Bouchercon 2011 program

Got two panels on the schedule for Bouchercon 2011 in St. Louis next month. The first will be just after the opening ceremonies, Thursday evening. Given the subject matter, rosters, and rumored existence of a cash bar, I imagine that it's liable to get a little rowdy.

9:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.

BAD SEED-Majestic A,B,C

Sex, Violence, and Everything That Makes A Book Great

Craig Montgomery (M), Christa Faust, Chris Holm, Craig Johnson, Scott Phillips, John Rector, Benjamin Whitmer, Jonathan Woods

My second I'll be moderating on Friday. I'm a sucker for caper novels, running all the way back to Huckleberry Finn, The Reivers, and the metaphysical grandaddy of them all, The Confidence Man (which, with enough drinks in me, I'll use as a touchstone to argue my ass off that Blood Meridian is one as well, just with very high stakes). I'm well enough aware of my own limitations to know that I'll never have the plotting chops to pull one off, so moderating this panel is as close as I'm likely to get. And I couldn't be more excited.

11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.

HOT ICE-Landmark 1,2,3

Caper novels

Benjamin Whitmer (M), Eoin Colfer, Sean Doolittle, Chris Ewan, Peter Spiegelman, Keith Thomson

Otherwise, you'll probably find me holding up the hotel bar. Which, I'll admit, is pretty much my reason for attending, anyway. There's a bunch of people I've gotten to know on the internet who I can't wait to meet face-to-face, and some more that I met last year that I'm looking real forward to seeing again. And, of course, if last year is any indication, I'll come away with more new friends that I could even imagine. My plan: have a fucking ball.

You can find the rest of the Bouchercon 2011 program here.