Last week I headed to Nashville to attend Bouchercon, the world mystery convention for writers and fans. The conference is named for Anthony Boucher, a mystery author, critic and editor, and 2024 marks its fifty-fifth year.
Bouchercon is big. Really big.
The crowds are big. Attendance
tops fifteen hundred people.
This year’s venue was beyond big—it was huge. The resort and conference center sprawled over three million square feet, and boasted indoor waterfalls and gardens. One late-arriving panelist explained that he couldn’t figure out how to get to the meeting room from the opposite side of the hotel.
The conference had some big-name
authors, like Harlan Coben and international guest of honor Mick Herron. The streaming
adaptation of Herron’s Slow Horses spy series launched its third season this
week.
The Anthony Awards, voted on by
conference attendees, can put authors in the big leagues, as can the other honors
given out at the conference like the Barry, Derringer, and Shamus awards.
My story “The Boyz in the Band” was chosen for inclusion in the Bouchercon anthology Tales of Music, Murder, and Mayhem, which was a very big deal for me!
I came up with some big story
ideas while there, inspired by both the child beauty pageant and the clogger
competition happening in other parts of the hotel.
I brought home a big haul of
books, promising many happy hours of reading.
And in a big coincidence, a
random woman who joined me at a table in the lobby turned out to be from the Sisters-in-Crime
Central Virginia chapter, the first mystery writing group I joined. I had met members
of the group at the very first mystery conference I ever attended—Bouchercon 2015.
I had gone to Raleigh, North
Carolina that October as an aspiring writer with big dreams, some of which have
come true. There’s more I want to achieve, though, so I’ve already got big
plans for next year’s conference in New Orleans.
Are you a fan of mystery writing conferences, as a writer or a reader?
I am a BIG fan of mystery conferences although Bouchercon sometimes feels too big.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed the ones I've been able to attend. However, work seems to get in the way of me attending them as often as I would like.
ReplyDeleteI hope there are more in your future, Mark!
DeleteI've been to a few conferences, Bouchercon among them, and I love them. Between caring for my husband, COVID and my own health, I haven't been to many lately (did make Shortcon for short stories) but I hope to make Malice Domestic this spring, and Bouchercon. at least when it comes to DC in 27, if not before.
ReplyDeleteHope to see you at Malice!
DeleteIt was big fun running into you at Bouchercon, Mary!
ReplyDeleteLikewise, Molly
DeleteCongrats on your anthology story! Can't wait to read it. Glad you had such a good time at Bouchercon. It tends to be too big from me - I'm afraid I'd end up hiding out in my room.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Great news on your anthology story. B'con and Malice are both on my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly was a huge hotel. So happy that you had a good time and congratulations on getting your story in the anthology.
ReplyDeleteAnd congratulations on your Anthony!
DeleteI've never been to Bouchercon, but I'd love to go. Congratulations on your story being published in the anthology!
ReplyDelete