Friday, November 1, 2019

Miss You, Wish You Were Here

DEBORAH CROMBIE: It has been a big couple of days for the REDS at Bouchercon in Dallas! Wednesday night we got together for the Jungle Reds dinner that we had literally been planning for months. This was the first time that we had all seven been together at the same time!!


And it was the first time that Jenn and Julia had actually met in person! Can you believe that? Although of course they said they felt like they had know each other forever--which only seems natural, as we are all together every day on the blog. We had a terrific time, as you can see. (Sorry you got washed out with the flash, Julia.)

Yesterday was filled with interviews and signings and Bouchercon activities, and then--drumroll-- our reknowned Jungle Red game show. This year it was Who Wants to Be a Mystery-aire (we are nothing if not original!)

Here we are in our two competing teams: Rhys, Jenn, and Hank as the Tangerines; Hallie, Lucy, and Debs as the Greens; and Julia as moderator. Nikki Bonanni served as timekeeper, while Dru Ann Love and Gigi Sherrell Norwood kept score.


We had a full house!


And lots of participation from the audience, although I'm sorry to say that the Tangerines beat the Greens by a smidgen.

From there we went to our official Jungle Reds group photo shoot, which was great fun. The photographers were very patient with us--imagine getting seven women to agree on the most flattering shot... But we did (eventually) and then we had some fun posing with the ARC of Julia's upcoming book.


And after that it was off to the bar for very well-deserved drinks, especially as the official cocktail the Hyatt has created for Bouchercon is called Drop Dead Red.

It has been wonderful to put faces to so many of our readers, and, please, if you follow the blog and are here at Bouchercon, come up and say hi. We want to meet you! 

And those of you who are sharing long distance, well, we miss you!



25 comments:

  1. It does sound as if you ladies are having an amazing time! Thanks for keeping us up-to-date . . . and the pictures are great!

    ReplyDelete
  2. SO glad the first couple of days were a hit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And I just heard I was part of a question on the game show - whee! Thank y'all, and what was the question?

      Delete
    2. I don't remember the question, but you were definitely name-checked more than once in the nicest possible way.

      Delete
    3. It had to do with the profession of your midwife character!

      Delete
  3. Loved meeting all the Reds (except, somehow, Hank) and some Red Readers as well. Spotted Liz Milliron in passing but didn't get to say hi. Got to check something off my bucket list by meeting, hugging, and chatting with Finta and her family. Bouchercon is sort of like a family reunion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a like a huge family reunion--except we like each other better than a lot of families:-)

      Gigi, somebody who reads the blog came up to me last night and said, "Gigi! I want to meet Gigi? Where is she???" but I was in the middle of a signing and I swear I can't remember who. I said you would be here later today.

      Delete
  4. It is a family reunion and we miss you all who aren't here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw shucks, love seeing all the photos! We're there in spirit!!

      Delete
  5. It’s so much fun meeting someone we’ve long known from the blog... and then there are the folks who come up and say ‘I read you every day but I don’t comment’ ... we love you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love this, in every possible way! Wish I were there, too.

    In the past it's been possible to purchase audio recordings of panel sessions. Do you know if your game show was recorded? It would be better if it was video, of course!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh what fun you’re having. Hooray! Wish I were there, but send love from the cold Canadian Prairie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Still cold here, Amanda. You would feel right at home!

      Delete
  8. I'm sure you all are having an absolute blast - wish I was there this year. Looking forward to seeing some of you at Crime Bake next weekend. In the meantime, have fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. See you at the Bake! Make sure you say hi to me (I'm co-chair, so you'll see me...).

      Delete
  9. I would have posted a photo of the Drop Dead Red, which is gorgeous, and really delish, but I had technical difficulties copying the photo. Maybe Jenn can add it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I knew the Galahad answer but forgot Everude's name(which I am spelling wrong), sorry Lucy. I've at least said Hi to all but Hank and Rhys but I met Rhys in August. I met Danelle-Momo - sorry about spelling errors with names. I hate spelling names wrong. I sat with Karen Odden during the game. I've not left the hotel, but it's cold out there and like Rhys, this northern California girl doesn't do cold very well. Okay, off to see and hear more.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Have fun! Wishing you all a good Bouchercon!

    ReplyDelete
  12. You guys are having such a wonderful time! Wish I could be there too. Love the pictures but tell me more about that Drop Dead Red drink.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for sharing wonderful photos of Bouchercon in Dallas! I saw a similar photo on Rhys' Instagram feed and no one is faded out in that photo.

    Loving the stories too.

    Diana

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a blast! Thank you so much for the pictures, they're such fun. Julia, what a thing to have that ARC. Wow, I want that, but I'll just continue to be ...patient...I can...I know I can...

    Hoping for more pictures tomorrow, all I have to add is UP THE FUN!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the photos. We've had no power here for All Saints Day. My neighbor just informed me that the power is back on now. I am at Starbucks nevertheless, charging all my toys. I look forward to more pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  16. My daughter and I are here too. We are from the South Bay Area, which really isn’t affected by the Northern Cal fires except for the smoke, Met Ann at a panel this afternoon, We are having a great time!

    ReplyDelete