Bouchercon 2008, Thursday, Charmed to Death
Today is the first day of Bouchercon, Charmed to Death, being held in Baltimore, Maryland from October 9th to Sunday, October 12th. Since we live in Maryland, we debated driving up each day or staying at the hotel but finally got a hotel room. The deciding factors were the price of gasoline, the time to drive up here (about 1 hour 20 minutes if not during rush hour), and the fact that programming starts at 8:30 a.m.
We didn’t have an auspicious beginning. Hyperion ended up working more than forty hours between Monday and Wednesday — and thus was a bit sleep deprived. So, instead of getting out of the house early this morning, we ended up setting out a bit after noon — running a few errands on the way up state and arriving in time to check in, settle in our room and get to the last panel of that day at 4:30.
Do You Want to Know a Secret Panel
4:30 PM: Do You Want To Know a Secret? What I wish I knew starting out. Panelists: Jan Brogan, Hallie Ephron, Rosemary Harris, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and Roberta Isleib.
This was an amazing panel of useful information for any beginning writer. Each of the panelists talked about what they wish they’d known before they got published. The discussion/advice covered many areas including: writing the first draft (page limits per day, word limits per day, writing front to back, skipping around writing scenes and then connecting, outlining, critique groups or not…), revising (when you finish the first draft, wait two weeks minimum then read it through taking notes on what works and what doesn’t — don’t revise right off, just read and take notes. Once you finish go over and read your notes. At this point you begin your revisions). They also discussed getting agents (difficult, but always follow their instruction in Writer’s Market or whatever publication you saw the listing in — if they want a query letter send query letter, if they want a chapter send a chapter — do what they ask in the manner they want it). Publicity: small or large bookmarks, postcards, magnets (remember they’re heavy to lug around), little baggies with gifts, the key is — is it fun, is it wasting your time?). There was a lot of other material covered — but that’s what I remember and it’s all good advice.
We then broke for supper. The Opening Ceremony was scheduled for 7 PM.
We walked down to the harbor. The harbor has a mall and food court and lots of restaurants. It was also a chance to stretch our legs and take a breather. We ate and walked back, noting lots of fast food places closer to the hotel for maybe other days. We got back just in time to drop our stuff in our room and go back for opening ceremonies.
7 PM: Opening Ceremonies.
The Chairs of the convention, Ruth Jordan and Judy Bobalik, introduced the Toastmaster for Bouchercon 2008, Mark Billingham. He gave a short welcome and talk and had us all laughing. He introduced each of the Guests of Honor. The guest then came up and gave a short talk.
- American Guest of Honor – Laura Lippman
- International Guest of Honor – John Harvey
- Distinguished Contribution to the Genre: Lawrence BLock
- Lifetime Achievement – Barbara Peters and Robert Rosenwald of Poison Pen Press
- Fan Guest of Honor – Thalia Proct
Then they started giving out awards. I know I’m probably actually giving them out of order but this is the way I remember it. (No wonder eye witnesses are so untrustworthy.)
First up was the Macavity Awards by Mystery Readers International. The award is a cat curled up on two books that are slightly offset.
- Best Mystery Novel: Laura Lippman: What the Dead Know (Morrow)
- Best First Mystery: Tana French: In the Woods (Hodder & Stoughton*/Viking)
- Best Mystery Short Story: Rhys Bowen: “Please Watch Your Step” (The Strand Magazine, Spring 2007)
- Best Mystery Non-Fiction: Roger Sobin, editor/compiler: The Essential Mystery Lists: For Readers,
- Collectors, and Librarians (Poisoned Pen Press)
- Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery: Ariana Franklin: Mistress of the Art of Death (Putnam)
Then the Barry Awards were presented. This was a lovely plaque. The awards are from Deadly Pleasures and Mystery News magazines. The award is named after Barry Gardner a mystery reviewer. I would really like to list the winners of the award but I didn’t have my notebook with me and I don’t want to get it wrong. I’m sure the winners will be up on their website soon. Or if I find a copy of the winner list somewhere I’ll add it in here. [Hyperion: I’m going to check with Press Services first thing in the morning]
Crimespree then announced their award winners. This award was also a plaque. From my chair it looked like it was writing on one half (probably the details and year) and then a book cover on the other half. It looked really nice.:
- Favorite Book of 2007: The Unquiet by John Connolly (Atria)
- Favorite Ongoing Series: Inspector Banks by Peter Robinson (Morrow)
- Favorite First Novel: Big City, Bad Blood by Sean Chercover (Morrow)
- Favorite Anthology: Expletive Deleted edited by Jennifer Jordan (Bleak House Books)
- Favorite Comic Book Writer: Brian Azzarello for 100 Bullets.
The audience was then dismissed to have fun, read, party, and track down friends old and new. We on the other hand, took some more photos and then scurried to our room to send you this update.
We’ll be updating regularly from the convention and then will do an overview report on Gumshoe Review after the convention.