Bouchercon Recap

The whirlwind that is Bouchercon is over. I have mixed feelings about it this year because the first half I spent sick from food poisoning in my hotel room and the second half I felt like I needed to catch up to where everyone else was.  Then I went home early to be with my dog.

So was it worthwhile? Absolutely. I met people I only knew online. I love that feeling like you’re old friends yet you’ve never officially met face to face before. I saw folks I hadn’t seen since last year’s Bouchercon. I talked to a woman who said she was a big fan of my work. That alone was awesome. I never get tired of hearing that (not that I hear it that often).  I sold some books and I signed books. That I will never get tired of either. And of course, I came home with some new books to read.

I didn’t win the Anthony but that’s OK by me. I was in great company and the memory of being an Anthony nominee will stay forever with me.

Best Novella nominees: (S.W. Lauden, John Shepphird, Angel Luis Colon, and me with moderator Baron Birtcher)

One week until Bouchercon!

The countdown is beginning. In exactly one week, I’ll be in Toronto at BOUCHERCON – the biggest mystery conference in the world. I’m extremely excited and nervous. It will be a little different too since FINN is up for an Anthony Award for Best Novella. I’m already giddy and stressed at these conferences because of the panels I have to prepare for and/or moderate but now that’s like being multiplied by 100. Or 1,000.

Don’t get me wrong. I love going to these conferences. These are my people, my tribe. I get to see people I only know online or just see a couple times a year. I get to meet authors/bloggers/readers/publishers I’ve always wanted to meet. I just have to remember to take time out for myself to just chill and re-group so I don’t go into socialization overload shock.

I’ll be participating in the Author Speed Dating on Thursday from 8:00 – 10:00AM. That’s something I’ve done before and it’s always a fun time. I’ll pitch myself and FINN for 2 minutes to 160 people. It’s exhausting, especially having to be there at 7:30AM, but it’s always worth it to meet new readers and authors.

On Friday, I moderate the “Meet the Editors of your Best Anthology Nominees” at 10:00AM.

On Saturday, I’ll be on the “Meet your Novella Nominees” panel at 8:30AM.

Why is everything so damn early in the morning??  

Anyway, I’m excited and it’ll be fantastic to explore a new city. I always come back re-energized, inspired, and seriously motivated to kick ass on my WIP. And yes, hoarse and a little disheveled, but we won’t think about that. 🙂

Anthony Nominee!

 

CLEANING UP FINN is up for an Anthony Award!

I’m really excited to attend Bouchercon this year in Toronto for many reasons, but now I have an even bigger reason to be excited! I especially love that this is the first year there is a Best Novella category so it’s truly an honor to be shortlisted.

Best Novella (8,000-40,000 words)

  • Cleaning Up Finn – Sarah M. Chen [All Due Respect Books]
  • No Happy Endings – Angel Luis Colón [Down & Out]
  • Crosswise – S.W. Lauden [Down & Out]
  • Beware the Shill – John Shepphird [Down & Out]
  • The Last Blue Glass – B.K. Stevens, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, April 2016 [Dell]

It’s tough competition and it’s even tougher because three of the nominees are my friends: Angel Luis Colón, S.W. Lauden, and John Shepphird.  There’s going to be some epic throwdowns in Toronto, I have a feeling.

And I owe all this to my publishers over at ALL DUE RESPECT BOOKS, Chris Rhatigan and Mike Monson. Love these guys and hope I make them proud! Go ADR!

Here’s the link to the entire list of Anthony nominees:

http://bouchercon2017.com/anthony-awards/

Hope to see many of you in Toronto!

BOUCHERCON PICS

What a whirlwind conference and trip. I’m giddy yet exhausted from all the joy and camaraderie that is Bouchercon. I have to say it was one of the best writer conferences I’ve attended in a long time and not just because the food in NOLA is ah-mazing! It was only my second Bouchercon and there will no doubt be more in my future. Crime fiction writers and readers are the best people I could ever hope to know. I feel blessed, humbled, and inspired.

Here are some pics:

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Reading from FINN at Noir at the Bar After Dark – thank you Peter Rozovsky for the photo

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Murder Under the Sun Panel with Jeffrey Hess, Michael Stanely, Annamaria Alfieri, and C. Michele Dorsey. Mysti Berry rocked it as moderator.

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Lee Child moderated a Woman Taking Shots panel that was a conference highlight

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A thrill to meet Walter Mosley for the first time.

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Special thanks to Jonathan Brown, Sonia Brown, and Michael Pool for being my peeps during this conference. You guys rock!

 

BOUCHERCON BOUND!

I’ll be heading to N’awlins tomorrow for the biggest mystery conference and hope to see many of you there. Here’s where I’ll be for sure:

Noir at the Bar After Dark Wednesday Sept. 14 at 9pm at the VooDoo Lounge 14045991_10153641158626431_3587076582977854971_n

Murder Under the Sun panel on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 4:30pm

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After that, you’ll surely find me in the hotel bar, the book room, or Acme Oyster House which is right by our hotel – woo hoo! Cheers!

The Post that Almost Wasn’t

Today on Writing Wranglers and Warriors, I write about the lack of time in the day to do all the things we want…and what’s that? You say Bouchercon is only 3 days away? My lack of time has now just doubled. If that’s even a thing.

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NOIR AT THE BAR AFTER DARK

Check out this killer lineup for Noir at the Bar After Dark at the Voodoo Lounge in New Orleans. And yes, I’m so excited to be a part of it. It’s going to be a crazy booze-soaked night with plenty of debauchery and crime fiction mayhem because come on, it’s Bouchercon and it’s New Orleans all rolled into one.

Wednesday, September 14th from 9pm until whenever…

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BOUCHERCON PANEL NEWS

So I’ll be on the “Murder Under the Sun” panel at Boucheron on Thursday, September 15 at 4:30pm in LaGalleries 1.

Fabulous Mysti Berry is moderating (she’s fabulous because she was on my panel for LCC so I know) and I’ll be chatting with authors Michael Stanley, Michele Dorsey, Annamaria Alfieri, and Jeffrey Hess.  We’ll be talking about what else but murder on the beach, in the desert, on a boat, or on safari. FINN definitely qualifies because what’s more sunny and murderous than the South Bay?

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This is an actual picture of a N’awlins sunrise too! Thanks to Jon Jordan of Crimespree for the awesome pic.

THE NOLA MUSIC SCENE

I generally have two major loves in my life: books and writing. Wait – Hana strongly disagrees with me. She’s right, of course, she’s my number one love.

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But aside from that, music is a close fourth, especially live music. And where else would you go for the best live music but New Orleans? It’s where I’ve seen some of the best live shows, and every time I go there, I find a new favorite music hot spot. Which is why fabulous mystery author Ellen Byron interviews me for her blog on my favorite music venues in NOLA.

Makes you excited for Bouchercon, doesn’t it?