Today the Chicks are pleased to present fab author Elizabeth Crowens, whose first mystery, the delightful Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles, released last March. Today she tells us about what it takes to be a good moderator. Take it away, Elizabeth:
Hi, and thank you Chicks on the Case for having me as your guest. For those of you who don’t already know me, I attended my first author convention in November 2012 when I was working on a speculative fiction (science fiction/fantasy/horror or paranormal) manuscript, still unpublished. Still new to the scene with a lot to learn, it wasn’t until the early summer of 2016 that MX Publishing released my first novel in that genre. Meanwhile, I took intensive workshops to learn the craft of writing and the ins and outs of the publishing industry, although still not enough to safeguard me from the pitfalls.
Previously only knowing people in speculative fiction world, I switched genres. With a completed mystery-suspense novel in hand, I attended my first Bouchercon in Toronto in 2017. I felt like a stranger in a strange land. The only attendees I recognized were those I had already known from conclaves for fans of Sherlock Holmes, since my time travel series involved Conan Doyle. Now, I had a new challenge ahead. Not only did I need to rebrand myself, but I wanted to be visible within this new writing community, even though my work remained unpublished.
What did I do? My unreleased manuscripts were piling up because of an unscrupulous agent who came up with excuses and never sent them out—long story. How could I impress the people choosing panelists to consider me? I offered to moderate them. At first, this turned out to be a frightening proposition. I wasn’t all that well read in the genre, except for Sherlock Holmes and other works of Conan Doyle, and some Poe I read back in high school. Couldn’t even recite the titles of a half dozen Agatha Christie stories and would’ve confused P.D. James with M.R. James or Henry James. I wasn’t an English major. My background was in film history and cinematography, and it wasn’t yet possible to fall asleep with a book under my pillow and absorb the knowledge when I woke the next morning.
The solution: I’d do my homework, and thank heavens for the Internet! Under ideal circumstances, I’d try to read the first book of each series for each of my panelists. When in a rush or assigned panelists at the last minute, at the very least, I would read their Kindle samples. Then I’d take the time to compile well-thought-out questions, custom-tailored for my panelists. Yes, it’s a lot of work, but for me, the effort has paid off, because I’ve had people in the audience come up to me afterward and thank me for conducting such a great panel. Hopefully, the conference chairs will remember and invite me back to be on panels the following year. Is it easier to be a panelist rather than a moderator? You bet, but taking the extra step to moderate is also a great way to break the ice, make friends with other authors and, who knows? Maybe they’ll be happy to blurb your next novel.
Readers: Since I’ve switched from writing alternate history/science fiction/fantasy to humorous private eye mysteries during the Golden Age of Hollywood, what are your favorite detective films from the 1940s and why?
Elizabeth Crowens has worn many hats in the entertainment industry, contributed stories to Black Belt, Black Gate, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazines, Hell’s Heart, and the Bram Stoker-nominated A New York State of Fright, and has a popular Caption Contest on Facebook.
Awards (including unpublished manuscripts): Leo B. Burstein Scholarship from the MWA-NY Chapter, NYFA grant to publish New York: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst, Eric Hoffer Award, a Glimmer Train Awards Honorable Mention, two Grand prize, and six First prize Chanticleer Awards. Crowens writes multi-genre alternate history and historical Hollywood mystery.
Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles, which won First Prize in both Chanticleer’s Mark Twain and Murder & Mayhem Awards and placed as a Finalist in Killer Nashville’s Claymore Awards for Best Humorous Mystery, was released in March 2024. Technically, it is her first published “mystery novel,” and will be eligible for that category for next year’s Agatha Awards. Centered around celebrity dog-nappings in 1940, many of the characters involved with solving the crime involve Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce from the Sherlock Holmes films, William Powell, Myrna Loy, and Dashiell Hammett who wrote The Thin Man. Could you imagine that Asta has disappeared, and they can’t go into production on their next film without him? Check it out at www.elizabethcrowens.com
Chicks on the Case 
Welcome, Elizabeth! I’ve done the moderator thing and you’re right – it is hard. But worth it.
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Definitely a lot of work but worth it.
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So grateful to all who volunteer to moderate!
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Three cheers to you on your new release, Elizabeth! That is an absolutely fantastic cover. As far as classic detective films go, I love the Thin Man movies. The banter between Nick and Nora is so much fun. Cheers!
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Thank you.
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Welcome, Elizabeth, and thanks for visiting Chicks today! I love moderating panels–but I agree, there’s a lot of prep work. I’ve always believed/hoped the extra effort pays off, though. I love helping to highlight other authors’ work–the challenge sometimes for me has been panelists who don’t answer emails or supply much info about themselves pre-conference. It happens, sigh. Congrats on Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles–and what a fab cover, wow. Can you please explain a bit more about what spec fiction is? I’ve heard the term, of course, but is it the “alternate” angle in the genres you mentioned that is the crux?
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Speculative Fiction is the umbrella term to include science fiction, fantasy, and horror/paranormal. Alternate history is when historical events have occurred but are resolved in a different manner than actual history. What if? scenarios about crucial events in human history, and present outcomes very different from the historical record. Usually they fall into either science fiction, including time travel, or historical fiction.
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Moderators who do their homework make the panels fun and give each author a chance to shine. Thanks for putting in the work.
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Thanks, Mark. Glad you appreciate us going the extra mile. I love it when the panel is over, and audience members come up to me and tell me how much they got out of it.
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Thank goodness for moderators, and all the work they put into it! I try to read at least some of all my panelists’ work when I moderate, and keep it as much as a discussion, rather than just going down the line asking questions, as I can. But having fun and funny panelists is a great help!
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Absolutely.
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Having been moderated by Leslie before, I can tell you she’s wonderful!
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Thanks for guesting today, Liz, and congrats on the release. Agree it’s a stunning cover.
Moderating is hard and doing it well is an underrated skill. I always read the books the panelists want to promote and weave specific questions for each author into the general questions. I also do my absolute best to only moderate, unless I’m designated as a panelist and a moderator, which I make clear to the audience. I’ve been to panels where the moderator spends much of the time promoting themselves and it’s super annoying.
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Anyone who starts grandstanding is annoying, Ellen. When I’m a moderator, before our panel starts I show my team a hand signal. Hopefully I won’t have to use it, but it indicates that someone has either gone off topic or is talking too much about themselves, and we need to move on. If they don’t notice it, I’ll cut in and mention that we need to move on to other questions. Once in a while it happens.
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Wow on changing lanes and ending up in mystery territory–we’re glad you’re here, Elizabeth! And thank you so much for serving as a moderator. Moderators really do make panels shine…or not.
Congrats on Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles! That cover is gorgeous!
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Thank you, Jennifer.
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I gotta agree with Jen … that cover is GORGEOUS, Elizabeth!
And you’re absolutely right about moderating. It’s also excellent practice for what not to do as a panelist. You only need to moderate once for a panel with a narcissist or a know-it-all or somebody who just won’t shut up, and it will teach you to be the perfect panelist! That never goes unnoticed.
Thanks for stopping by today!
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Thanks for joining us, Elizabeth and congratulations!! Add me to the chorus singing the praises of that cover. ❤
I’ve been on panels, but never moderated. Sounds darn challenging! Kudos and gratitude to great moderators everywhere.
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Thank you. About twelve years ago, I attended a Writers Digest Conference that covered all genres. Many mystery writers we all know like Hank Phillipe Ryan and Hallie Ephron were some of the speakers. One of the Guests of Honor who wrote children’s books said something that resonated with me. He said, “Never turn down an opportunity,” in regards to contributing to the writing community.
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