Today I’m turning my blog over to Z (aka Elizabeth Haines), a fellow Michigan Sisters in Crime member.

Z lives in Richland, MI, with her husband, Steve, and their cat princess, Winnie. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, piecing quilts, or attempting, usually unsuccessfully (according to her), to grow tomatoes. Despite reading over a hundred books a year, her to-be-read pile has grown so high she’s concerned it will fall over on her, leaving her obituary to read, “She died because she didn’t read fast enough.” Her cozy mystery, Shoots Like a Girl, won the Hugh Holton Mentor Award for the best first fifty pages from the Midwest Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. Her comedic thriller, Run of Luck, was a finalist in the thriller category for the Rocky Mountain Gold Coast awards. 

Z attended Killer Nashville 2025 last month and last week, while we were talking over coffee and sweet rolls in Panera’s, I asked her if she would send me a short overview of of the conference. So, here it is:

Thank you, Maris.

Killer Nashville is a very welcoming conference geared toward writers. I enjoyed being there again this year, meeting with old friends, and making new ones. Conferences like this are great if you’re an introvert because the ice breaker is always, “What do you write?”

As for the sessions, having to decide between nine or ten offerings per time period wasn’t easy. I started Friday morning with Writing Humor in Mysteries and ended on Sunday with Twists and Turn: Crafting Plots That Keep Readers Guessing. Since I’m mostly a plotter, I attended the Write Like a Plotter session on Saturday. It was hilarious as all but one person attending was a pantser. I must say after sitting in so many sessions each day, things did start to run together.

There are also lots of extras offered at Killer Nashville, each with an additional cost; breakout sessions, entry for the Claymore Award for unpublished work with judge’s feedback and the Silver Falchion Award for published works, Master classes on Thursday, and a ‘Shine and Wine Shindig’ with local wines and moonshine, hors d’oeuvres, and live music Thursday night.

My husband and I drove down a day early so I would get to experience the area beyond the hotel. We found gorgeous landscaping everywhere, charming towns filled with old brick buildings, great restaurants, and very friendly people. I recommend doing this if possible.

Overall, this is a terrific conference. I’m already thinking about attending again next year.

(Hmm, sounds like something for me to think about. Maris)