4th Annual Mystery Fest Key West is Announced, 6/16-18

Celebrated mystery writers, acclaimed storytellers and their fans are set to infiltrate the tropical island city where Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams found their inspiration during the 4th Annual Mystery Fest Key West, set for June 16-18, 2017 at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Grand Key in Key West, Florida.

During the weekend's series of panels, presentations and social events, Fest guests will have the opportunity to learn first-hand how to craft their own tales of crime, murder and mystery from a stellar line-up of high-profile mystery and suspense luminaries and true-crime experts.

Headliners for 2017 are John Hemingway, grandson of Ernest and author of 'Strange Tribe,' Keynote Speaker Clifford Irving and Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter past-President Randy Rawls.

Featured presenters include New York Times bestselling author Lisa Black, award-winning crime and science fiction writer James O. Born, award-winning 'cozy' mystery writer Nancy J. Cohen and New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Heather Graham, each of whom will also moderate and appear on panels with mystery/suspense authors Dan Ames, David Beckwith, Robert Coburn, John Cunningham, Mike Dennis, Lewis C. Haskell, Susan Haskell and Nora-Jean Perkin, Renee Kumor, Meg Muldoon, Siera London, Rick Ollerman, Reef Perkins, Ken Rijock, Shirrel Rhoades, Marjory Sorrel Rockwell and Paul Sinor.

"In its first three years our Mystery Fest Key West developed a reputation not only for the caliber of authors that attend and participate, but the wide range of mystery genres they represent," said Shirrel Rhoades, co-founder of the Fest. "It's an intimate environment where authors and fans get to mix and mingle while exploring the craft in a tropical island paradise."

Event highlights include a reception and dinner at the Hemingway Home and Museum, presentation of the 2017 Whodunit Mystery Writing Competition and Award, a ghost tour hosted by Heather Graham, a panel on 'How to Commit a Perfect Murder,' author book signings, a Bloody Mary Morning breakfast at Key West's historic Schooner Wharf Bar and several back-to-back true-crime workshops led by Florida Keys Law Enforcement Officers who will present a bird's eye view of how detectives and CSI investigators collect and work with evidence in real life - vs. popular television and film depictions.

The 2017 Mystery Fest Key West is sponsored by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, the Key West Citizen daily newspaper, Mystery Writers of America - Florida Chapter and the Florida Keys Council of the Arts. Event registration is $175 and includes all panels, presentations and four meals. For registration and information visit mysteryfestkeywest.com.

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