Bouchercon 2016

Each one of us has our own Bouchercon, and after looking through my photographs I realized that mine apparently didn’t involve anything to do with writing. Hmm. I seem to have missed a lot of panels. Well, that’s understandable.

We opened with an evening of New Orleans culinary delights and a parade inside the banquet hall. Where else would all the important guests arrive in floats? I enjoyed the scene with Clea Simon, Sarah Smith, Laurie King, the Poison Lady, and her friend (sorry, I’ve got a brain cramp).

After that came a walk down Bourbon Street with Clea and Sarah and some others, and a visit to a jazz club.

And then, the next day, came more food and more walking around the French quarter, and another jazz club. I think somewhere in here I bought a few books, but I’m not sure.

After that came more traveling around the city. I took the trolley out to see the cemeteries. Doesn’t everyone? The weather accommodated with a cloudy, moody sky and drizzly rain. Perfect.

I met some wonderful street artists and performers, who were always gracious and allowed me to photograph them.

And then, of course, there was more food and more music and more walking around. After the conference officially ended, I walked through the Garden District with Tracee deHahn. We had the company of a lovely black and white cat, who trotted smartly across the street to join us.

And the big question is, what happened to all those panels I was going to attend? I know I went, but apparently I didn’t take any photos. I appeared on one panel, “Common People,” moderated by Clea Simon, who did a fabulous job bringing all of us together into one coherent whole—Suzanne Trauth, Marcia Talley, Tim O’Mara, Con Lehane, and me. I recall a panel with Dana Cameron, moderator, and Bruce Coffin, where I came across the writer (new to me) Kwei Quartey.

In addition, I got to spend several minutes (yes, minutes) with my terrific agent Paula Munier and much more time (with food) with her other clients, Tracee, Michele Dorsey, Roger Johns, Cate Holahan, and Brian Thiem. On the last morning I met R.T. Lawton and his wife (sorry, another brain cramp).

I've forgotten to mention a lot of terrific writers I met throughout the conference, and I hope they will forgive me. Bouchercon 2016 was a fabulous long weekend with friends old and new. I’m nearly overwhelmed with ideas for more novels and short stories. Time for a rest.