Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival
  • Home
  • About SMAF
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • History
    • Venue 2024
    • Stay Nearby
    • Ordering Books
    • Posters
    • Photos
    • Press
    • Praise For The Festival
  • 2023 Authors A-L
    • Obelia Akanke
    • Gabby Allan
    • Betsy Ashton
    • Paul Awad
    • E.A. Aymar
    • Catherine Bruns
    • Thomas A. Burns, Jr.
    • Ellen Butler
    • Lynn Cahoon
    • Austin Camacho
    • Maya Corrigan
    • John DeDakis
    • Diane Fanning
    • Victoria Gilbert
    • John Gilstrap
    • Marni Graff
    • Bradley Harper
    • Rebecca Hemlock
    • Jeffrey James Higgins
    • Edwin Hill
    • Tim Holland
    • Teresa Inge
    • Thomas Kies
    • Dana King
    • Tara Laskowski
    • Jackie Layton
    • Con Lehane
  • 2023 Authors M-Z
    • Allie Marie
    • Karen McCullough
    • Mary Miley
    • Julie Moffett
    • K.L. Murphy
    • Stacie Murphy
    • R. A. Muth
    • Nancy Naigle
    • Nan O'Berry
    • Kathryn O'Sullivan
    • Josh Pachter
    • Hank Phillippi Ryan (Headliner)
    • Mindy Quigley
    • Amy M. Reade
    • Shawn Reilly Simmons
    • Katharine Schellman
    • Hunter J. Skye
    • Rosalie Spielman
    • Art Taylor
    • Grace Topping
    • Christine Trent
    • LynDee Walker
    • Heather Weidner
  • 2024 Schedule
    • Full Festival Schedule
    • VIP Reception
    • Signings
    • Author Panels
  • Contact Us
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In late spring 2014, the Tourism division contacted a favorite mystery author, Ellery Adams, via Facebook to see if she would be interested in coming to Suffolk for a book signing, since she was just up the road in Richmond. She was! And better still...she suggested she might be able to round up a few of her author friends to come with her. Would Suffolk be interested? You bet! The idea of a festival was born. We went from one author to 11 in the space of three short months, as word spread among the close-knit author community, and the Suffolk Public Library and Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts came on board with great ideas and volunteers. ​The first festival was held on Saturday, November 8, 2014, at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.

At the inaugural event, approximately 200 attendees enjoyed meeting their favorite authors and getting the latest "cozy mysteries" signed, along with fantastic door prizes, 
an entertaining moderated author panel, fresh and exciting workshops, 
and a delightful closing reception.
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In 2014, we had 11 authors. In 2015, we doubled to 24 authors. Currently, we showcase 50+ national and best-selling authors. As we continue to grow...who knows how many? Due to the COVID pandemic, the 2020 festival was postponed to an all-virtual format in March 2021. While we had hoped to return to the in-person format in 2022, we elected for a virtual format again, for the continued safety of our attendees. We are delighted to be planning an in-person format for 2023, to be held at the Suffolk Conference Center! ​We hope you can join us!
Copyright 2023 | Suffolk Tourism |  All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • About SMAF
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • History
    • Venue 2024
    • Stay Nearby
    • Ordering Books
    • Posters
    • Photos
    • Press
    • Praise For The Festival
  • 2023 Authors A-L
    • Obelia Akanke
    • Gabby Allan
    • Betsy Ashton
    • Paul Awad
    • E.A. Aymar
    • Catherine Bruns
    • Thomas A. Burns, Jr.
    • Ellen Butler
    • Lynn Cahoon
    • Austin Camacho
    • Maya Corrigan
    • John DeDakis
    • Diane Fanning
    • Victoria Gilbert
    • John Gilstrap
    • Marni Graff
    • Bradley Harper
    • Rebecca Hemlock
    • Jeffrey James Higgins
    • Edwin Hill
    • Tim Holland
    • Teresa Inge
    • Thomas Kies
    • Dana King
    • Tara Laskowski
    • Jackie Layton
    • Con Lehane
  • 2023 Authors M-Z
    • Allie Marie
    • Karen McCullough
    • Mary Miley
    • Julie Moffett
    • K.L. Murphy
    • Stacie Murphy
    • R. A. Muth
    • Nancy Naigle
    • Nan O'Berry
    • Kathryn O'Sullivan
    • Josh Pachter
    • Hank Phillippi Ryan (Headliner)
    • Mindy Quigley
    • Amy M. Reade
    • Shawn Reilly Simmons
    • Katharine Schellman
    • Hunter J. Skye
    • Rosalie Spielman
    • Art Taylor
    • Grace Topping
    • Christine Trent
    • LynDee Walker
    • Heather Weidner
  • 2024 Schedule
    • Full Festival Schedule
    • VIP Reception
    • Signings
    • Author Panels
  • Contact Us