Today’s technology and efficient communication means that we hear about a lot more books than ever before. Don’t believe me? Check your wish list and TBR. On the one hand, that’s a very good thing. It means a lot of books are out there, so people have a lot of choice when it comes to what they want to read.

The sheer number of books, though, has its consequences. For readers, it’s all but impossible to keep up with the many new books and debut authors out there. Even authors who’ve been writing for a while might not appear on a reader’s ‘radar’ because there’s so much available. And that’s to say nothing of ‘rediscovered’ authors from long ago. I know a lot of readers who have that ‘I am never going to catch up!’ feeling. I do, myself. It’s not always easy to keep up with one’s top two or three authors, let alone any others.

For authors, especially authors who aren’t ‘household words,’ the sheer number of books out there means it’s hard to get noticed. Trust me. There are many highly talented authors out there who are just one ‘notice’ from being beloved best-sellers.

One way to find out about less well-known authors is to go to a book conference or festival, such as Bouchercon or CrimeFest. And those can be great experiences. But they can be difficult to attend due to distance, finances, and so on. That’s why smaller conferences and even mini-conferences are such an appealing alternative. Especially if they’re online. I’d like to share just one of them with you.

The Maple Leaf Mystery Ottawa Virtual Mini-Conference will take place on Saturday, 3 December, 9 AM – 5 PM Eastern Time. Vicki Delany and Rick Mofina will be headlining the one-day conference, and there’ll be several panels on different sub-genres and topics (e.g., police procedurals, suspense, short stories, and light mysteries). It’s a chance to hear from some ‘names’ in crime fiction, but also to hear from authors whose names you might not know, but whose work you may find you like. It’s all virtual, too, so being a part of it is easy.

This is also a chance for those who are starting their crime writing journey to learn from authors who are already in the field. There’ll be several sessions where panelists share their expertise. And mystery writers can meet each other, too, virtually, and share their experiences.

But don’t take my word for it. Go visit the conference website and see for yourself! You get the chance to hear from some great authors (and learn about some new books), the price is right (from CAD$15.00), and you don’t have to fight traffic or deal with airlines. Also you don’t have to worry about your wardrobe. What’s not to like?

*NOTE: The title of this post is the title of a Bachman-Turner Overdrive song.