This past weekend, the Maine crime writing community gathered at the new MWPA offices in Mechanic’s Hall in Portland for the Maine Crime Wave. If you’ve never been to a crime writers’ conference, know that it is a riot. There aren’t a better natured bunch of people anywhere, probably because we get it all out of our systems in our books.

Friday night, there was a Noir at the Bar in the basement of Novel, where 9 brave souls got up to read from new or recent works in front of an audience. Organized by the tireless Gabi Stiteler and MC’d by Matt Cost and Jule Selbo, it was fascinating to hear the different tones, voices, and rhythms of what the readers were sharing. From the ghastly humorous to the dark, dark, dark, our crime writers’ imaginations know no bounds.

Reading at the bar

The gang at Noir at the Bar after reading

Saturday began with icebreaking exercises involving confession to an issue with a WIP and then asking strangers for advice. There’s probably a novel in that somewhere. It was followed by round table discussions, a wonderful interview of award winner Paul Doiron by Julia Spencer Fleming, more round tables, and an utterly crazy group panel to close out the days.

It would be fun to interview the participants today and see what their takeaways were and whether they left with some new ideas for their writing, so fixes for stuck spots, and just an enduring sense that in the crime writing community, we truly are there for each other.

Jule and Matt waiting to ring the gong and send us off the stage

Maureen Milliken with Julia in the background

Matt Cost, looking like he suspects someone is behind him

Dick Cass, dragged away from book signing to his picture taken

Rob Kelley, eagerly awaiting the debut of Raven next month

MCW alum and conference GOH Paul Doiron with Jule Selbo

John Clark and Joe Souza catching up