bcon2012 Archives - Black Mask

The Talented Mr. Ripley, Episode #72

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Nov 012012

The redoubtable Mike Ripley, whose monthly contributions to mystery lore are eagerly awaited by the cognoscenti and unwashed alike (I am, thanks to Hurricane Sandy, currently in the latter category) has just published #72 in his column, "Getting Away with Murder," in the British ezine publication Shots.

As usual, it is a collection of The Ripster's observations, thoughts, likes and dislikes, all in a highly entertaining package. He starts off this episode with a review of Bouchercon - although I'm not sure the one he writes about and the one I attended were really the same event; I seem to have missed a fair amount of, er, debauchery...

Anyway, please do take a look. If you haven't seen Mike Ripley's monthly columns before, this is a good place to start.

Anthony and the Shamus

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Oct 072012

It sounds like the title of one of Aesop's Fables, but - while it certainly is fabulous - it's really something much more significant. Two more sets of prestigious mystery writing awards have been given out this weekend in Cleveland. At Bouchercon, the Anthony Awards were awarded Saturday afternoon. Your humble correspondent being too lazy (or too hungry or with a need to help open the bar), the redoubtable Ali Karim has scooped me and has reported the outcome, and the full slate of nominees, at The Rap Sheet blog.

This follows the announcement last night of the winners of the Shamus Awards, handed out by the Private Eye Writers of America at a separate event not officially part of Bouchercon, although linked to it. Once again, Ali Karim (who attends more parties than I get invited to) reports at The Rap Sheet.

As you can see by looking at the slate of nominees, both sets of awards required choosing from a remarkably talented group of writers. Congratulations to the winners - and to all the nominees.

Good Times Ahead

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Sep 272012

We are now just one week away from the start of Bouchercon 2012, meeting this year in Cleveland. For those who have never been, this conference usually attracts well over a thousand people - lots of mystery readers and, of course, plenty of mystery authors as well. The conference is named for the late Anthony Boucher, mystery author and critic, and it has been held every year since 1970.

Authors and fans mingle over the four day conference, with plenty of opportunities for book signings. There are nearly 80 panel discussions and other major events, not to mention the annual presentation of the Anthony Awards. As I mentioned here earlier, I will be hosting a panel of four authors talking about Private Investigator mysteries. I hope any of you who are attending the conference next week will stop by on Thursday afternoon and say hello.

Among the honored guest authors this year are Elizabeth George, Robin Cook, Mary Higgins Clark and Les Roberts - in fact, Roberts will be part of my panel. The toastmaster for the event will be John Connolly. In fact, Hundreds of other authors will also be on hand.

Will you be there? I hope so - and I hope I'll see you there.

Exciting News from Bouchercon

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Sep 112012

Bouchercon 2012, the granddaddy of mystery conferences which will be held this year in Cleveland October 4-7, has announced its lineup of panel discussions for the conference. You can see the entire list here. I think it's an exciting collection. There's something to please fans of just about every crime fiction/mystery genre and sub-genre.

And, I'm proud to say, they have asked me to moderate one of the panels Thursday morning, October 4. It's called "What Would Rockford Do?" It's about private eyes in mysteries, with four authors of PI novels: Les Roberts (whose PI, Milan Jacovich, works the meaner streets of our host city, Cleveland), Howard Shrier, whose PI, Jonah Geller, is based in of Toronto but (so far) has been called to American cities to work; Jack Fredrickson, creator of Dek Elstrom, whose investigations are mostly carried out in Rivertown, not far from Chicago; and Jack Bludis, whose detective, Brian Kane, works the glittering streets of Hollywood in the early 1950s. They're all interesting characters, and I anticipate a lively and entertaining discussion.

I hope, if you're coming to Bouchercon, that you'll come join us for the panel - and, by all means, please introduce yourself and take part in the conversation. There are a LOT of exciting panels this year, including ones on Sherlock Holmes and on Nero Wolfe that I don't want to miss. See you there?

Here Comes Bouchercon

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Jun 022012

We're just about four months away from Bouchercon 2012, the annual conference of mystery readers and authors. I believe it's the largest such conference in the world, attracting enthusiasts of every sub-genre in the mystery-and-crime-fiction world. Traditional mysteries, cozies, thrillers, true crime, espionage, serial killers, paranormal - you name it, and you'll find people there to talk about it.

This year, Bouchercon will be held in Cleveland; distinguished guests include Elizabeth George, Robin Cook and Mary Higgins Clark, with John Connolly as toastmaster. It runs from October 4 through October 7. There will be dozens of panels on just about every aspect of the writer's and/or reader's craft. There will be bags of books for readers and plenty of formal autograph sessions with favorite authors. There will be huge displays from publishers and from mystery bookstores, with both new and used/collectible books available for purchase (just in case you don't have enough books in your To Be Read pile already). And parties. And the hotel bar - well, mystery readers have a well-deserved reputation for lively conversation and partying until the bars close.

You can get all the details at http://bouchercon2012.com/, including information about places to stay. The convention hotel, I believe, is sold out, but organizers say there are other blocks of rooms available in hotels very close by. I plan to be there, and I know several of my friends and blog visitors are going as well - and I hope you will be there too. It's a great way to meet other fans of the world's greatest game.