April 29, 2020

The Definitive How-to Bouchercon Guide (Works for all Writing Conferences)

Bouchercon is THE world mystery convention, held every fall and attended by thousands. Yesterday, I TBTB'd about the first Bouchercon I attended in 2006. I was overwhelmed by all the famous writers

I could reach out and touch (sorry, Harlan Coben*, but I think we both knew what was going to happen when you "dropped your napkin"), by what I felt like were many missed opportunities (my first book was out and I had no idea what to do with that information), and by a general sense of being Wood-Eye on the edge of the dance floor.

Fast forward eight years.

This November 13-16, I'll be attending my fourth Bouchercon. I look forward to connecting with what now has become my tribe, a group of readers and writers so generous, so funny, and so smart that I am literally willing to pay to hang out with them. But remembering my first Bouchercon, and how intimidated I felt, got me to thinking that maybe there needs to be a definitive guide to attending B'con for all the newbies out there. (By "got me to thinking," I mean that writer and freelance editor Jim Thomsen sent me the following questions and asked me to blog my answers.) The guide below applies equally well to every writing conference I've ever attended, across genres.

1. Are all authors similarly open to being approached by any new person at Bouchercon? Or are some there primarily to meet up with their established friends, and can be approached only at certain times or in certain situations? My opinion is that if a writer wanted to meet up with their friends, they'd skip the conference and meet up with their friends. Any writer who is in a public space at a writing conference is approachable. That said, the general DBaD (don't be a dick) rule that applies in life also applies in B'con--don't interrupt conversations or meals, respect people's space, watch for body language to know when the conversation is over, make meaningful conversation. Looking for a natural way to introduce yourself? Buy one of their books and ask to have it signed (not necessary but always appreciated).

2. As awesome as the programming is, how much of the real lasting connection is forged at night? I've made lifelong friends by being on a panel with them (I'm looking at you, Catriona McPherson, Johnny Shaw, and Marcus Sakey) but never by watching a panel. All the other connections I've made by volunteering for the con, attending smaller and more interactive things (as opposed to panels--check the program for these opportunities), and definitely, definitely, definitely at the bar at night. A weird truism is that the more writers in a hotel, the smaller the bar, so save seats and you'll be the most popular guy in the room.

3. What would be some examples of ways to NOT approach an author you admire? See Harlan Coben example in intro paragraph above.

4. What should I realistically budget for drinks each evening, assuming I'm there to forge connections and need to grease those wheels with what's behind the bar? Your personality will forge the connections, trust me. If you are open to it, you will find your people at B'con, and they won't expect you to buy them drinks. Unless your people are cheap, like me, and then they will smuggle a bottle of wine into the bar and share it with you.

5. Is there a rock-star hierarchy among crime writers, or is everybody equally real and approachable? Interestingly, and I swear this is true, the more famous the writer, the more approachable and kind they are. You will not meet a more generous person than Lee Child, for example, unless it's William Kent Krueger. In fact, I'd like to see them both battle for the city of Nice, Lee-zilla against Kent-ra style. If we could get Charlaine Harris-dan in there for sex appeal, that is a show I would watch. But yeah. Famous crime writers are ridiculously nice people.

6. The books question from your FB page: How many books should you be prepared to take home? What's the smart way to prepare luggage for the literary haul? I'd look at the list of authors attending, calculate which of their books you'd like signed, and add in ten more to account for the free ones you'll get in your swag bag and a couple left on the exchange table. The hotel will be able to ship them all back home for you, media-rate, which should be much cheaper than packing an extra suitcase on a flight.

7. If I want to go all day and most of the night and pretend I'm not middle-aged and in Olympic athlete condition, what's the smart way to ensure I can go the distance each day? Naps, and a deal with the devil for which you'll pay later.

8. I'm bringing business cards. Are there any other "smart" giveaway items you'd recommend as icebreakers? I like a handshake, to be looked in the eye, and a couple minutes of intelligent, real conversation. I throw away business cards, but a real connection stays with me.

9. What, in your opinion, defines a successful Bouchercon experience? One word: refueling. If I leave feeling inspired to read and to write, which I always do, it's a successful conference (to be fair, it takes me a week to recover enough to tap into the inspiration; I'm an introvert, so hanging with this many people is wonderfully exhausting). Look, writers and passionate readers are one click off of regular people, in the best possible way. If you're lucky, you might run across one a week. To be immersed with thousands of them for a long weekend? It's like coming home.

*I have never met Mr. Coben, and I don't condone unauthorized touching of mystery writers. That said, Linda Joffe Hull, you can grab my ass any time. It's in the contract.

**I'm 80% of the way there. Sooooooo close! You can help put me over the top. Great prizes are available at all pledge levels (chocolate, books, secret tchotchkes, members-only access), so please check out my Kickstarter campaign, which has one week to go, all or nothing: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1675834533/the-catalain-book-of-secrets

Comments

Share it

>

April 25, 2020

My Next Book

Holy CATS am I an unreliable blogger. I see it’s been a couple months. I’ve mostly been busy trying to figure out new things to fight with my husband about. We ran through the old stuff a couple weeks into quarantine. For real, though, I’m growing sick of myself, and this desperation has driven me to reach out to you, via my blog. What are you up to? What’s the best TV show you’ve seen lately, the kindest thing a neighbor has done, the weirdest food you’ve eaten and/or ordered online?

I ordered a case of turkey gravy two days ago. A. Case. And I have no turkey in the house. I’m calling the gravy meat wine, and I have no regrets.

Book news: Unspeakable Things has sold over 100K copies since January! Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you. It’s such a personal project, and my 20th book in a real “below the radar” writing career (hahaha that's the professional author way of saying I once received a $1.29 royalty check), and so to have it reach so many people is incredibly affirming.

Bloodline, my next small-town suspense novel, releases December. You can read the description here. Also, if you like creepy, I encourage you to check out Jennifer Hillier’s Little Secrets. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough on this fabulous new release. If you’re more in the mood for a cozy, Golden Era mystery, you can’t beat Erica Ruth Neubauer’s Murder at the Mena House.

I also have three new books in the works: one inspired by the "satanic panic" that swept the US in the mid80s and hit (trigger alert: this following link goes to a New York Times article dealing with the sexual abuse of children) Jordan, Minnesota, particularly hard (it will have a 14-year-old protagonist; the themes of children who are not believed and communities that collectively look away are still haunting me), another featuring a character from Unspeakable Things all grown up (it’s a serial killer thriller), and a third a retelling of the Medusa myth centered around female fury. That last one will be in the vein of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon. I’ll keep you updated on all three projects, and you can sign up for my newsletter if you'd like more regular updates.

Be well!

p.s. If you’re looking for the Unspeakable Things epilogue, it lives here.
p.s.s. I just opened an online creative writing school, classes available to all. Check it out here.
p.s.s.s. If you are a woman interested in signing up for my At-home Yoga, Writing, and Meditation Retreat May 16-20, you can find out more here.

Comments

Share it

>

January 13, 2020

Unspeakable Things Has Launched!

Uff da. It’s been a ride these past two weeks. Unspeakable Things released on January 1. Its sales and reviews have exceeded my wildest expectations, including a #1 spot in the UK. I’ve received many kind emails and not a single mean one. My launch party was standing room only, and Once Upon a Crime was packed with old friends, new friends, and one woman who wanted me to feel bad for mentioning her hometown (which is also my hometown) in the Author’s Note.

I don’t feel bad. I feel proud. Proud of telling my story as autobiographical fiction, grateful for the beautiful people in my life (Tony, Xander, Zoe, Susie, Carolyn, Sandy, Erica Ruth, Lori, Cindy, Christine, Stacy, Jim, Matt, Terri, you’re some of the best), relieved to discover that the worst thing isn’t telling the truth, as some in my family and that woman from Paynesville and so many others want us to believe. The worst thing is living on the surface and pretending the past doesn’t affect us, staying silent, accepting the shame of others as our own. That’s a life half-lived, and I’m not doing that anymore.

Telling my story has been terrifying and marvelous and freeing. (A great therapist and a supportive ACA group hasn’t hurt, either.) I want to thank you, readers, for being so welcoming to this dark tale. And for those of you who want the Unspeakable Things epilogue, I’ll always have it available here and will talk to my publisher about getting it in a future edition of the book. It was my choice to pull it in the first place, and in hearing from readers, it was not my best move. I apologize to those who would have liked it in the book in the first place.

Now, I’m planning to pull back from social media, blogging, and touring for a bit. I’ve been living an exposed life the past two months. It’s time for me to hibernate, spend more time with my husband and son and foster kittens, and listen for the next story. I still have a few events coming up, as well as marvelous women's writing retreats, with the next one this May in Colorado. And there's always room for you here, where all stories are welcome.

Comments

Share it

>