Creatures, Crimes, and Creativity – 3-Day Fan Conference

Welcome to the Creatures, Crimes & Creativity Con

Doubletree Hilton Hotel Columbia MD

September 19 – 21, 2025

Our purpose is to gather readers and writers of genre fiction–mystery, suspense, thriller, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal – to meet in an informal atmosphere so that everyone can have fun connecting, and learning about writing, the authors and their books. The conference offers panels on the craft and business of writing as well as panels tailored to engage and entertain fans. The registration fee includes Friday’s dinner, 3 meals Saturday and Sunday breakfast, so readers and writers dine side-by-side. Plus: keynote addresses, author interviews, an onsite bookstore, two giant book signings and readings open to the public.

Giving to others:

Free to the public:

Thank you so much for everything. It was such a memorable weekend. I've never received so much love from a writing community in my life!

Raymond Benson

This conference was everything I hoped it would be and more! I had so much fun, learned so much, met so many great people, and feel so inspired right now.

Dylan Roche

Thank you for an excellent event and for everyone's hard work.

Allie Marie

Thank you, Austin, and all of the volunteers for doing such an outstanding job with C3 Con. Fingers crossed I can make it next year.

Vonnie Winslow Crist

It’s always a great time and honestly saying there has always been great welcoming folks at C3 and still are.

Jessica R. Brynarsky

Thank you all. I love this con and everyone who brings it all together and all who attend. It is truly a a wonderful family.

Kelli Peacock

So happy to have been a part of it. Looking forward to next year!

Jodi Schwartz

2025 Keynotes

TOM STRAW is a New York Times bestselling author, Emmy nominated TV writer and executive producer. He published his first mystery novel, The Trigger Episode, in 2007. Then, writing as Richard Castle, he authored seven more crime novels, all of which became New York Times Bestsellers. He followed the Nikki Heat series with Buzz Killer, The Trigger Episode and most recently The Accidental Joe, all mystery thrillers published under his own name. He is also an Emmy- and Writer’s Guild of America-nominated TV writer and producer having written and produced Night Court, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, Dave’s World, Grace Under Fire, Cosby, Whoopi, and Nurse Jackie. He is also a former member of the National Board of Mystery Writers of America.

Second keynote has not yet been determined.

Local Guest Author

ELLEN CROSBY is the author of the Sophie Medina mysteries, the Virginia wine country mystery series, and Moscow Nights, a standalone mystery. Her most recent book, Dodge and Burn, is the 4th Sophie Medina mystery. Her books have been nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award and the Library of Virginia People’s Choice Award; The French Paradox was chosen as one of The Strand Magazine’s Top 20 Mysteries of 2021. Previously she worked as a freelance reporter for The Washington Post, Moscow correspondent for ABC Radio News, and as an economist at the U.S. Senate. She is currently writing Deeds Left Undone, the 13th wine country mystery, which will be out in 2025.

Publishing Industry Guest

Industry guest has not yet been determined.

Local Guest Author

L. MARIE WOOD , the current Vice President of the Horror Writers Association, writes psychological horror and supernatural suspense in all its forms: novels, novellas, short stories, screenplays, essays, even poems, in print and online, in newspapers, anthologies, chapbooks, magazines, and comic books. Her novel The Promise Keeper won the Golden Stake Award for Literature at the International Vampire Film and Arts Festival. She’s a three-time winner of Best Horror Screenplay at the NOVA International Film Festival, won Best Psychological Horror Short Script at Hollywood Horrorfest, and Best Short Screenplay Indo-Global International Film Festival. She’s a two-time Bram Stoker Award Finalist. She also teaches a college level Intro to Writing Horror course.