Alexandra Burt

I had a wonderful time at Killer Nashville this year. From the moment I walked in, everyone I met was warm and welcoming. One of the things I loved most about this conference was how easy it was to strike up a conversation with a total stranger and walk away with a new friend. I exchanged business cards and swapped stories with more people than I can count, and every one of those conversations reminded me why I’ll probably return.

One of the higlights for me was speaking on my panel, “Feisty Women Protagonists in Historicals.” I was in great company: Nancy Herriman (1800s San Francisco), Nina Wachsman (1600s Venice), Joy Allyson (historical French romance), and Nancy Locklin (nonfiction books about women and violence in 1700s France), plus me, mostly mucking around in the American West. Different centuries, different continents, same throughline: women have always been feisty, using wit and guile to work within, or around, the systems of their time, and sometimes using those systems to their own advantage. I also made a point of reminding the audience that a quiet woman, doing exactly what society expected of her, is no less brave for it. Women have held families and communities together through hard, unglamorous work since the beginning of time. That’s feisty too.

I also got some news at the awards ceremony: For Every Evil Under the Sun, a short story collection I contributed to, was nominated for the Silver Falchion Award for Best Short Story Collection. We didn’t take home the win, but we placed third, and honestly, that felt pretty good. It’s always nice to be noticed. (Fellow AMW member, Laura Oles was a contributor, as well as Alexandra Burt.)

But at the end of the day, what I’ll remember most isn’t the panel or the awards, it’s the people. What stayed with me is how much Killer Nashville is about writers helping writers: swapping craft advice, cheering each other on, and generally leaving each other a little more inspired than when we arrived. Conferences like this have a way of turning strangers into friends over the course of just a few days, and this year was no exception. I left with a stack of business cards, a handful of new stories to tell, and a lot of new friends I’m already looking forward to seeing again.

Below are photos of me harassing interesting people.

J.E. Weiner, Jim Nesbitt, and Karen Coffin.

If you’re ever in East Texas I encourage you to check out The Bosslight bookstore. It’s located in historic down town Nacogdoches so it has a perfect vibe of old and new. Old architecture and new books and art! (Check out the brick paved street. I love it.)

Owner Tim Bryant is an author himself, author of the Dutch Curridge series and the Wilkie John Liquorish Westerns. So you know he has a soft spot for books and wants to help authors and readers connect. (I’m currently reading book one of the Liquorish series and it’s great. Good voice and very suspenseful.)

Not only does he have lots of books, but he works hard to connect and support people in the community. He has art from local artisans and hosts book clubs, author events, and even music events too. Did I mention he’s also a musician? Yes! He’s full of talent. So head on over to The Bosslight book store and support a great community! And tell them I said “howdy”!