I passed a woman today wearing a shirt that said "unreliable narrator." Must. Have. It. See previous post regarding the complete lack of cool mystery merch here. Let us geek out in all our mystery loving glory!
But back to the convention. Today began so very early at the "meet new authors" breakfast. By early, I mean 7. Yes, 7am. I went both because I hope to be part of one of these things someday and because I was pretty sure I could score another free book. (I did - free book count currently at 17)
There were many, many newly published authors of all ages, backgrounds, public speaking abilities, and accents. Yes, I love accents. I can't help it. Each of these newbies took a minute to talk about their book or themselves or otherwise peak our interest enough to get us to the bookroom to purchase a copy of the manifestation of their toils, tears, and/or tirades. It works. I bought a book called In Bitter Chill. I can't wait to read it.
After the pre-dawn intros, I snuck off for coffee and a little quiet time at The Morning Times where I could finish up The Kalahari Typing School for Men and get a healthier snack than the muffins from the hospitality area. I'll probably go back tomorrow, if not for breakfast, then for a sandwich for the long drive home.
I attended a panel on romantic suspense which gained me two more names for my "want to read" list, Cathy Wiley and Jamie Mason, but little help with writing romantic suspense. The question was posed to the panel about writing sex scenes (see previous blog post about writing sex and violence here) and all of them preferred to leave it off the page. Some, in order to "leave it to the reader's imagination" but others candidly admitted that they just aren't good at writing sex scenes that sounded natural. While I felt somewhat validated in my choice of MFA essay topic and seminar - sex and violence being difficult subject to write, I was of course a bit disappointed that no wisdom poured forth that would propel my stories to the next level. Still, the panelists were, for the most part, witty and gracious, and I stayed to chat briefly with a fellow writer from Baltimore.
Coincidentally, there was an afternoon panel on the mechanics of writing violence. I find it incredible how much less self-consciousness exists when talking about violence in fiction versus sex. Mystery writers spend a lot of time thinking about how to kill people or make them disappear. It is the basis for nearly all mystery stories. We go at it with gusto, enthusiasm for the twist that makes the crime unique enough to warrant a pithy title or a catchy tag line. But even so, we mystery writers have an out if we aren't comfortable describing the stabbing by barbecue fork or the writhing death throes of cyanide. It's called the "cozy." The body will be discovered after all the nasty stuff has occurred and the story becomes a puzzle, an intellectual exercise.
I love cozies, too. I do. But I don't want to write them because I have to. Because I can't writer good sex or violence. I want the option.
So I might be cranking out some racy short crime fiction for a bit, getting some practice time in and flexing those muscles until I feel more comfortable enhancing longer stories with realistic details that bring to life the sensuality and horror that lives in well-written crime fiction.
But first, I am off to the panel about characters that remain in a reader's psyche. Good stuff.
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
Bouchercon 2015: Notes from Raleigh
The kernel of what would be come Murder in the Mix came to me while I was taking notes at the Baltimore Bouchercon. I was sitting in on a panel discussing collaboration and thinking about who (whom?) I might like to write with and why and there it was. Of course, that's not how things turned out, but nevertheless, my story idea came to me at a Bouchercon.
I've been to several Bouchercons now - Chicago, San Francisco, Baltimore, Cleveland, and presently - Raleigh, so I can compare experiences a bit. Firstly, some of the same people are here each year. I find that comforting, especially as a writer who hopes one day to be on the other side of the signing tables. Generally, they are very gracious people who are excited that others are reading and enjoying their books.
I always jot down a few new names to check out - not because of the plethora of promotional bookmarks or postcards, but because they were clever or funny or wise or otherwise compellingly interesting on a panel. I'll go find their work.
There are always a few who are completely about themselves and promoting their book(s) at the expense of the others on their panel or sometimes, even decent manners. I will not be seeking out those books, no matter how hard you sell it. (In the interest of full disclosure, it didn't help that one said author who went on and on about her book/success had a debut novel freakishly similar to my first book, except of course that hers - same main character name, same general setting - was published and launched her career while mine will never see the light of day. Make of that what you will.)
I recently attended Comicon with my boyfriend and his daughter. It was a completely different experience, but I learned a few things and I think Bouchercon could too. Firstly, this is a mystery convention and yet, there IS NO MYSTERY MERCHANDISE. None. Seriously, nothing. You can buy books here and have them signed and that's awesome, but I can do that anywhere. At the Bouchercon in Cleveland, I noticed a lady wearing a yellow crime scene scarf and I knew I needed to have one myself. No chance of getting one at the convention, so I threw it on my Amazon wish list. I get that people travel here, but there are so many opportunities lost. I mean, they are going to ship books home to themselves or take advantage of Southwest's second free suitcase anyway, GET SOME SWAG! At Comicon, I bought a tee shirt that just has Sherlock's wallpaper pattern and a spray-painted smiley face. (Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock - google it, so much awesome) In fact, Comicon had plenty of mystery themed merchandise tucked alongside the superheroes and television and movie stuff. And the comics, of course.
Long ago, I wanted to have my own mystery merchandise online business and every time I come to Bouchercon, I feel that urge again. Sadly, although I have tons of brilliant ideas, I have neither the capital nor the business background necessary to make that a go. I wish someone would take it up, though, so I could buy from them like the crazed fan that I am. There's a market opportunity.
Anyway, what Bouchercon does have is books. Lots of them. In addition to the sampling provided in the annual book bag ( a little light this year, compared to my previous 'cons, but I did score one already on my "to read" list!), there are often publisher events with free books that the authors will sign for attendees (got six last night in an absolute madhouse signing room including titles from both Laura Lippman and Alafair Burke), and the opportunistic "swap" or "free" tables. I will happily take the duplicate titles or unwanted copies others don't wish to haul back home. I always come home with plenty to read and that's before I start buying books on purpose.
This is a busy convention and if you don't hustle buns, as my Mom used to say, you might find yourself disappointed that there's no room to squeeze in a panel you wanted. It just happened to me - no sage advice regarding red herrings because I was too slow in trudging over to the Sheraton, but that did open a window for the local ice cream shop Treat. I recommend the Carolina Crunch - vanilla ice cream with bits of butterfinger and heath bar spread throughout. Yes please. Plus, on the way back from my dairy diversion, I came across another free book signing. As of this moment, I have fourteen free books, 7 of them signed. This is why I drove.
Raleigh is lovely. The weather is perfect, the sidewalks are clean, and the downtown area is walkable. I had breakfast this morning at Big Ed's instead of the hotel. It's been years since I'd had red eye gravy. The biscuits alone are worth the short walk. In the park, there is a large acorn sculpture.
I have no idea why.
This Bouchercon is called "Murder Under the Oaks" however, so there's a clue.
So, back to the panels this afternoon. I'll post an update tomorrow. For those of you who love to read and/or writer mystery or crime fiction, definitely consider a future Bouchercon. Next year it will be in New Orleans, so that's a must. In three years, it will be in St. Petersburg, FL. Yup.
http://www.bouchercon2016.com/
http://bouchercon2017.com/
http://bouchercon2018.com/
I've been to several Bouchercons now - Chicago, San Francisco, Baltimore, Cleveland, and presently - Raleigh, so I can compare experiences a bit. Firstly, some of the same people are here each year. I find that comforting, especially as a writer who hopes one day to be on the other side of the signing tables. Generally, they are very gracious people who are excited that others are reading and enjoying their books.
I always jot down a few new names to check out - not because of the plethora of promotional bookmarks or postcards, but because they were clever or funny or wise or otherwise compellingly interesting on a panel. I'll go find their work.
There are always a few who are completely about themselves and promoting their book(s) at the expense of the others on their panel or sometimes, even decent manners. I will not be seeking out those books, no matter how hard you sell it. (In the interest of full disclosure, it didn't help that one said author who went on and on about her book/success had a debut novel freakishly similar to my first book, except of course that hers - same main character name, same general setting - was published and launched her career while mine will never see the light of day. Make of that what you will.)
I recently attended Comicon with my boyfriend and his daughter. It was a completely different experience, but I learned a few things and I think Bouchercon could too. Firstly, this is a mystery convention and yet, there IS NO MYSTERY MERCHANDISE. None. Seriously, nothing. You can buy books here and have them signed and that's awesome, but I can do that anywhere. At the Bouchercon in Cleveland, I noticed a lady wearing a yellow crime scene scarf and I knew I needed to have one myself. No chance of getting one at the convention, so I threw it on my Amazon wish list. I get that people travel here, but there are so many opportunities lost. I mean, they are going to ship books home to themselves or take advantage of Southwest's second free suitcase anyway, GET SOME SWAG! At Comicon, I bought a tee shirt that just has Sherlock's wallpaper pattern and a spray-painted smiley face. (Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock - google it, so much awesome) In fact, Comicon had plenty of mystery themed merchandise tucked alongside the superheroes and television and movie stuff. And the comics, of course.
Long ago, I wanted to have my own mystery merchandise online business and every time I come to Bouchercon, I feel that urge again. Sadly, although I have tons of brilliant ideas, I have neither the capital nor the business background necessary to make that a go. I wish someone would take it up, though, so I could buy from them like the crazed fan that I am. There's a market opportunity.
Anyway, what Bouchercon does have is books. Lots of them. In addition to the sampling provided in the annual book bag ( a little light this year, compared to my previous 'cons, but I did score one already on my "to read" list!), there are often publisher events with free books that the authors will sign for attendees (got six last night in an absolute madhouse signing room including titles from both Laura Lippman and Alafair Burke), and the opportunistic "swap" or "free" tables. I will happily take the duplicate titles or unwanted copies others don't wish to haul back home. I always come home with plenty to read and that's before I start buying books on purpose.
This is a busy convention and if you don't hustle buns, as my Mom used to say, you might find yourself disappointed that there's no room to squeeze in a panel you wanted. It just happened to me - no sage advice regarding red herrings because I was too slow in trudging over to the Sheraton, but that did open a window for the local ice cream shop Treat. I recommend the Carolina Crunch - vanilla ice cream with bits of butterfinger and heath bar spread throughout. Yes please. Plus, on the way back from my dairy diversion, I came across another free book signing. As of this moment, I have fourteen free books, 7 of them signed. This is why I drove.
Raleigh is lovely. The weather is perfect, the sidewalks are clean, and the downtown area is walkable. I had breakfast this morning at Big Ed's instead of the hotel. It's been years since I'd had red eye gravy. The biscuits alone are worth the short walk. In the park, there is a large acorn sculpture.
This Bouchercon is called "Murder Under the Oaks" however, so there's a clue.
So, back to the panels this afternoon. I'll post an update tomorrow. For those of you who love to read and/or writer mystery or crime fiction, definitely consider a future Bouchercon. Next year it will be in New Orleans, so that's a must. In three years, it will be in St. Petersburg, FL. Yup.
http://www.bouchercon2016.com/
http://bouchercon2017.com/
http://bouchercon2018.com/
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