For those unfamiliar, Bouchercon is the Big Kahuna of mystery/suspense conventions. It's a reader-oriented convention, meaning that authors have a chance to interact with fans, and vice-versa. On the author side, every year reads like a list of "Who's Who" in the mystery/suspense world. This year's attendees included Lee Child, Val McDermid, Denise Mina, Laurie King, Kate Atkinson, Gregg Hurtwitz, Michael Connelly, oh hell there were so many people just look here if you're curious...
The point being it's awesome and kind of overwhelming. For every person I got to meet, there were two more I somehow missed who I dearly would have loved to have encountered. There are panels galore, on every conceivable mystery-writing topic and on the publishing industry in general. We had a wonderful hospitality suite run by Sisters In Crime, Northern California, who kept the place stocked with an amazing range of snacks, and most importantly, coffee (Bouchercons primarily run on two things: coffee and booze).
The best part for me was that I got to hang out with a bunch of awesome writers from Soho Press, and a team from Soho Press itself. I'd had the pleasure of meeting a few fellow Soho authors, Cara Black and Stuart Neville, on previous occasions, but this was the first time that I got to meet James Benn, Henry Chang and Jassy MacKenzie. What a great bunch of folks. I know this because we traveled as a pack. Just call us the Soho Criminals. Oh yes...there may be a band...watch out, Bouchercon St. Louis...
Here we are in front of M is for Mystery, preparing for our pre-con kick-off event. I think for many in the audience the highlight was getting to hear from publisher Bronwen Hruska, publicist Justin Hargett and marketing maven Ailen Lujo, who together provided an inside peek at the workings of a publishing house, along with a taste of their real passion and enthusiasm for the business.
On Saturday, we trooped over to Oakland to do a meet and greet at the Northern California Independent Bookseller's Association convention. After that, I sort of strong-armed the group into taking the ferry back to San Francisco (we'd BART-ed over). Okay, look, the ferry is awesome! It just is. Only takes a half hour. And it was a beautiful day.
Here are Cara and Jassy enjoying the cruise.
And here are the Soho Criminals assembled. I was really happy that everyone liked the experience as much as I do. If I lived up there, I'd commute this way as often as possible.
Publisher Bronwen Hruska, Henry Chang and Jassy MacKenzie, at dinner in North Beach.
All of us, post-pasta coma...
Central to all Bouchercons is the hotel bar. It has been rumored that Stuart Neville and I closed the bar one evening. This is not exactly the truth. One Gary Corby was also involved. Gary is a fine author and a great companion. He is also Australian. And a Vegemite pusher. I offer as evidence the photo below...
I will neither confirm nor deny that a tube of the stuff made its way into my suitcase and home to Venice Beach...
To sum, if you read or write mysteries, thrillers, suspense novels, or even strange literary hybrids such as Rock Paper Tiger, you owe it to yourself to get to a Bouchercon. Just watch out for that Corby guy. I hear the Vegemite is addictive...
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