What IS the Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival?
The 2023 Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival (SMAF) was held on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Suffolk Conference Center at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront. This FREE, day-long event showcases your chance to meet national best-selling authors, in the genres of mystery, suspense/thriller, , horror, paranormal, science fiction, romance, historical, and women's fiction. The 2024 festival will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024.
What is the fee to attend the Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival?
The Festival is FREE and open to the public from 1:00-6:00pm. If you would like to attend the VIP Reception (11:30am-12:45pm), the tickets are $30 per person; tickets will go on sale in January 2024.
I am an author and would like to find out about becoming a Featured Author at the 2024 festival.
Because the festival is so popular and we have limited space, we instituted an application process a few years ago. Applications will become available on October 1, 2023; the deadline to submit will be November 15. Chosen authors will then be notified, and we will announce the author roster in December 2023. If you would like to be on the email reminder list, please email Katie Kelley at kkelley@suffolkva.us. We will also announce the application period on our Facebook page and this website.
What panels are being offered and who will be on them?
Please see our panel page here. 2024 panel information is TBA.
Is the venue accessible?
The Suffolk Conference Center at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront is entirely accessible, including a level/ramp entrance into the building and public areas accessible for the physically challenged; service support animals are also welcome. In addition, there is also van-accessible parking in the self-parking facility.
What is parking like at the venue?
There is free parking at the venue, but it is limited, due to the size of the event. Overflow parking can be found just across the street at the Suffolk Visitor Center.
Where can I find a Festival program?
The 2023 program, containing detailed bios for each of our Featured Authors, as well as the complete Festival schedule, is available to view and download here!
I would like to order books I discovered at the Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival. Is there a way to do that?
If you would like to order books you've heard about at the festival, please visit our Book Ordering page to learn about where to shop for your new books.
Where can I see the panels from the 2022 Virtual Festival?
If you would like to view our live panels (and pre-recorded content) from the 2022 festival, which was virtual, please visit our YouTube page!
I have been asked to fill out a survey after the festival. Am I required to do this?
We will be sending you a survey a few days after the festival. While filling out a survey is not mandatory, it is much appreciated. We review these evaluations carefully in an effort to maintain our high standards and plan for future programming.
The 2023 Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival (SMAF) was held on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the Suffolk Conference Center at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront. This FREE, day-long event showcases your chance to meet national best-selling authors, in the genres of mystery, suspense/thriller, , horror, paranormal, science fiction, romance, historical, and women's fiction. The 2024 festival will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024.
What is the fee to attend the Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival?
The Festival is FREE and open to the public from 1:00-6:00pm. If you would like to attend the VIP Reception (11:30am-12:45pm), the tickets are $30 per person; tickets will go on sale in January 2024.
I am an author and would like to find out about becoming a Featured Author at the 2024 festival.
Because the festival is so popular and we have limited space, we instituted an application process a few years ago. Applications will become available on October 1, 2023; the deadline to submit will be November 15. Chosen authors will then be notified, and we will announce the author roster in December 2023. If you would like to be on the email reminder list, please email Katie Kelley at kkelley@suffolkva.us. We will also announce the application period on our Facebook page and this website.
What panels are being offered and who will be on them?
Please see our panel page here. 2024 panel information is TBA.
Is the venue accessible?
The Suffolk Conference Center at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront is entirely accessible, including a level/ramp entrance into the building and public areas accessible for the physically challenged; service support animals are also welcome. In addition, there is also van-accessible parking in the self-parking facility.
What is parking like at the venue?
There is free parking at the venue, but it is limited, due to the size of the event. Overflow parking can be found just across the street at the Suffolk Visitor Center.
Where can I find a Festival program?
The 2023 program, containing detailed bios for each of our Featured Authors, as well as the complete Festival schedule, is available to view and download here!
I would like to order books I discovered at the Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival. Is there a way to do that?
If you would like to order books you've heard about at the festival, please visit our Book Ordering page to learn about where to shop for your new books.
Where can I see the panels from the 2022 Virtual Festival?
If you would like to view our live panels (and pre-recorded content) from the 2022 festival, which was virtual, please visit our YouTube page!
I have been asked to fill out a survey after the festival. Am I required to do this?
We will be sending you a survey a few days after the festival. While filling out a survey is not mandatory, it is much appreciated. We review these evaluations carefully in an effort to maintain our high standards and plan for future programming.