New York Times and international bestsellers The Blue Zone, Don’t Look Twice, Reckless, and The Dark Tide, which was nominated for the Best Thriller of the Year award by the International Thriller Writers. He is also coauthor of five number one bestsellers with James Patterson, including Judge & Jury and Lifeguard. You can follow Andrew Gross on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and at www.AndrewGrossBooks.com

M.J. Rose is the international bestselling author of 11 novels including The Reincarnationist which was the inspiration for the 2009 FOXTV show Past Life. Rose is also the co-author of Buzz your Book, a founding member and board member of ITW and the founder of the first marketing company for authors, AuthorBuzz.com as well as the co-founder of Peroozal.com. www.mjrose.com

Jessica Speart is an investigative journalist whose focus is on wildlife law enforcement and endangered species. Winged Obsession, her first narrative nonfiction book, which is about the world’s most notorious butterfly smuggler launches in April. Jessica also penned a ten-book mystery series featuring U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agent Rachel Porter. The series was created after years of investigating wildlife and drug-trafficking crimes for publications such as The New York Times Magazine and National Wildlife. www.jessicaspeart.com