Some of the Fresh Fiction team attended the annual Bouchercon, held in St. Louis this past weekend (9/14-18/2011). An interesting and fun gathering of people who love mysteries and crime fiction: readers, authors, publishers and bloggers all congregated in the gateway to the west. The highlights of the con included:
It’s always fun to pass Robert Crais on the escalator. Love his Elvis and Joe Pike books. Did learn that “pike” is not exactly what one would hope in Icelandic but I got a smile every time I’d see a “I Love Pike” button. Getting up early on Friday morning for a breakfast with Charlaine Harris was worth all the lost sleep.
Listening to Val McDermid, I was jealous, they started her off with a bloody mary, none for us in the audience, but she knows how to capture the attention of the crowd and to entertain.
The interview with lifetime honoree Sara Paretsky was enlightening. My first time to see her in person. I didn’t realize she was one of the founders of Sisters in Crime, a great organization of writers who help libraries and readers. Her backstory on V.I. Warshawski just cemented my love of the series. We need more!
Plus the local living legends (as opposed to ones who have passed): Robert J. Randisi and John Lutz. They even had a Kensington Publishers’ special reception for John on Saturday night. It was lovely. Robert is credited with over 500 books in various pseudonyms. Amazing!
And as usual the toastmaster Ridley Pearson was so much fun! A perfect choice for moving it along.
Watch for an interview this week with Danish crime writer, Sara Blaedel, we want to go to Denmark, how about you?
This year we came home loaded to the gills (okay, to the top of the trunk) with bags of books! The highlight was the Awards Brunch where they gave away the annual Anthony awards. The books and authors are nominated by attendees (members) of the 2010 and 2011 Bouchercon. Then when you arrive you’re given a ballot for the final vote. It’s a different experience from the romance awards. But seems very effective.
2011 Anthony Awards
Best Novel: BURY YOUR DEAD by Louise Penny (Minotaur Books)
Best First Novel: DAMAGE DONE by Hilary Davidson (Forge Books)
Best Paperback Original: EXPIRATION DATE by Duane Swierczynski (Minotaur Books)
Best Short Story: “Swing Shift” in CRIMES BY MOONLIGHT: MYSTERIES FROM THE DARK SIDE by Dana Cameron (Berkley)
Best Graphic Novel: THE CHILL by Jason Starr (Vertigo Crime)
Best Critical Non-Fiction: AGATHA CHRISTIE’S SECRET NOTEBOOKS by John Curran (HarperCollins)
Best Website/Blog: Stop, You’re Killing Me
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