As a writer, there are many days that I sit at my computer alone. If my writing is going well, I feel great. And if it’s going slowly, I feel frustrated. But this past weekend I had not just one sweet experience, but countless. So I have to do a little bragging.
If you have never attended Bouchercon, a mystery convention, then you have missed out. Imagine roughly 1,000 people gathering: readers, writers, publishers, librarians, reporters, booksellers, etc. They all have one thing in common—they are fans of the mystery genre and love good writing. They also buy books–lots and lots of books. So many that quite a few of the attendees have to ship them home.
This year the conference was in Baltimore, MD. It skips about the country and lands in a different place each year—next October it will be Indianapolis, and the year after San Francisco. I’m looking forward to both.
This was my first Bouchercon, and I was lucky enough to be put on a panel four months before my book, Posed for Murder, came out. I was very happy to have two friends on the panel with me: a fellow debut author, Peggy Ehrhart, and experienced writer, moderator, and comic, Chris Grabenstein. I went in nervous about how many people get up at 8:30 AM on a Sunday to attend, and hoping I wouldn’t sound like an idiot.
Just after we sat down (the room was about ½ full), the fire alarm went off in the hotel. At first, some audience members dismissed it, but Chris and I (New Yorkers who lived through 9/11), leapt up. You never have to tell us twice to get out of a burning building. We held part of the panel on the back patio of the hotel, gathering more people, and when we returned to our room and microphones, the place was standing room only!
Some of the highlights of the weekend for me were hearing for the first (or third or eighth time) “I’ve heard of you” when I introduced myself (Wow! Name recognition already!). Several people told me “I can’t wait to read your book” (I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that one!), and I was asked to sign chapbooks, posters and even sign an autograph book (it made me feel famous!). I also got to meet some of my favorite writers and had a chance to say how much I liked their writing—Laura Lippman, Lawrence Block, Lee Child, Laurie King, and so many others.
Now I’m back home with my family and feeling satisfied and happy. But also ready to go back to the computer and bang out another a book. After all, the fans are waiting!
PS – We’re still celebrating the launch of Cancer is a Bitch, by 2008 Deb Gail Konop Baker! Don’t forget to check out our contests page and enter for a chance to win a signed copy.
Sounds like a truly wonderful experience and I’m glad you got to have it! Here’s looking forward to many more ahead!
Thanks, Eve! I know you have some very sweet days ahead as readers discover your book. Make sure to savor them, too.
Hey Meredith…. I can’t wait to read your book! I’m glad you had such a good time. A sweet day indeed.
I’m with you on the fire alarm and I was nowhere near 9/11. When I was at the airport in Newark a week ago some kind of alarm went off and every single person I could see meandered about like nothing was happening. When I saw a pilot walking around casually with his hands over his ears I decided not to worry if he wasn’t worried, but it was still rather bizarre. What does it take to get their attention anyway?
oooh Laura Lippman is one of my favs too. It sounds like the conference was great. I don’t write mysteries- but I love to read them. I’m half tempted to go and stalk all of my favorite writers. (in a nice non creepy sort of way)
Sounds really fun and exciting! I hope I get to do something like that at some point. I should probably, you know, look into it. LOL.
Laura Lippman is so cool and classy–and she won tons of awards. The nice thing is that most mystery writers are really friendly–we get all our aggression out on the page–so stalking them at a conference in a non-creepy way is totally OK.
Name recognition already must indicate that POSED FOR MURDER is poised for success. What a lovely way to “get your feet wet,” Meredith.
I was in the audience for that panel, and the whole group picked up, filed outside, and resumed talking (with interruptions for a couple of fire trucks)–I have pictures! Nothing will stop a writer from talking about his/her book.