Shawn Reilly Simmons is the author of The Red Carpet Catering Mysteries featuring Penelope Sutherland, an on-set movie caterer, and of several short stories appearing in various anthologies. Her most recent, "Burnt Orange," appears in Passport to Murder: the 2017 Bouchercon Anthology (Down & Out Books, 2017).
Shawn was born in Indiana, grew up in Florida, and began her professional career in New York City as a sales executive after graduating from the University of Maryland with a BA in English. Since then Shawn has worked as a book store manager, fiction editor, convention organizer, wine rep, and movie set caterer. She serves on the Board of Malice Domestic, is a member of the Dames of Detection, and is an editor at Level Best Books.
Shawn is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Crime Writers' Association in the UK.
Cooking behind the scenes on movie sets perfectly combined two of her great loves, movies and food, and provides the inspiration for the Red Carpet Catering series, published by Henery Press.
Shawn was born in Indiana, grew up in Florida, and began her professional career in New York City as a sales executive after graduating from the University of Maryland with a BA in English. Since then Shawn has worked as a book store manager, fiction editor, convention organizer, wine rep, and movie set caterer. She serves on the Board of Malice Domestic, is a member of the Dames of Detection, and is an editor at Level Best Books.
Shawn is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Crime Writers' Association in the UK.
Cooking behind the scenes on movie sets perfectly combined two of her great loves, movies and food, and provides the inspiration for the Red Carpet Catering series, published by Henery Press.
2017 Events...
April 27th at 6:30 PM
East City Book Shop
Washington, D.C.
"On the Verge of Malice: Female Writers on Crime Fiction Careers" panel discussion with Christina Kovac, Shawn Reilly Simmons, Wendy Tyson, Radha Vastal, and E.A. Aymar as moderator.
April 28th - 30th:
Malice Domestic 29
Bethesda, MD
Panels & Signings:
- "Simply the Best" Moderating the 2016 Agatha Nominees in the Best Contemporary Novel category: Ellen Byron, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Catriona McPherson & Barbara Ross at 1:00 PM on Friday
- "Mystery Most Historical" anthology signing at 9:00 PM on Friday
- "Lights, Camera, Murder" discussing mysteries and the movies with Ann Cleeves, Tracy Kiley, Shawn Reilly Simmons, and Sheila York, with Verena Rose as moderator at 10:00 AM on Sunday
May 19th at 7:00 PM
Noir @ the Bar
McCormack's Irish Pub in Richmond, VA
Authors: John Ashley, Mary Burton, S.A. Cosby, Meriah Crawford, Jamie Mason, Marietta Miles, Shawn Reilly Simmons, Phillip Thompson, & LynDee Walker. Hosted by Eryk Pruitt.
July 27th:
Dinner & Book Club Party with The Reading Divas
Rocky Mount, NC
August 9th:
For the Love of Mystery: A Sisters in Crime discussion and Q&A with Shawn Reilly Simmons and Sherry Harris.
Curious Iguana, 12 N Market St, Frederick, MD
7:00 - 8:00 PM
August 11th & 12th:
Suffolk Mystery Author Festival
Suffolk, VA
Panels & Signings:
- VIP Meet & Greet Friday from 12 - 1 PM
- From 17th Century Weaver to 21st Century Chef: How Research Establishes a Character's Professional Credibility with Maya Corrigan, Barbara Early, Grace Greene, Jenna Harte, Eleanor Kuhns, Shawn Reilly Simmons, BK Stevens, Art Taylor and Christine Trent. Saturday at 4 PM at the Birdsong Theater
September 2nd from 5:00 - 6:30 PM:
17th Library of Congress National Book Festival
Noir at the National Book Festival
Washington, DC
- I'll be reading at the Noir at the Bar event along with James Grady, Sujata Massey, Louis Bayard, Colleen Shogan, Con Lehane, and Kathleen Barber. Hosted by E.A. Aymar.
October 6th from 6:00 - 8:00 PM:
First Friday Meet the Authors
Chambersburg PA
October 7th from 11:00 - 3:00 PM:
Eat Local, Read Local Event
Cascades Library
Potomac Falls, VA
October 8th at 2:00 PM:
Taneytown Library
Sisters in Crime Mystery Writing Panel with co-panelists Shawn Reilly Simmons, KM Rockwood, Carla Coupe & Teresa Quill.
Taneytown, MD
October 12th - 15th:
Bouchercon 2017: Passport to Murder
Toronto, Canada
Panels & Signings:
- "Adapted For..." I'll be moderating a panel of authors who have had their work adapted for the screen. My panelists are Ann Cleeves, Maureen Jennings, Lou Berney, David Morrell & Yrsa Sigurdardottir. (Thursday from 2:30 - 3:30 in Sheraton E)
- "The Amateurs," a panel discussing how a character's profession shapes their amateur sleuthing with Sara J Henry (moderator), R. Franklin James, KM Rockwood, E. C. Bell & Chris Knopf (Saturday from 2:30 - 3:30 in Sheraton B)
- Passport to Murder Anthology Signing: My story "Burnt Orange" appears in this year's Bouchercon Anthology, published by Down & Out Books. (Saturday from 7:00 - 8:00 PM)
November 4th:
Sisters in Crime Library Event
Ellicott City, MD
November 10th - 12th:
New England Crime Bake
Dedham, MA
2016 Events...
March 13:
Book Release Party, JoJo's Restaurant and Tap House & Curious Iguana Book Store in Frederick MD
April 29 - May 1:
Malice Domestic, Bethesda MD
July 16:
Noir at the Bar, The Wonderland Ballroom in Washington DC
July 20th:
Killer Coffee Club at Barnes & Noble in Ithaca NY
August 30:
Noir on the Radio's Dames in the Dark program, Blog Talk Radio, Live @ 9:00 PM
Listen to the podcast here!
September 15 - 18:
Bouchercon 2016 Blood on the Bayou in New Orleans LA
I'm included in the following panels/events:
- "Knowing Me Knowing You" on Thursday September 15th at 12:00 noon along with Carolyn Tillery (Moderator), Kristi Abbott, Loretta Ross, Carol Ann Newsome & Debra Goldstein
- Sisters in Crime Breakfast, Saturday September 17th at 7:30 AM
- "Make 'Em Laugh" on Sunday September 18th at 10:30 AM. I'll be moderating for Shaun Harris, Susan Rogers Cooper, Marla Cooper, Helen Smith & Nancy Cole Silverman
September 29 @ 6:00 PM:
Fall For The Book at George Mason University (Merton Hall) in Fairfax VA
Mystery Writers of America Mid-Atlantic Chapter Panel with Art Taylor (Moderator), Maya Corrigan, Dan Fesperman, and David Swinson.
October 7:
Read All About It
First Friday Author Event in Chambersburg PA
Hosted by Teas & Such, 42 South Main Street
October 8:
Fletcher Library, 100 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown MD
Library Journal's Author Day Celebration from 10 AM - 2 PM
October 29:
The Writer's Center in Bethesda
Sisters in Crime, Chesapeake Chapter's Author Showcase 1:00 PM
November 5:
Noir @ the Bar Richmond
McCormack's Irish Pub in Richmond VA from 5:00 - 7:00 PM
November 10-13:
New England Crime Bake, Dedham MA
November 27:
Book signing and Writing Panel
The Red Canoe, Baltimore MD
Join the Dames of Detection along with other contributing authors to Windward: The Best New England Crime Stories 2016 as they sign books and discuss the art of short story writing.
December 3:
Reston Public Library in Reston, VA
Sisters in Crime, Chesapeake Chapter's Author Showcase from 1 - 3:00 PM
