The answer to the question, "What do we at MIE owe to Bouchercon?" is simple. EVERYTHING.
I say that because without Bouchercon there would be no Murder is Everywhere. You see, our genesis
was a panel moderated by the late, great Leighton Gage at Bouchercon 2009 in Indianapolis,
through which seven renowned mystery writers from around the globe, united in
common cause and dissolute bar behavior, created MIE.
Yes, but for “Bouchercon:
The World Mystery Convention,” Leighton, Cara Black, Tim Hallinan, Michael
Sears, Stanley Trollip, Dan Waddell, and Yrsa Sigurdardottir would not have come
together to form MIE and given those of us who now follow in their footsteps a place to
welcome our readers.
As many followers of MIE already know, Bouchercon is a completely volunteer,
fan-driven organization that each Fall offers all segments of the mystery
world the big daddy of opportunities to band together in a different locale for
four days of nothing but crime.
Nashville |
This year it’s taking place August 28–September 1, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee in what’s billed as the “Murder and Mayhem in Music City” version of camaraderie among the crime writing community. And by community I mean fans, writers, editors, publishers, agents, and booksellers of every crime writing genre, participating in a plethora of panels and special events embracing virtually all aspects of the mystery world.
It’s a family reunion-like atmosphere filled with up close
and personal opportunities to interact with all who attend. Everyone is
approachable, fair game for striking up a conversation or perhaps even sharing
a meal. After all, authors come to
Bouchercon to interact with fans—and, of course, the legendary bar scene.
Even if you don’t drink, the Bouchercon bar scene is an
experience not to be missed, for that’s where everyone comes together in late
night revelry, and even later night shared confessional moments among folks who
just hours before were but perfect strangers.
Which brings me around to my own life-changing Bouchercon
moment. Drum roll please. It takes place a dozen years ago at Bouchercon 2012 in
Cleveland.
To set the scene, think of the urban legend about an
innocent rube who walks into a bar in a Mexican border town, meets three
enthralling beauties, and wakes up the next morning in a bloody bathtub missing
a kidney.
Now, back to Cleveland.
As innocent as a new borne babe I strolled into the
convention hotel’s bar and noticed three ladies sharing a booth. Not wanting to
be rude, I smiled and said hello. They
lured me over by smiling back. We fell
to talking (and drinking) and before I knew it they’d pried my past right out
of me—down to the part about being a former New York City lawyer involved in
various pro bono organizations. Here
comes the kidney part: The next day I woke up and found myself nominated for a
position on Bouchercon’s National Board.
At least I still had my kidneys. Okay, all kid(ney)ing aside, I found myself
in a “what-am-I doing-moment” for I’d consciously opted to exchange the
responsibilities I’d felt as a lawyer to any organization I served, for the
solitary (not lonely) independent life of a writer. Now I was back on a board.
But a strange serendipity came to pass: I found satisfaction
in a way I never expected; for Bouchercon allowed me to give back to the
mystery community a measure of thanks for all the good fortune I’d found through
the writing life, and brought me many new wonderful friends in the process. It also brought me the great honor of spending five-years on the Bouchercon Board, two of which as its Chair.
And speaking of friends, at the top of the list sits the
three ladies from that Cleveland bar who will forever have a place in my heart but
whose names shall never pass my lips, unless of course, Ingrid, Karen, and Sue
allow me to do so.
See you all in Nashville at Bouchercon 2024. You can also find information about
programing, attendees, how to volunteer, and much more at this link.
By the way, a tradition around here is that during Bouchercon week we get to put up our favorite golden oldie of a post in order not to be distracted from all the wonderful events happening during Bouchercon Week. Mine will go up next Saturday.
––Jeff
Jeff’s Event Schedule
Bouchercon 2024, Nashville TN
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
Thursday, August 29, 2024 @ 9:30-10:20 AM
Room: Canal E
Marrakesh Express
(Solving Crimes in Foreign Settings – Program ID 32)
Pip Drysdale
Ragnar Jonasson
Mary Monnin
Kelly Oliver
Jeffrey Siger
Mark Coggins – moderator
Friday, August 30, 2024 @ 8:00-8:50 AM
Room: Canal CD
Sunday Bloody Sunday
(Crime Fiction as Social Commentary – Program ID 99)
Michael Bennett
Lisa Black
Julie Carrick Dalton
Robert Rotstein
Jeffrey Siger
Stanley Trollip - moderator
Thanks, Jeff, for those five years of Bouchercons we all enjoyed!
ReplyDeletehave a wonderful time in Nashville Jeff. I loved hanging out with you at my first-ever BOuchercon in Toronto in 2017. Hopefully I'll make it back soon - perhaps Calgary in 2026 if not next year. have a great week/weekend
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