I just got back from my first Bouchercon in Baltimore. It also happened to be my first conference as a published author. For those of you that don't know about Bouchercon, it is THE Conference for Mystery and Suspense. The estimate was between 1,400 and 1,800 people attended this weekend. There were probably 300 to 400 authors there as well.
Being a newly published author and being published by a small press put me near the bottom of the food chain, but you would never know it. The established authors there were fabulously supportive. Let me name drop: Lee Child, Harlen Coben, Laura Lippman, John Lutz, Lawrence Block, Karin Slaughter, Barry Eisler, and many more.
Lee Child
Harlen Coben
So, I walk to the registration desk and the first person I meet is the lovely Annette Dashofy. While you may not know Annette, she is one of my co-bloggers on The Working Stiffs blog. She took me in to see Joyce Tremel, the keeper of the Working Stiffs.
The lovely ladies at my side are Annette Dashofy and Joyce Tremel
Another "First" for me was a panel at a writers conference. Even though our panel was up against Laura Lippman and Lauri King, we pulled in about 150 people. I obsessed about it all the way until I had to introduce myself. As usual when I present, I went on autopilot. I don't remember much about it, other than I managed to answer all the questions and even got a few laughs.
I'm at the far right.
After the panel, I went to the book signing room, along with all the other authors that gave panels during that time slot. Laura Lippman's line was out the door. I was warned not to get upset if I didn't sell any books. Well, I sold 4. That's 4 more than I anticipated, so I was good. Even though I had to guilt someone in Laura Lippman's line to buy one. I was good with that too.
There were ups and downs for me. I went from awe, to overwhelmed, to wondering what the hell I was doing there. I've got to tell you, I was never surrounded by a better group of people. Everybody there, from reader to the biggest author names made me feel like I belonged. I had real nice conversations with Lee Child and Harlan Coben. The group at Murderati, one of the premiere mystery author blogs welcomed me like one of the gang. Let's see, there was J.D. Rhoades, Pari Noskin Taichert, Louise Ure, Robert Gregory Browne, Brett Battles, Zoë Sharp and Alex Sokoloff.
Murderati Gang
Also some of the Good Girls Kill for Money were there. I never really saw them all together, but they are such a lovely group. I missed Laura Bradford and Diana Killian.
Sara Rosett and Regina Harvey
Tasha Alexander
Then there were The First Offenders. Lori G. Armstrong, Alison Gaylin, Bryon Quartermous and Karen Olsen. I was having a blast at the bar with Lori and Brett when Harlan Coben strolled up and Heather Grahm and Scott Miller and Janet Reid and my buddy, Lee Lofland. Lee Child was in the bar... Well, it was a gathering of some of the best authors and best people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
Alison Gaylin Somehow I didn't get a picture with Lori Armstrong.
Of course I have to thank my wife Linda for keeping me company when I needed it and keeping herself occupied when I was busy hobnobbing.
My beautiful wife Linda.
