Bouchercon 2015 - Favorite Quotes

Sign outside the Marriott Hotel bar, luring in mystery fans.

Bouchercon 2015 was in full swing by the time I arrived Thursday afternoon. Friends found me outside the Shish Kebob, where I devoured a falafel after a long day of travel. I was too late to make it to any of the Thursday panels.

I did attend the Bouchercon Opening Ceremonies at 5:30. I was anxious to see the presentation of the Derringer Awards. Members of the Short Mystery Fiction Society had voted for the best short stories of the previous year. Art Taylor presented the Derringer (photo below), an impressive medal with the Society's logo. You can learn who the winners were on the SMFS website:
http://shortmystery.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-smfs-at-bouchercon-2015-raleigh-nc.html#Derringer

After the ceremonies, which included the presentation of the Macavity Awards and announcement of the Anthony Award finalists, publisher HarperCollins hosted an author event involving FREE BOOKS. I managed to not get trampled. Next up was a BBQ, but I was too tired to stand in line, even for free food.

Instead, author Patricia Coleman and I opted for dinner in the Sheraton Hotel's open air restaurant. While dining, my carpool buddies from Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers of America texted me. I texted back with the photo below. 

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The view from the Sheraton's open air restaurant.

I would like to say we partied late, but the time change from Colorado to North Carolina was debilitating. Besides, my writing pals and I had mapped out a very full day for Friday.

Indeed, Friday morning at 7:30 (which is 5:30 Colorado time) Patricia and I headed to the Sisters In Crime breakfast. Conference Tip: we did not sit together. This allowed us to meet new people. The Seal of Office was handed from outgoing President Catriona McPherson to incoming President Leslie Budewitz (photo below).

During my three days in Raleigh, I attended as many Bouchercon sessions as I could (photos below). Here are just five of my favorite quotes:

1) Chris Grall - Firearms: Mistakes in Fiction and Television
"I'm often asked, 'What's your favorite pistol?' The one in my hand when I need it."
2) James O. Born - Real Police: Tactics and Guns
"If your hero has two jams in one book, he has a really shitty gun."
3) Jay Stringer - Research: Alcohol, Drugs, Weapons, & the Psychology of the insane
"You can find facts on the internet, but you can't really find the truth... The lie is where the story is."
4) Anne Hillerman - Forensics & Technology & the Changing Face of Criminal Investigation
"People read books because they like the characters. People are rooting for your heroes and want them to succeed."
5) Chris Knopf - The "Literary" vs. "Pulp" Traditions of Crime Fiction
"If your technique shows, you're not writing a good book."

I'll continue my Bouchercon adventure next week.

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