This past week, I attended my second Bouchercon Mystery Convention, held in Cleveland, Ohio. It is a gathering of mystery authors and their fans to co-mingle, attend panels and just have fun. As an introverted person, I really abandon my 
shyness when I’m surrounded by the authors who have become friends and I excited and thrilled when I’m talking to them, dining with them or hanging out in the bar. In addition, there are those friends I’ve made who I can’t wait to see at this annual event. It’s non-stop action all the way and even if I’m tired from the day’s events, there’s a smile on my face and joy in my heart attending this conference.
When: October 4 – 7
Where: The Cleveland Marriott Renaissance
October 3
I got in a little earlier to get in some sightseeing. I met my friend C. C. and we went to breakfast at Addy’s and 
then walked around and then went into the Horseshoe Casino where a guard gave us a tour of the three floors. The main floors had the penny, nickel and 2 cents slots; the second floor has the quarter and dollars slot and then we went into the high roller room where I saw a slot machine for $500. On the lower level is the buffet.
Then it was off to the Greater Cleveland Aquarium where we saw jellyfish, alligators, piranha, octopus, stingrays, starfish, sand tiger sharks and I learned how to tell a female shark from a male shark. They had a walkway where the animals swam over your head. Cool.
Next up was our 2-hour Lolly Trolley tour where we saw the Flats, Downtown, The Warehouse District, Ohio City, The Gateway District, Playhouse Square, Millionaire’s Row, The Cleveland Play House, the Cleveland Clinic, the museums and institutions of University Circle, the Cleveland Cultural Gardens & City Greenhouse, the Lake Erie Shoreline and North Coast harbor.
October 4
The next day two of the panels I attended were the Mystery Southern Style with Cathy Pickens, Tina Whittle, Jaden Terrell, Kathryn Wall and Donna Andrews and 50 Shades of Cozy with Rosemary Harris, Dorothy St. James, Duffy Brown, Catriona McPherson and Clare O’Donohue.
Then it was off to the opening ceremonies at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where several awards were given out:
- The Macavity Award for Best Mystery-Related Nonfiction: Charlaine Harris: The Sookie Stackhouse Companion
- The Macavity Award for Best Mystery Short Story: Dana Cameron: “Disarming”
- The Sue Feder Historical Mystery Award: Catriona McPherson: Dandy Gilver and the Proper Treatment of Bloodstains
- The Barry Award for Best Short Story: “The Gun Also Rises” by Jeffrey Cohen
We didn’t have enough time to explore the whole museum, however, I did gazed and admire the items from Michael Jackson and the Supremes. If I’m ever in Cleveland again, my goal is to spend the day enjoying the history of the music scene.
October 5
The next day I was invited to attend the 2nd Annual Librarian’s Breakfast with Mary Higgins Clark and then invited to A Cozy In Cleveland Tastemaker’s Luncheon where Casey Daniels and Amanda Flower were on the panel.
The panels I attended were Those Crafty Sleuth with Lois Winston, Mollie Cox Bryan, Joanna Campbell Slan, Penny Warner, Kylie Logan; Eve of Destruction with Nancy Martin, Deborah Coonts, Sophie Littlefield, Tracy Kiely; I Am Woman Hear Me Roar with Nora McFarland, Sara J. Henry Jennifer McAndrews, Zoe Sharp, Meg Gardiner and Taylor Stevens; Girls Just Want To Have Fun with Lucy Burdette, Rhys Bowen, Deborah Cromble, Hallie Ephron, Rosemary Harris, Hank Phillippi Ryan and Julia Spencer-Flemming with her husband on the panel as well. (I had a role – my job was to hand deliver the prizes to the winners) and Judging a Book by its Cover with Robin Agnew, Sara Rosett, Marcia Telley, Heather Webber, Denise Swanson, Daryl Wood Gerber/Avery Aames. I also went to the craft session with Penny Warner and made a pendant.
October 6
On Saturday I spent more time hanging with authors but did attend a few panels: Elementary My Dear Cleveland with Leslie S. Klinger, Michael Robertson, Dan Andriacco, 
Laurie R. King, Sara Paretsky and Daniel Stashower and two Guest of Honor Events with Elizabeth George and Deborah Crombie and Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark. After that event we had the silent auction and the Anthony Awards were presented and my friend Julie Hyzy won the Anthony for Best Paperback Original: Buffalo West Wing. After the Anthony Awards, Kensington had a Meet the Authors Reception.
And then it was all over. I can’t wait for the next mystery convention.
**Today only, I’m giving away (1) copy of THE LOST YEARS by Mary Higgins Clark. Contest open to US residents only and ends tonight (10/11/12) at midnight EST. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Book will be shipped directly by me. **
Meeting my favorite authors is a thrill and sometimes I act like a fangirl and squeal. What would you do if you met your all-time favorite author?
I would love to go to lunch with any my all time favorite authors since I have more than one. Thank you for the chance to win.
Sounds like a wonderful time! Would love to be able to spend time with my favorite authors.
if you want a travelling buddy back to Cleveland, i’m available!!! i’ve always wanted to go to the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame!!!! sounds like you had a GREAT time & thank you for letting us in on it!!!!
I’m so jealous! What a wonderful trip. So many authors I’d love to meet! I’m really hoping to go to Domestic Malice next year. Hope I can recreate your trip!
One of the best part was meeting and hanging out with Susan M. Boyer.
OOOOHHH!! One of the best parts for me was meeting and hanging out with you! One of my favorite photos is the group shot you used above. I had so much fun! 🙂
Sounds like an awesome time!!
It sounds like you had a very good time. Lots of folks from my Murder for Addicts group also went and they also enjoyed it.
Sounds like fun – and with so many of my favorite authors!
I’m not sure what I would do if I met my favorite author. I just hope I wouldn’t ask too many questions and make her uncomfortable! lol
Sounds like a wonderful time. Thanks so much for the writeup. I loved following along on Facebook, too!
Thanks for the great recap, Dru Ann, and being at the 50 Shades of Gray the Cozy way. Always nice to see a friendly face in the crowd.
See you at Malice.
I met Michael Connelly and now have a huge crush on the guy. LOL
Duffy, I want your boa… 🙂
Dru, your report has got me drooling… Time to start saving for Albany.
Oh, what a great time you had!! And what a thrilled to be with so many wonderful authors. I’m sure I would have just wandered around with my mouth hanging open. This is something I would love to do. Maybe someday…. Thanks so much for the post!!
jrobinson12 (at) austin (dot) rr (dot) com
I loved your pictures, Dru Ann! I never did get to meet Elizabeth George. But I probably would have babbled like a brainless ninny if I had, so it was no doubt a good thing. I hope I can make it to Albany!
How exciting – and you even remembered to take pictures!!! Dee
grammyd01 (at) comcast (dot) net
Dru Ann, You did such a good job of describing and sharing, I feel as if I were a fly on the wall. Thanks for giving us so much of yourself, and helping us feel the atmosphere. Not sure which author I would choose. There are simply too many I admire.
I’m glad you enjoyed the conference and got to see the city. Thanks for coming and it was nice to finally meet you.
Wow what a wonderful trip. Had to be a wonderful time. I would love to win this book. Thanks for letting me enter.
Joeym11@frontier.com
Dru Ann, it was great to see you in Cleveland. I thought you did a super job of prize patrol during that fast-paced Jungle reds panel!
I wish now that I went to Bouchercon. It was not to far from where I live. Casey Daniels told me about it originally at a local book signing. Alas I didn’t go.
Most of my favorite authors are dead (Margaret Micthcell, Rumer Godden, and Agatha Christie). However, one of them,Colleen McCullough who wrote “The Thorn Birds” is still alive. I don’t know what I would say but I would just be thrilled to be in the same room with such genius.
I got to learn to spell. I meant Margaret Mitchell.
I would love a copy of this book! I have it on my to-read list. sarah2323 at gmail dot com
You really packed a lot into a few days. Well done.
Thanks for the event recap. It sounds like a great time. I have heard that this one by MHC is very different from her other books. I’d like to see what it’s like. Thanks.
Thanks for the thorough report! I hope to make a B’con one of these years.
I’m an introvert, too, but I did get to meet one of my favorite authors in person, Rita Mae Brown. I didn’t stand speechless but that was only because we both have farm blood in us send I felt like it was common ground (pun intended!).
Wow! Those were some really fun packed days! You should be exhausted. I’m just jealous of your trip, I think.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I would love a copy of this book, had a great time at Bouchercon!
contest is closed.
Congrats to Jane R.!
Congratulations to Jane R.
Thanks Dru. Love your blog. You are keeping me in reading materials for years to come!