Ellen Byron

Ellen Byron is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of the Golden Motel mysteries, Vintage Cookbook mysteries, Cajun Country mysteries, and Catering Hall mysteries (under the pen name, Maria DiRico). She is an award-winning playwright of comedies like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly Odd Parents. A native New Yorker, Byron graduated from Tulane University and resides in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups. Her new book, "Crescent City Christmas Chaos," was released in November.

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Awards: Agatha Award (2) Lefty Award (4)

Workshop: The Magic of Setting

Evocative settings add dimension to your writing. Bring a pen and a pad for some improvisational writing exercises as author Ellen Byron explores the many aspects of place … and how writers can bring color and richness to their projects.

Integrated Learning Center Room 119 (Seats 60)  
Sat, Mar 14, 10:00 am - 10:55 am
Mystery / Thrillers

Panelist: Ellen Byron

Bluff the Reader

Join mystery writers C.J. Box, Ellen Byron and Matt Goldman as they tell stories from their real lives ... and we will vote whether they are fact or fiction.

UA Mall Tent (Seats 250)  
Sat, Mar 14, 4:00 pm - 4:55 pm
Mystery / Thrillers
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Central Mall (following presentation)  

Panelists: C.J. Box, Ellen Byron, Matt Goldman
Moderator: Shannon Baker
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Pepper Viner Homes, Stephen Golden and Susan Tarrence, Ross and Bridget Levin

Deadly Crimes in Different Times

Naomi Hirahara, Mariah Fredericks and Sujata Massey have come to the festival with novels that spin historic fiction into edge-of-your-seat mysteries. Whodunit? And when?

The Commons Room 105 (Seats 217, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 15, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Mystery / Thrillers
Signing area: Sales & Signing Koffler/Commons (following presentation)

Panelists: Mariah Fredericks, Naomi Hirahara, Sujata Massey
Moderator: Ellen Byron
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of City of Tucson, Visit Tucson, Hilary Hamlin

No Badge Needed

Not every sleuth comes wearing a badge. In this session, authors Ellen Byron, Colleen Cambridge and Delia Pitts, will compare notes about regular folks who solve crimes, too.

Student Union Santa Rita (Seats 110)  
Sun, Mar 15, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
Mystery / Thrillers
Signing area: UA Campus Store Book Sales (Mall) (following presentation)  

Panelists: Ellen Byron, Colleen Cambridge, Delia Pitts
Moderator: Zoe Wallbrook
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Joi and Bianca Bowen, Roberta and Bill Witchger, Jan and Mickey Dowling

Books:

Solid Gold Murder

Mystery / Thrillers
Kensington Publishing Corp
July 2025
ISBN 9781496745385
272 pages
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Bayou Book Thief

Mystery / Thrillers
Penguin Publishing Group
June 2022
ISBN 9780593437612
304 pages
Buy now