Many of the Maine Crime Writers will be gathering in Portland on Friday and Saturday for the 2018 Maine Crime Wave. The Wave is an opportunity for members of the crime writing community, published, unpublished, or avid readers, to get together to talk craft, share woes, war stories, and adventures in the world of crime, and generally enjoy the company of others who also hear voices in their heads.

Friday’s events are free and open to the public, so if you’re longing to spend some time with people who kill for a living and are still smiling, here’s where you can find us. Starting today at three o’clock at the Glickman Library, you can attend a panel on Irresistible Openings, with Dick Belsky and Julia Spencer-Fleming, moderated by Barbara Ross.

At four, the offering is writing compelling endings with Daniel Palmer and Joe Souza, moderated by Brenda Buchanan.

This year’s recipient of the CrimeMaster Award is Douglas Preston, interviewed by Frank O. Smith. Festivities begin at five with a cocktail reception, with presentation of the award at six.

Here are some photos from previous Crime Waves:

Debut authors panel at the Maine Crime Wave 2017 with Barbara Ross, Richard J. Cass, Maureen Milliken, Brendan Rielly, and Bruce Robert Coffin