Misery may love company. But in Chicago, it's mystery that draws a crowd. Fans of the genre -- readers, writers and aficionados -- will  at the 11th annual Love is Murder mystery conference Feb. 6-8.

This year, the conference has a new location, the Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel in Wheeling. But when it comes to workshops, panels and presentations, it seems organizers have rounded up the usual suspects: editors, agents, publishers, and bestselling authors, including Jeffery Deaver, Alex Kava, Steve Berry, Sharan Newman and guest of honor Raymond Benson of Buffalo Grove.

If you have questions about how to write and sell mysteries, Love is Murder provides answers. Master classes will focus on plot and characterization, accuracy in research and the business of being a writer. Workshops and panels will run the gamut, from writing dialogue to adding suspense, from infusing humor to revising a draft. For writers who have completed a manuscript, there's Pitch-a-Palooza, an hour in which to "sell" their story to agents, editors and publishers.

"We've come up with 27 authors who have sold a book, either by finding an agent or a publisher, at Love is Murder," boasted Luisa Buehler, president of the conference board and author of The Grace Marsden mystery series. Before landing a publishing contract in 2002, Buehler was a longtime attendee of the conference.

Publishing aside, the conference is a good place to meet other writers in this lonely profession. Meals, banquets and an afternoon tea aid socialization among writers of not only mysteries and thrillers, but also cross-over genres like paranormal, sci-fi and romance.

"Writers learn that they're not alone out there; there's a commonality in success stories and rejections," explained Buehler.

Published authors find the conference equally useful, said Raymond Benson, who wrote the James Bond 007 series from 1995 to 2003, as well as many serial and stand-alone works.

"For me it's about networking and business, getting to know people in the industry," he said. "We look out for each other; if we're able to recommend someone, we do. We write blurbs for the back of each other's books."

On Saturday, Benson will present "The James Bond Phenomenon slideshow" and field questions about this "archetype that came at the right place and right time."

Benson attends conferences throughout the country, but this hometown event has a different feel. "It's intimate and smaller," he said. "After hours is even more fun."

The conference attracts a slew of successful Chicago writers -- Sara Paretsky, David J. Walker and Linda Mickey to name a few. And yet it remains small and friendly.

"We could not have the cozy, comfortable fun event that everyone loves if we had hundreds and hundreds of people," said Buehler.

After attending a crime scene reenactment, playing Mystery Jeopardy or visiting with ghost of honor Sherlock Holmes (a.k.a. Augie Aleksy, owner of Century & Sleuths bookstore in Forest Park), fans have the opportunity to "rub elbows" with their favorite authors. Headliners commit to attending all meals, the social aspect of the conference.

"You could end up sitting at the bar or breakfast with a national and world renowned author and say 'I love your work,'" Buehler said.

LOVE IS MURDER MYSTERY CONFERENCE

Feb. 6-8 at the Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling. Schedule and registration at www.loveismurder.netor call Hanley Kanar at (847) 891-6588.