Two weeks ago, I blogged about my memories of previous Bouchercons. Since then, I’ve returned home from Bouchercon 2018 in St. Petersburg, Florida, where I spent almost a week playing dual roles of professional author and reader fangirl.
Let’s face it, writers are readers too. I still stand in awe and feel like I should salute when Lee Child enters the room.
The convention was also an opportunity to spend some time with dear friends I only see once or twice a year. My first night there included a fun dinner out with Dru Ann Love, Paula Matter and her husband Dave (AKA The Saint), and my travel buddy, Liz Milliron, at a quaint and quirky seafood restaurant.
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| Dru Ann Love, Annette, and Liz Milliron |
The food was fabulous, but the company was even better.
And the hotel? If you ever get a chance to stay at the Vinoy, grab it. The place is ultra luxurious. I thought I’d hit it big with hotel room karma again, but from what I’ve heard, all the rooms were huge.
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| The Vinoy |
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| The room I shared with Liz |
After a leisurely morning on Wednesday, I participated in a marketing workshop put on by Sisters in Crime and Dana Kaye. I took pages of notes and still need to digest all the fabulous information presented.
Bouchercon officially opened Thursday morning and my panel (Doctor Doctor! The Medical Panel) kicked things off. I had to control my inner fangirl in order to act like a professional with Lisa Black seated at the same table. Thankfully, I don’t think I embarrassed myself.
One good thing about getting my panel over first thing—I got to relax and enjoy the rest of the convention.
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| With one of my wonderful fans, Marla Bradeen |
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| Hamming it up with my good pal, Martha Reed |
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| Liz Milliron and Paula Matter nervously waiting their turn at the New Author Breakfast |
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| With Jack the Ripper AKA Daniel Dark AKA Daniel Hooberry |
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| With the beautiful and amazing Lesa Holstine |
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| Always fun to run into fellow Pennsylvania girl, good friend, and awesome author Lisa Scottoline |
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| With Reavis Wortham and Liz |
I did have one last item of business to tackle Saturday morning when Liz and I teamed up for Author Speed Dating, a fun little bit of madness in which authors pair up and have two minutes each to talk about their books to a table of readers. Then when the horn blows, the authors move to the next table and repeat the process. I confess I went to the wrong table at one point. My apologies to the other pair of authors whose pitch I messed up in the process.
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| Author Speed Dating with Liz Milliron |
With that done—and with only a little bit of laryngitis from all the talking—I was free to slide back into reader fangirl mode.
The highlight of my weekend happened outside, on the Vinoy’s veranda where I spent almost an hour chatting with one of my absolute favorite authors, Julia Spencer-Fleming. (Yes, there is another Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alystyne novel in the works!)
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| Fangirl moment with Julia Spencer-Fleming |
And tourist mode.
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| The marina across the road from the Vinoy |
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| Keeping company with a heron |
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| The view from the veranda |
My deepest thanks to Erin Mitchell for organizing this year’s Bouchercon AND my most joyful congratulations to all the award winners.
Next year: Dallas!
I know we had a few other Writers Who Kill in attendance. Debra? Nancy? Tina? Shari? Care to share your favorite moment?
15 comments:
Annette, it all looks and sounds perfectly wonderful. Thanks for sharing your memories with us!
My pleasure, Paula. I was just sorry you weren't there!
At a Malice a few years back Jan and I spent considerable time with Julie Spenser Fleming and her now deceased husband. Bouchercon is large that it’s tough for introverts to not feel overwhelmed, but it sounds like you've thrived.
~ Jim
So true, Jim, about being overwhelming. I've learned that it's okay to slip away and explore on my own or go for a walk ALONE to recharge. I don't feel the need to schmooze every single minute but I've made so many good friends over the years, I really enjoy visiting with them and making new friends.
What great pictures! Sorry I missed this one!
Sounds like a successful B'Con. I enjoyed your photos.
I missed you too, Kathleen!
Thanks, Margaret!
Next year in Dallas we can do it all over again!
Yee HAW!
I can tell you had a great time. I've been going to Malice Domestic for twelve or more years now and always enjoy it. I've always enjoyed Julie Spencer Flemings' books, but I haven't heard that she's still writing in years now. As for Bouchercon, I only went twice and can't afford to go to more than one conference and I enjoy Malice the most. There aren't as many people and everyone is so friendly.
Gloria, I was thrilled when Julia told us she was writing again. She's been through so much the last couple of years. It's great to see her coming out the other side.
I missed you, Annette, in all the crush, but I enjoyed seeing your face (along with so many other familiar and dear faces0 in the photos. Thanks for sharing them! That's actually my favorite Bouchercon moment -- the memories, the emails after, connecting more deeply with all the folks I only saw in the hustle.
I love all the retrospectives too, Tina. Sorry I missed you too. I fully intended to come to your panel but got waylaid as so often happens at these things.
I knew I would be missing a terrific conference, but your blog makes me realize it would have been even better than I imagined. But it was a toss-up: daughter's wedding or Bouchercon? Next year--Dallas. Looking forward to it.
Haha, Grace! I think you'd have been in BIG trouble had you chosen Bouchercon! Definitely next year in Dallas. See you then if not before.
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