By Alison
Okay, so maybe my arms aren't that tired, but the whole rest of me sure is. As usual, Bouchercon was a drinking networking frenzy, and after three days of shouting in bars bouncing all my brilliant ideas off my editor, my voice is completely shot -- and the brain feels like the voice sounds. So I'm just gonna post a few random thoughts I took away from this year's BCon, where LORI ARMSTRONG WON THE SHAMUS and I talked to all sorts of people about what a fantastic writer Jeff is (including his fabulous agent) and NEITHER ONE OF THEM SHOWED UP. Okay... aside from that...
1. I didn't get thrown up on this year, which is a good thing. BUT... So I was in this bar, and I order their special pumpkin lager beer and the bartender hands it to me in a nice tall glass with whipped cream and cinnamon on top! Has anyone ever heard of this before?? I probably should have asked more questions when the bartender asked me if I was lactose intolerant... Then there was another time I ordered an ice coffee in a restaurant and the waitress looked at me as if I'd asked for whipped cream on my beer. "You... you mean you want me to... pour coffee... over ice?" She brought me a glass of warm coffee with three ice cubes inside. In short, Indianapolis confused me.
2. I really think there should be a graphic novels panel next year -- and I'm not just saying that because I'm working on a graphic novel. Will, our editor from DC Comics was there and hanging out with him, I was surprised at the number of writers who came up and told him they've either been working on a graphic novel or have a great idea for a graphic novel or have always wanted to write a graphic novel. Actually, I wasn't surprised. Comics are cool and fun. Let's have a panel.
3. If you build a panel, people will come. I went to several panels that were standing room only. Mine was at 9 am and I figured maybe we'd have 2, 3 people there and even for that, the room was full. Hats off to the organizers who put together a terrific and varied schedule.
4. Karen says I snore.
5. You can walk for five or six miles down the street in Indianapolis at 9 at night and not run into a single solitary other person whom you can ask for directions. This happened to Jennifer McMahon and me after the HarperCollins party and I thought we were gonna wind up in the wilds of Indiana and have to start cannibalizing each other in order to survive before we found someone to tell us where the freakin' hotel was and man was I wearing such the wrong shoes.
6. I love writing. Much as I complain about it, it's really wonderful I get paid to do what I've wanted to do since I was a kid and hearing such talented people talking about writing -- not to mention hanging out with my fantastic new editors -- was reenergizing for me.
So time to stop blogging and start writing... After I pour myself a nice tall whipped cream-and-beer.
What did you take home from Bouchercon? Writing tips? Swine flu? A big fat hangover? Talk to me...
"You... you mean you want me to... pour coffee... over ice?"
This was my reaction when I first heard of the concept. Still is, pretty much.
And Alison, there was at least one graphic novel/comics panel in Baltimore (how could there not be with Jon Jordan around?)
Congrats again, Lori!
Posted by: J.D. Rhoades | October 20, 2009 at 01:49 PM
Good to finally meet you. As blurry and out of focus as it all seemed in Indy, I had a great time and doubled over at too many ridiculous inside jokes, like: "If I wrote a horror script, it would be TREMORS."
And of course, "How dry do you want it?"
Posted by: N | October 20, 2009 at 02:41 PM
"nice tall glass with whipped cream and cinnamon on top!" It's a chick thing. Same bartender tried to do that to Jim Born.
Sorry Alison, you do snore. I was at that early morning panel.
I found the bar at the Hyatt had an outstanding IPA Wheat Beer, whatever the hell that is, and I think I finished off the keg.
The barista at the Omni Hotel Coffee bar makes a hell of a Caramel Macchiato.
The Slippery Noodle not only has a provocative name, but they play some damn good music there as well. Who would have guessed they'd even heard of the Blues in Indy.
And Jim Huang did a great job at organizing the event.
Posted by: Wilfred Bereswill | October 20, 2009 at 04:04 PM
I miss you guys already.
Posted by: Clair Lamb | October 21, 2009 at 07:59 AM
Hi Alison. We chatted on the shuttle bus in Indy - you were arriving just as I was leaving. I was the fellow NU grad. Anyhoo, just wanted to say hello and also that you totally stole this post's headline from me. ;)
Drop me a note if you ever make it out to Denver/Boulder.
Posted by: Derek Scruggs | October 25, 2009 at 03:50 PM
That's hilarious, Derek! Well you know what they say. Great Northwestern minds...
Posted by: AlisonGaylin | October 26, 2009 at 05:18 PM