For decades in Germany, while reading Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, I would read about Bouchercon, a mystery convention first held in 1970. Being able to attend such a convention was one reason I’d have preferred living in the U.S., but on Army pay with varying numbers of kids, I doubt that would have been in the cards at the time.
Finally, I’m here, and it is wonderful. In the panel discussions, I know some of the in-jokes about older mysteries (for me, an in-joke consists of an established author saying the name of an older author/detective, the audience giving a small gasp of recognition, and then everyone giggling), and I know many, but not all, of the newer authors/detectives. I’ll have to read more.
The hotel here in St. Louis is marvelous — I feel like Eloise in the Plaza when we order our room service breakfast — and the lobby is gorgeous.
The crowd is friendly, if a little distant because I don’t know anyone. I have seen a few DorothyL listmembers with their pins, but usually only in passing because they’re on the up-escalator while I’m riding down. I did stop to talk with a couple from Iowa, whose names I didn’t get because I was wearing the wrong bifocals and their name tags were just out of focus for either my upper lens or lower lens. Still, we chatted like old friends. I hope we pass each other again.
I know some members of the Border Crimes chapter of Sisters in Crime are here, but we don’t have pins, or shirts, or hats, so finding them will be a trick.
The crowd in the hallway — please forgive the less-than-wonderful pasted-panorama which I’m still figuring out the ‘background’ for.
Bookseller area — much more impressive, and busier-looking, than this paste-together image.
I’m so enjoying my first mystery convention, and I have my fingers crossed it isn’t my only one. Thanks to the mystery community for putting on such a get-together.
September 16, 2011 at 8:38 pm
What a poor excuse for a blog post. My only defense is that the convention schedule is so thorough, and I want to ‘get it all in’ so I run, run, run all day, and I’m about to fall asleep.
I managed to get this blog post written, just not re-written.k
V.B.
September 16, 2011 at 9:44 pm
Valerie – Enjoy, Enjoy! If you bump into Judy Bobalik, be sure to say hello. She’s one of the organizers, an adorable soul and knows everyone. Tell her I sent you over to give her a hug.
Wishing I could be there and hate that I’m missing it!
Kaye Barley
September 17, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Thanks for sharing this!!!! I appreciate it!!!! I wish I was there too!!!
September 17, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Your second pano has Colin Cotterill talking to Al (BCon chair) on far right. I think I barely avoided being in your picture…. Thanks for posting your photos.
September 17, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Kaye, I passed along the message to Judy — on paper — although she wasn’t at the Registration when I stopped by.
Stan, I did get a proper photo of Colin in a panel today. After listening to him, I recommended him to my Facebook friends. Next time, I’ll wait for you to come into the photo. 🙂
Brenda, I’m having so much fun even though I’m exhausted in the evening and do nothing then but go to bed; no ‘bar tales’ from me. Tonight I fell asleep before supper (not long, but deeply enough — according to spousal reports — to snore).
Kudos to the organizers and all the people who keep Bouchercon going!