Nashville in a Nutshell

LUCY BURDETTE: this falls under the category of better late than never... You’ve read a lot of posts on Facebook about Bouchercon and Nashville, but I’ll add a few memories of my own. This time my hub John came with me, and I’d promised him that we would see some of the sights in Nashville. We started out at the Bluebird Café Thursday night. We were both huge fans of the TV show Nashville with Connie Britton. All the up-and-coming wannabe musicians on that show ended up performing at the Bluebird Café. Here's one of the scenes that sticks in my head, and below that, a few photos of the venue. (I was pleased with myself for scoring those tickets as you have to study the times they go up for sale, be ready to click, and not freeze over what seats to choose!)

Of course it was amazing to see friends and soon to be friends from the writing community, including Jungle Red Writers. Here are a few bonus photos including Dru Ann, the gang from Mystery Lovers Kitchen, Hank and Lucy with Liz, my pal Elise Hart Kipness on her first panel with Harlan Coben , and the panel I moderated on amateur sleuths with Ellery Adams, Libby Klein, AVA January, Molly Cox Bryan and cozy guest of honor and lovely person, Valerie Burns. Lots of other red readers came up to say hello, including Pat S, Grace, Lisa from Long Beach, and Maddee. I know I’ve missed some names--so sorry about that. Several people mentioned that they lurk as they are too shy to comment. Please know that we so look forward to hearing from each one of you on the blog! 

Saturday night, we saw a show at the Grand Old Opry, 

and on Sunday we popped into Nashville proper. The highlight of that day was a stop at Ann Patchett’s Parnassus books. She’s a real hero to me, not only for her books but for her stand on banning books, and supporting indy bookstores.

Huge conferences like this are always a mixed bag because I’m reminded that 50% of me is solid introvert. I tell myself that I don’t have to see everything and talk to everyone—It’s okay to take breaks and also to enjoy the surrounding city. How about you Reds, what are your tips for thriving at a big event? Does a crowd intimidate or invigorate you?

When Life Becomes a Sitcom by Jenn McKinlay

Sometimes life really does feel more like a sitcom written by Larry David (Seinfeld/Curb Your Enthusiasm) than real life. In my case, it happened at Bouchercon and guest starred Eriq La Salle (unbeknownst to him).

Opening scene: After enjoying pre-dinner cocktails/mocktails with this crew of miscreants (i.e. my plot group buddies and their spousal units)...

Don and Kate
Charlie, Paige, Jenn, and Chris (aka Hub)

...we made our way to the elevators to go to dinner. The doors opened and there was Eriq La Salle with another conference goer. Of course, everyone is super chill and says nothing but silence makes extrovert me itchy, so I felt compelled to tap Eriq's arm and say, "I loved you on ER."

He smiled and said, "Thank you."

Silence returned and then someone in my crew (I think) said, "ER? When were you at the ER? Why were you at the ER?"

Naturally, I felt compelled to explain, "No, he was on the show ER. You know, created by Michael Crichton, took place in an emergency room."

To which Eriq, looking at the floor, said, "Feeling really uncomfortable now."

I was confident he was joking and I was on a roll, so I kept going. "Remember? He played a doctor."

The crew chatted about the show amongst ourselves (okay, mostly me) for a bit until Eriq said, "I'm right here. You know I can hear you, right?"

We all laughed and Hub joked, "Sorry, as soon as the doors open, I'll get her out of here."

"Please." Eriq sent him a mock desperate look.

Of course, we thought that was hilarious. When the elevator stopped, I thanked Eriq for being so kind and he took my hand in his and said, "It was really nice to meet you."

Now this would have been a perfect meet and greet at a conference of 1700 attendees where I would most likely never bump into the same person twice, but we were living in a sitcom, so the story doesn't end there.

My friends teased me mercilessly and hilariously that after I accosted Eriq in the elevator every time he came into a room that I was in, he would see me and bolt. I joined in and when I saw Eriq across the book room, in the lobby, or at a Guest of Honor interview, I pretended to wave to him and then continued the pretense that he saw me (he didn't) and did a quick pivot to get away from me. All good self-deprecating fun! 

Now because I'm a slacker and a baseball fan, I dipped on the banquet and went to the Padres game instead (they won!!!). I also ate my body weight in hot dogs, tacos, ice cream, peanuts...you get the idea. (Hey, calories don't count at conferences especially when you're walking 18K steps per day)! After the game, Hub and I rolled back to our room and were ready for bed by 9:00 PM. Hardcore partiers, I know!

The banquet was still going, however, and I got a text from Paige telling me I couldn't go to bed because they had something for me. I waited for a bit but then texted back that I absolutely had to crash. I was thinking whatever goodie bag they had grabbed for me could wait. Paige then called (yes, actually called) and said, "Just come down to the main floor. Really quick. Trust me."

Y'all, I was in my pajamas! But I love my plot group besties so I put on pants and my baseball hat and threw on a sweatshirt over my jammie top and went downstairs. 

In short order the crew (Paige, Charlie, Kate, and Don) arrived, with the addition of Leslie Karst who was now in on the joke, and they handed me Eriq La Salle's book LAWS of DEPRAVITY. This cracked me up, because it was the perfect gift. 

BUY HERE

Then they told me to open it. Apparently, Paige and Charlie scored the book and then randomly bumped into Eriq (because, of course they did!). They asked him if he remembered the incident in the elevator to which he replied, "Oh, I remember."

Eriq very graciously signed it with Charlie's suggested inscription  "thanks for making me uncomfortable" which obviously made me howl with laughter. Truly, the best inscription I've ever received.

Now this really should be the end of the tale. Is it? No, of course, it isn't! While we were laughing and chatting on the far side of the hotel away from everyone, who should walk by? Yes! Eriq La Salle! What are the odds?!

I held up the book and yelled, "Hey, Eriq, thanks for the book!" 

He grinned and strode toward me and said, "Jenn, can you read what I wrote? I was running out of room."

I replied, "Oh, yeah, I can read it." We both laughed and then I said, "You know we have to take a picture now."

And he said, "Of course."

So we did. End of episode.

Sitcom Jenn and guest star Eriq - What a great guy!

Now, everyone, go buy his books!!! He has two out in the Martyr Maker series, Laws of Depravity and Laws of Wrath, with a third, Laws of Annihilation, on the way in October. 

So, tell me, Reds and Readers, have you ever found yourself living a sitcom or had a celebrity meeting that just went sideways -- in a good way? 

Bouchercon Memories

 The winner of KILLIN' TIME IN SAN DIEGO is Lenita, in California! Lenita, please send an email to julia spencer fleming (all one word) at Gmail.com and I'll connect you to editor Holy West!

 

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: How to describe Bouchercon? It's a party that moves from someone's suite to the bar to the restaurant to the publisher's shindig to the hotel lobby. It's a four-day university with the best crime fiction authors in the world telling you whatever you want to know about writing mysteries. It's a massive family reunion, if you actually enjoyed seeing everyone in your family.

 

At my first B'con, in Austin, I was nervous and shy (I know, it's hard to believe,) and had the great good fortune to meet Steve Hamilton, who sat down with me and gave me SO much information about the world of crime fiction writers. 

 The next year, in Las Vegas, I swept the awards and barely remember it. What I do recall was the awful hotel/casino (it got demolished a year later!) the bug that bit my butt at the breakfast bar (which will be the title of my children's book, if I ever write one) and getting phone updates on the League Championship final during the Opening ceremonies (Boston vs. Yankees, with Ross and Lee Child parked in front of the overflow bar TV, cheering on their respective teams.)

Julia, Edith Maxwell &"Sherry Harris" in Albany

Lots of my memories are crowded with people, but some are just lovely solitary moments - walking back to my hotel in San Francisco listening to street musicians playing in the warm dark. Looking out the porthole of my room at the Queen Mary at the glittering lights of Long Beach. Starting each morning in St. Petersburg soaking up the sun while swimming laps in the hotel pool.

What about you, Reds? What are some of your memorable Bouchercon moments?

JENN McKINLAY: My favorite Bouchercon was Dallas in 2019 - all the Reds were together. Why can’t I remember the name of this drink? Perhaps I had a few too many.

 

A great many of these were consumed

  

Other memorable times were…meeting Sue Grafton for the first time in Long Beach (2014) and chatting for a half hour in a hallway. No one else approached her, which I found shocking! It was also my first Bouchercon - so wow, just wow! 

 

Another fave was Toronto (2017) where I went to the top of the CN tower! I always try to do some touring while at a conference and that tower has a glass floor. So cool! 

 

Another stellar BCon moment was Raleigh (2015) where I was told my series was getting moved into hardcover and I found out I hit #8 on the NYT which made me useless for the entire conference. Seriously, I had to meet with the head buyer for Barnes and Noble over dinner and I was as dumb as a potato. Luckily, he was very understanding and we’re still in touch. I think that’s why conferences are so important. You get to meet people and form friendships that are truly sustaining in an occupation that can be, frankly, rather lonely.

RHYS BOWEN: My first Bouchercon I knew exactly 2 people. I was chatting with one of them but had agreed to have dinner with the other. A man in the group invited me to join them for dinner. I explained I had a dinner commitment. As they walked away my acquaintance hissed, “You just turned down Jeffrey Deaver!” 

(I was clueless obviously)

My most memorable was winning two Anthony awards  in Toronto only the award was a giant tombstone I could hardly lift. I had to stagger through customs with an incredibly heavy box , trying not to look suspicious 

Rhys, Louise Penny and Debs in New Orleans

 

Other fond memories are all the Jungle Red game shows, good food  in New Orleans, walking into Austin with matching purple cowboy hats   My least favorites were the horror in Las Vegas and the dystopian Albany site.

 

JULIA: We really need T-shirts that say, "I Survived the Las Vegas Bouchercon." And Albany... sigh. Well, at least it was close enough to visit family and friends upstate.

HALLIE EPHRON: Oh dear, I do remember Albany. An impossible city for a conference of that size. I felt bad for the folks who worked so hard to organize it.

I vividly remember my first Bouchercon - it was in Denver (in 2000? Egads). I knew *NO ONE*! I remember after eating alone I wandered over to the bar where Lee Child was holding forth, and chickened out on hanging out. Only now do I realize what a welcoming place that conference can be, wherever it’s held.

My all time favorite (after the Jungle Red game panels which have been fabulous) was when I got to interview GoH Elizabeth George. She is so lovely and smart and it was a breeze. 

 

GOH Elizabeth George & Hallie

 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Well, so many, and I think I remember the good ones more clearly. Certainly being Guest of Honor in Dallas, that was…well, I am still floating. I still kind of can’t believe it.  And I got to interview James Patterson, who was incredible, hilarious, and absolutely brilliant. I adore him, and we have stayed pals.  (Did you know he mentioned me and how much he loved  that interview in his autobiography? Aww.)

What is Patterson saying to Hank?

 

Anyway, yes, chatting with Sue Grafton. And  the time in maybe Cleveland, where I saw a guy putting out WHIrl360  tote bags, which I knew was for my favorite book at the time, Trust Your Eyes. And I said: “Are you putting out those for Linwood Barclay? I love that book, may I have one?” And turns out, it WAS Linwood Barclay, so that was nice.

And the moment in St. Louis  when William Landay told me he was worried that there were so many arcs of Defending Jacob, because he feared no one would buy it because everyone would already have it. I remember I said: Boucheron is NOT everyone. 

And when Robert Crais had to cancel at the last minute, and the Bouchercon people, in a real Hollywood moment, asked me if I could fill in for him and interview David Baldacci the next day. Well, of COURSE I could. And did. And it was great.

And winning the ANTHONY four times.  PLUS another time winning with the Reds for this very blog! (Where was that, you all?) And every moment with the Reds!

 

JULIA: St. Petersburg! I missed the awards because I was deep in conversation with Brad Parks and lost track of the time. Go on, Hank, I cut you off. What about your first?

HANK: Oh, my first Bouchercon? In Baltimore. I was MISERABLE, and lonely,  and decided to give up on this whole writing thing. Lee Child, who just happened to be there when I was looking pensive, and asked me about it,  told me not to. And I always do what Lee Child says.

LUCY BURDETTE: My first Bcon was in Milwaukee– 2000? I knew not a soul and I was petrified! Terrified! If I hadn't wanted to get published so badly, I probably would have flown right home. I am truly not a natural extrovert, so a big conference like that was very challenging. I have so enjoyed the times the Reds are able to all get together, especially to do a game show. My favorite might have been the one that Julia’s Ross filled in. He was hysterical! This is the photo of the Reds winning best website in St. Petersburg. Oh but wait, Dallas was great fun too, and it was an honor to interview our own Debs!

 

Some extremely happy & honored Reds in St. Petersburg

 

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Oh, so many Bouchercons, so hard to choose! My first Bouchercon was in Pasadena in 1991! I was so nervous and so overwhelmed. But people were so nice and I made friends I still have to this day. I remember Jonathan Gash (he wrote Lovejoy, if you remember) stopped and spoke to me and I thought, “Wow, a real author just talked to me!"

Dallas was fabulous for so many reasons, but some of the others that stand out in memory: Las Vegas (the worst hotel, ugh); Raleigh (my luggage went to California); Albany (we all know how many times we walked up and down those hills but, still, I had a great time at that one); Toronto (Susan Shea and I discovered a pen shop!); St. Petersburg, where the Reds won Anthony!  I am so excited to be making more memories in San Diego.

 

Debs & our own Ann Mason in Toronto

 

 JULIA: Notice how everyone has a happy memory of Lee Child at Bouchercon? That goes to show what a truly lovely gentleman he is. Now it's your turn, dear readers. Share your memories of B'con or any other literary conference/ festival you've been to. And if you're appearing in San Diego today, tomorrow or Sunday, let us know in the comments! 

Back to Conferences: A Red Round Up!

JENN McKINLAY: It’s time for conference round up! Okay, yes, I just made that up. Still, I just registered for Left Coast Crime - it’s in Tucson, AZ next year - and Bouchercon, which is in San Diego! These will be my first conferences since I got sent home from Left Coast Crime in March of 2020 when the state of California was about to enter lockdown. That was one surreal couple of days, let me tell you. I am still on the fence about attending Malice Domestic as Bethesda is super tricky to get to from Phoenix, so we’ll see. So, chime in Reds, what conferences are you planning on attending next year if any? 

LUCY BURDETTE: Oh fingers crossed this all works as we hope it does! I too am registered for Bouchercon in San Diego–with any luck we’ll have a big Jungle Reds contingent and a game show! (I think my last ones were in Dallas, St Petersburg, and Toronto–all fantastic!) But I know I’ll also be headed to Crimebake, both because I miss my New England pals, and DEBORAH CROMBIE will be the guest of honor. Hooray! 

HALLIE EPHRON: I went to my first ‘live’ conference a few weeks ago in Vancouver - the fabulous Surrey International Writers Conference - and lived to tell about it! It was so lovely to give a talk and tell from the audience reaction whether I was connecting. And hang out in the bar. And catch up with so many old friends. Sigh. Heaven. Not to mention hear the writing of some superbly talented as-yet-unpublished writers. And a few weeks ago I was at The New England Crime Bake where I got to actually hug Hank. Of COURSE I *plan* to go to Boucheron in San Diego – fingers crossed that we’ll all be there and gaming it! – and cheer on our own Deborah Crombie. 

RHYS BOWEN: this year I attended Left Coast Crime, Malice Domestic and the Edgars. No masks. Holding my breath all the time. But now, having had Covid, I’ll be more relaxed next year 

(unless the variant from hell emerges). I’ll be going to Left Coast in Tucson Malice and Bouchercon. Taking daughter Clare with me to introduce her further to the community I love my peeps! 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Well, of COURSE I’m going to Malice–I’m the Guest of Honor. Whoo hoo and I am already nervous. And Ann Cleeves is international GOH, and I am SUCH a fan! Jenn, fly to DC! I always do. And Rhys, we will all swoop Clare up and make her an auxiliary Red! Bouchercon, yes, how can I resist. Another Reds-o-rama. :-) ! 

And CrimeBake with queen Debs will be wonderful. (I was GOH for its first mid-post--Covid event. I was floating with the honor…who’d have EVER thought? It was so amazing to see everyone, and so fraught and fabulous at the same time.) In this crazy-wonderful year, I was GOH at Killer Nashville, too. It was incredible, I have to say. SO welcoming! And I’d adore to go back. I have never been to Left Coast Crime, hmmm. I HAVE to write!!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I haven't been to a conference since Bouchercon in Dallas in 2019, so 2023 is going to be very exciting. In March, I'm GOH for Murderous March, the virtual conference organized by the Upper Hudson Chapter of Sisters in Crime. Then in June, I'm GOH (along with the fabulous Rachel Howzell Hall) at the California Crime Writers conference in LA. I am registering for Bouchercon in San Diego as well (tackle that to-do list!) And then the icing on the cake, I'll be GOH at Crime Bake in November in Boston. It will be my first Crime Bake and I'm so excited! I hope we'll have a great REDs contingent there. I would dearly love to go to Malice (it's been much too long) but as Hank says, I have to write...

 

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I'll be tagging along and applauding my friends at Malice, Bouchercon and Crime Bake next year. It's always fun when B'con is in a city I like visiting, and I plan to take full advantage of being in San Diego! 

 

I'll also be at the Maine Crime Wave in Portland next June and the Novelists, Inc. conference in St. Petersburg in September. That last is entirely for published authors, and I found the first one I attended, this past fall, to be so full of useful information, I definitely want to go back. Thrillerfest 2023? Maybe? I love the excuse to go the New York City, and I'd really like to teach a masterclass there one year, so that's a strong impetus to go.

What about you, Readers? What conferences will you be attending next year? Or are you not ready yet?

 

Missing My Friends!

 RHYS BOWEN: Recently I've realizing how much I miss my friends. When I first started writing mystery novels I had no idea that I'd be part of such a warm, welcoming community or that I'd make true, lasting and deep friendships--almost like the sisters I never had.

It's been two years since I hung out with my fellow Jungle Reds at Bouchercon in Dallas. And what a great time we had. Lots of good meals and laughter. I'm just praying that all is well by next year's Malice and Julia and I can have our moment in the sun as Guests of Honor.

But lately I have had a couple of treats. I had coffee with Jacqueline Winspear last month and last week I spent a delightful morning at the farmer's market with Cara Black and her husband, who then came back to lunch at our house.

We talked about how we missed our tours together. For many years Cara and I had a book released at the same time in March and set off on a book tour together. We had our share of adventures: the motel I booked because it was on the beach and looked delightful only to find they turned off the hot water during the day and we needed to shower before a bookstore appearance.

Or the time we spoke at a bookstore and were dining with the owner when the whole cafe shook and rattled. Earthquake (it turned out to be quite a major one with people killed). The next morning I was giving a speech at a writer's conference in the Marriott hotel when the chandeliers on the ceiling danced like crazy making a loud tinkling noise. My audience rushed for the doors, leaving me wondering whether I was supposed to go down with the ship or I too could flee.

Cara's experience on that tour was to speak to a ladies Hadassah luncheon. at which they all ate from brown bags but never offered her even a glass of water!

However our most unusual experience was speaking to a nudist resort. That's right. Nudist. We were invited with David Corbett, who was more nervous than we were as we drove up into the mountains. Luckily it was a freezing cold evening and most people were clothed. They made me speak first (Cara always does that!). I'm at the podium when a man walks across, right in front of me. He is wearing a beard and a VERY SMALL BACKPACK. That's it. Strolls slowly in front of me.  I keep talking. He strolls slowly back. I'm dying to say "I've seen bigger and better" but I'm a professional. I don't bat an eyelid.

I reminiscing today because Cara's publisher is highlighting her latest book, THREE HOURS IN PARIS. If you haven't read it, DO.  It is a tense, brilliant thriller set in the early days of WWII and it's at a special price this week.

Here are the details:

The US ebook of THREE HOURS IN PARIS is $1.99 for a limited time.

it’s a Nook Daily find on 8/23

Kindle Deal of the Day 8/25

Bookbub 8/26 

amazon link here

https://www.amazon.com/Three-Hours-Paris-Cara-Black-ebook/dp/B07V8CQTMY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

And here's to hoping we can all meet up again very soon!

Who Wants To Be A Mysteryaire - the Play-at-Home Edition!

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Normally on a Monday, we'd all be brightly conversing amongst ourselves, with you, dear readers, chiming in on the back blog. But if you've been following Deb's Bouchercon coverage, you'll know we've all be very, very busy for the past six days. (Ask Lucy about her 24-hour travel adventure in the comments section.) It's difficult to overstate how pooped we are, so we thought we'd make YOU do all the work today.

I'm going to post twenty of the mystery-related trivia questions from our fabulous Bouchercon game show, Who Wants To Be A Mysteryaire. (How do I know it was fabulous? We filled up the ballroom and the organizers had to tote in extra seating!) Questions are immediately below, then there's a loooong spoiler space, and then the answers. Take the quiz and see how good your mystery knowledge is - no peeking! -  and post your score on the back blog.

 1.This American author, sometimes called the American Agatha Christie, is credited with coining the phrase "The butler did it."

2. What inanimate object missing for 40 years turns up at the beginning of Hallie Ephron's YOU'LL NEVER KNOW, DEAR?

3.Who is the Grand Dame of the “cozy” mystery?

4.Which Red is formerly a librarian?

5.Who is considered the father of the hardboiled story?

6.In Deborah Crombie's series, who is Inspector Gemma James's sergeant? 

7. Who wrote The Singing Sands?

8. In  Sue Grafton‘s Kinsey Milhone series, K is for knowledge. But what is L for?

9. What was the murder weapon used in Lucy Burdette's first Key West mystery, An Appetite for Murder?

10. Scott Turow’s seminal legal thrillers are set in a  fictional county in Illinois. What is the name of the county?

11. What is title of the Book by James Grady that was made into the movie Three Days of the Condor?

12. Only one author has won the Agatha award for best first novel, best novel, best short story and best nonfiction. Which author is that?

13. On which island does Jeffrey Siger set his mysteries?

14. What profession do Victoria Thompson and Edith Maxwell’s heroines have in common?

15. In Royal Blood what does Lady Georgie think she is up against?

16. What is the profession of Donna Andrews’ Meg Langslow?

17. Which writer’s book starts with characters being killed by an exploding cow?

18. What character is featured in both Charles Todd's Bess Crawford books and Ian Rutledge series?

19. What classic mystery novel was set in Thebes in 2000 BC?

20.Which Reds have written under different pen names?

Three friends having a very good time.

Debs and Julia with Texas author Nancy West

Two superstars: Hank interviews James Patterson

The ARC of Julia's next book was a welcome guest!

 

 

1. Mary Roberts Rinehart (it was used in her novel The Door)

2. A doll 

3. Agatha Christie

4. Jenn McKinlay

5. Carroll John Daly (wrote “The False Burton Combs” in 1922 for Black Mask magazine)

6. Melody Talbot

7.  Josephine Tey

 8. Lawless

9. Poisoned Key Lime pie (what a way to go!)

10. Kindle County

11. Six days of the Condor

12. Hank Phillippi Ryan

13. Mykonos

14. They're both midwives

15. Vampires!

16. She's a blacksmith

17. CJ Box

18. Melinda Crawford

19. Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie

20. Rhys Bowen (Janet Quin-Harkin) Lucy Burdette (Roberta Islieb), Jenn McKinlay (Josie Bell, Lucy Lawrence) and coming up, Hank Phillippi Ryan, who will be published as Anna Ryan in the UK. In addition, Julia and Hallie write under their maiden names but are known by their married names socially.