Book Passage
Mystery Writers Conference 
Friday, July 21 - Sunday, July 23, 2023
The Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference is in its 28th year, and its reputation among writers continues to grow. The Conference covers everything mystery writers need, from developing ideas
and writing skills to finding an agent and publisher. Here's what you'll find at this 3-day Conference:
- Authors offer classes on setting, dialogue, and character development.
- Editors, agents, and publishers tell participants what they need to know to get published.
- Writers in the various mystery genres show how to write about private eyes, amateur sleuths, cyber-crimes, and police protagonists, as well as stories in historical settings.
- Participants learn how to work with editors, agents, and publicists.
- Conferees meet with panels of detectives, forensic experts, prosecutors, defense lawyers and other crime-fighting professionals who share their expertise and help authors bring realism to their writing.
- Optional, private evaluations of manuscripts can be arranged for Conference participants.
Learning all the Clues
The Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference has a long history and a rich tradition. Read here about the the rave reviews and success stories over the years.
T
he collegial atmosphere of the Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference makes it something special.
From the opening session to the closing reception, participants and faculty spend a lot of time together in meals, informal gatherings, and evening presentations. Participants come to the Conference from all over the country to learn the craft of mystery writing, and many of them return to hone their craft in repeat visits. We'll be adding exciting new features to the Conference over the coming weeks, so be sure to sign up to receive further information.
Registration
New Attendee Price: $575
Alumni Price: $525
Click Here to sign up!
Faculty
Click Here to see the list of faculty confirmed thus far.
Schedule
The schedule will be posted here once it is finalized. In the meantime, you can Click Here to see the 2022 Conference Schedule
FAQ's
A list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found here.
Conference Information & Highlights
Here are some things to know about the 2023 Mystery Writers Conference. We will be announcing updated information as we go
along.
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The Mystery Writers Conference starts on Friday, July 21 at 12pm, and ends on Sunday, July 23 at 5pm. Each day is filled with classes, panels, author events, and other activities. The program includes dinner with the faculty on Friday evening and participant-faculty lunches on Saturday and Sunday. The Conference is held at Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, CA 94925 (Just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco).
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Be prepared to watch a criminal proceeding through the eyes of those most closely involved in the process. These are some of the more eagerly-awaited sessions in the Conference. Attendees are able to view the case through the eyes of the police who investigate it, the forensic experts who analyze it, the D.A.'s who prosecute it, the attorneys who defend it, and finally the judge who must submit the case to the jury. Those writing crime-fiction will find their prose zinging with authority after one of these sessions.
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Enrollees can sign up for a private consultation session with one of the Conference faculty members who has indicated a willingness to offer evaluation sessions. Participants who wish to sign up for this extra feature are advised to do so early, because the number of evaluation sessions with individual faculty members is likely to be limited.
Book Passage offers a discount to those who have attended a prior BP Mystery Writers Conference. We also offer a discount to those who belong to Left Coast Writers and to those who are members of either Sisters in Crime or the Mystery Writers of America. (If you want to sneak out now and join one of those great organizations so you can get the discount when you enroll for the Conference, that's fine with us.)
Special Pre-Conference Class:
Creating a Compelling Protagonist: Making the Reader Care
with Hallie Ephron
Friday, July 21, 9:00 - 11:30am
Special Rate for MWC Attendees : $95 (reg $125)
New York Times bestselling author and MWC Faculty Hallie Ephron, leads a standalone course in building a compelling main character that will ignite reader's imaginations from their first appearance, and leave them thinking about them long after the last page.