|
|
|
 |
View current convention info--bookmark this page and check back often for updates! Then below, view information on our past conventions! Contact us here if you want info on the convention or want to be on our e-mail list for updates and information about it.
UPDATED January 24, 2010 DEADLINE TO BOOK 2010 LAND: Feb. 15, 2010. CRUISE STILL OPEN--SEE BELOW FOR BOOKING INFO!
Today Show Watchers: You may have just seen Jenn Fisher on the Today Show talking about Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys (Jan. 29th show). We welcome you to our fan group's website--thank you for stopping by. We hope you'll join us next year for mystery and mayhem and a super fun celebration of Nancy Drew's 80th anniversary. Check out our land and sea events below and contact us if you have any questions.
|
|
For the 1st Time Ever - A Mysterious Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Convention. Nancy Drew Sleuths invite Hardy Boys fans to join us for a week of double the mystery/double the fun! With honored guests Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys illustrator Rudy Nappi & Stratemeyer Syndicate Partner Nancy S. Axelrad (tentative)! LIST OF SPEAKERS FOR BOTH LAND/CRUISE EVENTS COMING SOON!
Each event--land and sea--are separate events yet they run right together to facilitate attending both events for those who want to join us for both. It's a whirlwind of events not to miss for any Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys fan!
E-mail us if you're interested!
|
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!
Capture the banner seen below (right click your mouse/do a save as) and use it on your websites/blogs/etc.. to help us advertise. Just link
back directly to this page of our website!
|
HELP US ADVERTISE!
To Help Advertise our Fan Club, Our 80th Anniversary Events in 2010, and Celebrate Nancy Drew, we are asking for donations
for advertising costs. Every little bit helps and we thank you for your support! Click on the "donate" button below--you may
donate any amount you wish!
|
|
CAN'T ATTEND THE CONVENTION? Get Cool Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys Stuff!
DEADLINE TO REGISTER ABSENTEE: FEB. 15, 2010! ***For Absentee Registration, you have 2 options noted below. You will receive our goody bags from land and cruise filled with fun convention goodies, handouts, programs, and our DVDs of the convention with presentations from our speakers. Includes shipping. *** COMBINED LAND/SEA ABSENTEE REGISTRATION:
OPTION 1: $85.00 (includes goody bags+ from land and cruise + DVD/shipping)
OUTSIDE USA PLEASE NOTE: If you are outside the US you need to add additional shipping for the priority shipping--everything is too heavy to ship first class international: Canada/Mexico: Add $20.00. Overseas: Add $30.00. HOW TO PAY: You may pay by check or money order: Payable to Jennifer Fisher, P.O. Box 128, Higley, AZ 85236-0128. Or you may pay via Pay Pal. Our Pay Pal id is: nancydrewsleuth@aol.com. (Keep in mind there is no "s" on the end of nancydrewsleuth when paying.) You can also e-mail us and we can send you a Pay Pal invoice too if that's easier for you. Your goody bags+/DVDs will not ship until end of May 2010 once DVDs are readied following the convention. |
SLEUTH ON LAND!
ACTIVITIES: Follow in the footsteps of Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys in and around Merritt Island, FL.
Tentative Schedule:
Tues. Apr. 6 - Meet & Greet at hotel/Dinner at hotel 6:30pm
Wed. Apr. 7 - Brunch at local collector's, Book Hunting day--making stops at numerous bookstores, Evening party at local collector's
Thurs. Apr. 8 - Kennedy Space Center Tour, Treasure Museum, & More Book theme activities TBA, Book Store Dinner Party
Fri. Apr. 9 - Visit to Cocoa Beach & Pier, Follow in Footsteps of ND/HB books set in area. Convention begins: Informal Friday night
session from 6pm to 9pm at hotel with speakers and activities.
Sat. Apr. 10 - Convention Day at hotel, Merritt Island. 9:00 to 5:00pm. Speakers, activities, merchandise, charity raffle. Full list of Speakers so far tentatively includes: Guest of
Honor and Nancy Drew illustrator Rudy Nappi, author and consultant Jennifer Fisher, author Todd H. Latoski, author Janet DeVries, artist Laura Ruby, author Penny Warner, and Dede Agosta/Judy Hubbard.
Evening: 7:30 to 10:00pm - Mystery Dinner/Gift Exchange.
HOW TO REGISTER: You must pay the fee and fill out and mail in our Registration Forms to be officially registered.
Our registration form is a PDF file that is printable:
Click here for the form. If you want to download the Word version, fill it out
and then e-mail (or snail mail) it to us,
click here for the Word version. Send via e-mail or send snail mail to: Jennifer Fisher, P.O. Box
128, Higley, AZ, 85236-0128.
Registrants help pay for the convention costs including but not limited to: transportation and driver gratuities, any provided meals noted, tours provided and entry fees,
equipment/room rentals, decorations, printing costs, advertising, honorariums for speakers and honored guests, goody bag supplies, and DVDs/shipping.
REGISTRATION FEE INCLUDES: 3 full days of private charter bus transportation!!! 4 MEALS! Super collectible 80th anniversary
tote bag filled with great 80th anniversary Nancy Drew items and Hardy Boys goodies too,
DVDs of the event and presentations and shipping to you following the convention, collectible 80th anniversary program,
honorariums for our speakers and honored guests, Brunch Party at Carol's, Professional Trivia Show,
Dinner Party at Todd's, Judi's Bookstore Dinner Party, Kennedy Space Center Tickets for hours of fun,
Treasure Museum Tour, 2 Days of Sleuth Convention with speakers/activities,
Mystery Dinner Party on Saturday at hotel.
REGISTRATION FEE: There are 2 fees listed: one for
official Sleuth Members and one for non-members.
Join us officially and pay the member rate! To join, you may just add the $10.00 lifetime member fee per each registration for those joining.
For those just attending the weekend, we have a special rate for you and
that includes the weekend activities and convention plus the goodybag/DVDs/program as noted above in the registration fee
description.
The First 50 registrants will receive a special 80th anniversary trinket in their goody bags!
ATTENDING MOST/ALL OF THE WHOLE WEEK: $325.00 MEMBERS // $350.00 NON-MEMBERS
HOW TO PAY: We accept checks, money orders, and Pay Pal. Send checks/money orders payable to Jennifer Fisher:
P.O. Box 128, Higley, AZ 85236-0128. Pay Pal to: nancydrewsleuth@aol.com or e-mail us to send you an invoice via Pay Pal.
DEADLINE TO REGISTER: Feb. 15, 2010.
HOTEL: Clarion Hotel, 260 E Merritt Island Cswy SR 520 , Merritt Island, FL.
HOTEL RATE: $83.00/nt + tax.
HOW TO BOOK HOTEL: TOTALLY TRAVEL will be handling the booking of your land convention hotel
for you. (They are also handling the booking of the cruise/cruise registration as well so if you are attending both events, they are your
one-stop shop for booking!) Visit their website to book your hotel!
DEADLINE TO BOOK HOTEL: Room rate guaranteed only through: Jan. 15, 2010 - so book early! AFTER JAN. 15: Still a few rooms in the block, check daily for rates and availability!
SHUTTLE INFO:
For those attending the land convention and then also attending the cruise, your land registration fee
will include a shuttle from the hotel on Sunday, April 11 to the port to catch the cruise.
If you need a shuttle pick up from the airport to the Clarion Hotel on Merritt Island, please contact
Cocoa Beach Shuttle! Call 321-631-4144 and ask for Marissa. She's giving a nice discount to everyone attending the convention, so mention "Nancy Drew
Convention" and the rate for a round trip is $38.00. A one way is just $22.00.
For those driving to the land convention, you may leave your car at the hotel free of charge during the cruise and the shuttle will do a pick up on Thurs. April 15 to take you back to the hotel to pick up your car.
|
SLEUTH AT SEA!
ACTIVITIES: 4 day Carnival Cruise to Bahamas with stops in Freeport and Nassau. On Ship Activities and Speakers in 3 two-hour sessions
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday including a mystery scavenger hunt, costume party, contests, speakers and other fun activites TBA.
Speakers include: Guest of Honor and Nancy Drew illustrator Rudy Nappi, Prof. Carolyn Dyer, Jennifer Fisher, and Todd Latoski.
Tentative Schedule:
Sun. Apr. 11 - Arrive at ship by 1pm. Sails at 4pm. Meet & Greet Event from 8:30pm to 9:30pm, Mystery Scavenger
Hunt Begins.
Mon. Apr. 12 - Free time in Freeport, Bahamas. Sails at 4pm. Schedule Activities on board: 3pm-4:30pm. Formal Night and informal evening gathering.
Tues. Apr. 13 - Free time in Nassau, Bahamas.
Wed. Apr. 14 - Sails at 6am for Port Canaveral. Sailing All day/evening. Scheduled Activities on board: 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm including Mystery Costume Party. Honored Guest Rudy Nappi. Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Presentations. Scavenger Hunt wrapped during 2pm to 4pm portion.
Thurs. Apr. 15 - Ship arrives back at Port Canaveral by 7am. Everyone should be off the ship by approx. 11am. We recommend
you book a flight leaving no earlier than around 3pm if you are returning home on Thurs.
COST OF REGISTRATION/CRUISE:UPDATE: PRICES BELOW WERE ONLY VALID THROUGH DEC. 1, 2009--PLEASE CONTACT TOTALLY TRAVEL TO
CHECK AVAILABILITY & PRICING WHICH WILL BE QUOTED ON A DAILY BASIS!
The cruise cost includes both the registration fee and the cruise fee for the
cruise! That is: your accomodations on the cruise ship, meals and drinks (except for soda/alcoholic drinks), registration
fees for all private Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys events on board for speakers/activities/scavenger hunt/costume party/etc., plus
goody bag and DVD of cruise events/speakers.
The prices are per person based upon double occupancy--you will need a roommate to cruise or you'll have to upgrade to a private
room! THESE WERE THE PRICES QUOTED THROUGH DEC 1, 2009--CHECK FOR RATES AT ANYTIME AND PLEASE BE ADVISED THEY MAY BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER:
Inside Room: $519 (Was rate through Dec. 1--check with Totally Travel for daily rates)
Travel insurance
is available through Totally Travel if you are interested.
***If you need a roommate to do the cruise, you can ask Totally Travel about matching you up with someone else needing a roommate when
you go through them to book.***
PLEASE NOTE: To attend the convention at sea and all Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys private events, you must book through Totally
Travel!
For Those attending just the cruise only and who are coming in the night before the cruise, Totally Travel has set up a block of rooms
at the Country Inn & Suites right by the port where the cruise departs and they have transfers from the hotel to the cruise ship/dock.
Book your hotel via Totally Travel: $129.00 rate.
SHUTTLE INFO: If you need a shuttle pick up from the port to the airport once the cruise arrives back in port,
please contact Cocoa Beach Shuttle! Call 321-631-4144 and ask for Marissa. She's giving a nice discount to everyone attending the convention, so mention "Nancy Drew
Convention" and the rate for a one way is just $22.00.
|
A: The prices quoted above include port charges, taxes, and the registration fee for all private Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys events on board and all those costs associated with event planning plus the goody bag/DVD. PLEASE NOTE: To attend the convention at sea and all Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys private events, you must book through Totally Travel!
Q' "Do I need a passport to take the cruise?"
A: Yes. You will need a passport to cruise--new rules/regulations. You can get one at your local post office so be sure to do so within plenty of time before the cruise. They do take time to process.
Q' "Does the cruise cost above cover all drinks aboard the ship?"
A: Only water/tea/coffee--and not coffee at the coffee shops. If you want to purchase passes on board for sodas/etc. you can do so once you board.
Q' "Does the cruise cost above cover excursions and other non-free events on board?"
A: The cruise fee covers only scheduled private convention events on board. Any special services you use or excursions you want to sign up for are an additional cost. Please check with Totally Travel to inquire about extra excursions you can do in your free time on board the ship and at stops in the Bahamas.
Q' "What is the dress code on a cruise ship?"
A: Casual, however usually the 2nd night of cruising is a formal night for dinner so you can have fun dressing up!
 |
The original "Carolyn Keene"
|
Nancy Drew Sleuths Conventions
Conventions are open to both Sleuth members and non-members, but Sleuth members receive special
discounts and perks. Book dealers are encouraged to come and set up books for sale, a small dealer
table fee will be charged.
Annually, the Nancy Drew Sleuths get together for a convention filled with presentations, activities,
and book and antique hunting. The convention is a great time for series book collectors to
meet, trade books and stories, and hunt for missing books from their collection. Convention
locations are chosen to tie-in with the Nancy Drew® books to add a more nostalgic flair to the
event.
Past Conventions & Highlights
April 2002: Iowa City, Iowa. Members visited The University of Iowa to view Mildred Wirt Benson's archives
of photographs, outlines, letters, columns, stories, and ephemera. They visted with the organizers
of the 1993 Nancy Drew Conference, held at the university, Carolyn Stewart-Dyer and Nancy Tillman
Romalov and presentations were given. A trip to Ladora, Mildred's hometown, to view her childhood
home and meet her family was a wonderful experience for all who attended.
April/May 2003: New York City, New York. Members spent a week touring sites of New York including
Stratemeyer themed sites. Visits to the New York Public Library Stratemeyer archives were met
with enthusiasm of members who got to delve into Stratemeyer Syndicate lore. Highlighting the week's
activities and book hunting was a visit to a book dealer's home with thousands of series books and a local
collector's huge Nancy Drew® collection spanning books, collectibles, and artwork. Capping off the
week was a successful day of presentations from the Stratemeyer family, the Russell H. Tandy family,
Simon & Schuster, Applewood Books, and Sharon Reid Harris.
March 2001: Toledo, Ohio. Members met the original "Carolyn Keene," Mildred Wirt
Benson, and had
books signed and asked lots of questions. They toured sites of Toledo, went book hunting, and ate dinner at a haunted
restaurant.
March 2004: New Orleans, Lousiana. Members spent the week visiting historic and haunted sites in the
French Quarter and outerlying areas, Nancy Drew® theme sites mentioned in the books set in New Orleans,
went book and antique hunting, joined in on a crawfish boil and BBQ at a local collector's home, visited a
historic plantation, attended a Nancy Drew® murder mystery party aboard a "haunted showboat" on its dinner
and jazz cruise, and attended a day of presentations from Sleuth members Sharon Reid Harris, Todd Latoski, Meredith Jaffe, Rachel Smith,
and presentations by Simon & Schuster and Gumshoe Girls.
The Nancy Drew 75th & Stratemeyer Syndicate 100th Anniversary Conference was held June 16-19, 2005 in NYC,
with a few
Sleuth events. For details on the conference, click
here.
October 2005: Phoenix, AZ. Members were treated to a Shadow Ranch and Kachina Doll Nancy Drew®
theme during their week in Phoenix, AZ. Highlights include: Meet and Greet Dinner, Ghost Town tour and Dirk Valentine Treasure
Hunt, Western Dinner, Kachina Doll collection tour, book hunting, Kachina Doll dinner and mystery hunt at "hacienda", tour of
Jenn Fisher's collection, day of presentations from: Garrett Lothe, Renee Walker, Jenn Fisher, and Dean Burcham, book dealers set up. Game play
of lifesize version of Nancy Drew® Mystery Game from the 1950s. Lots of prizes given out and trivia contests. 3 Goody Bags given
out.
October: 2006: Chicago, IL.
Members toured "River Heights Country" while solving mysteries at Red Gate Farm and found a Hollow Oak treasure! Activities
included: All Day Bus trip of book hunting, antiquing, visit to a real life Red Gate Farm, Hollow Oak treasure hunt,
Sleuth Madonna's
Red Gate Farm party, Chicago sightseeing, visit to the American Girl Store to view Nancy Drew® book on display, Danger on
the
Great Lakes dinner cruise on Lake Michigan, presentations at the Chicago Children's Museum, a Chicago Style Deep Dish
Pizza dinner, a Joker's
Revenge game, and a fun Nancy Drew® theme gift exchange.
June: 2007: Pasadena, CA.
The Sleuths had their first movie & TV theme convention, timed to the release of the Warner Brothers movie, Nancy Drew.
Members toured the Huntington Library and viewed some sights where the Nancy Drew® movie was filmed, went book hunting, and played a Nancy
Drew® cover art game. On the day of the movie's release, members held a Nancy Drew® 101 event at the Burbank Public Library, toured
Warner Brothers Studios, and saw the Nancy Drew® movie. The Sleuths held their big convention day at the Pasadena Hilton and featured 7 speakers on a
variety of topics, had book and merchandise sales, and that evening held a special 1930s Nancy Drew® murder mystery party complete with
skits, a prize, and a fun Nancy Drew® theme gift exchange. A tour of Dave Farah's collection and BBQ was a highlight!
Sept-Oct: 2008: Bird-in-Hand, PA.
The Sleuths headed to Witch Tree Country for a fun-filled convention! Members visited Hershey, PA and had their photos printed
on chocolate bars, went book hunting and antiquing and found a few goodies, toured Amish farms, quilt shops, and went on a Witch Tree Clues Hunt.
A hayride and a ghost tour were especially fun! Members spent a day in historic Philadelphia touring sights around Independence
Square and those that Nancy visited in the SuperMystery, A Question of Guilt. A dinner at City Tavern complete with Revolutionary War era costumed
servers was a treat. The Sleuths held their convention day at the Bird-in-Hand Family Inn complete with speakers: Author Jennifer Fisher,
Nancy Drew Files Artist Tricia Zimic, Author Penny Warner, Crafty Sleuth Lea Fox, and Author and Professor Michael G. Cornelius. Dinner was a special
smorgasbord and that was followed by a "barn dance" complete with our crafty Nancy Drew gift exchange, some singing, and a raffle for neat
Nancy Drew prizes. And no one was hexed or accused of being a witch like Nancy in The Witch Tree Symbol!
Sept-Oct: 2009: Las Vegas, NV.
Nancy Drew Sleuths followed in Nancy Drew's footsteps in Las Vegas and around the Valley of Fire State Park where the classic
Nancy Drew book, #52 The Secret of the Forgotten City was set. A 70s disco style Nancy Drew meet and greet party was
held to kick off the convention. Members bused to the Valley of Fire to compete in a Sleuth Survivor challenge--George Tribe won
reward! A visit to the Lost City Museum just like Nancy and her chums in the book was informative and provided great background
material for the book and Harriet Stratemeyer Adams who researched there in person before writing the book. Members completed a
CSI: Nancy Drew mystery challenge complete with miniature crime scenes. Our big convention day featured 40 local fourth grade
girls who were excited to learn more about Nancy Drew. Speakers Jennifer Fisher, Lea S. Fox, Dean Burcham, and guest of honor
David Farah rounded out the event along with a Nancy Drew scrapbooking session. A 1940s Old-Time Vegas Gangster Mystery Dinner Party
capped off the week's events including a festive Nancy Drew gift exchange.
HOW TO BOOK/REGISTER: