For Appearances' Sake: Bouchercon Edition

The early Bouchercons always freak me out a little. Bouchercon is the annual World Mystery Convention. And by "early Bouchercons," I mean the ones in September. Usually they take place in October, but once in a blue moon (as in Chicago, 2005) you get a September. Summer's not even technically over, and yet, I'm packing up for a B'Con. Doesn't seem natural somehow...

Of course, that doesn't mean I'm not excited as hell about the whole thing. And this time, the fun will be in lovely downtown St. Louis, MO. A city that I've only visited once, but dug very, very much.

Schedule-wise, here's my deal:

Wednesday (9/14): I'm proud to be joining Hilary Davidson, Glenn Gray, John Rector and Anonymous-9 for Noir at the Bar: De-Bouchercon Kick-Off (Meshuggah Cafe, 6269 Delmar Blvd.) Fun starts at 8 p.m.; brace your livers. You know, one of you may prove me wrong... but after this event, I may be the only writer to have appeared at all three Noir at the Bar venues (Philly, L.A., St. Louis). Go ahead! Prove me wrong! I double-dog dare you! Anyway, you don't have to be registered for B'Con to attend, so stop on by.

Thursday (9/15): I'll be on the 2:30 p.m. "Unnatural Vices: Comics and Crime Fiction" panel moderated by Cullen Bunn, along with co-panelists Max Allan Collins, Gary Phillips and Jason Starr. Room: Majestic D, which also happened to be my nickname in high school. (Note: This is not true.)

Friday (9/16): Come 3:30 p.m. I'll be hunkered down at the Crimespree Magazine table in the book room, signing stuff with the immortal Christa Faust. We'll most likely be warming up/practicing schtick for our joint appearance at Murder By the Book in Houston this November.

Saturday (9/17): My second panel! My God, are the B'Con organizers gluttons for punishment? This time, it's "Payback: Contemplating the Future of the Genre," moderated by the amazing Laura Lippman, along with co-panelists Hilary Davidson, Kathleen George, Bryan Gruley and Bill Loefelm (4 p.m., also in Majestic D). While we're all busy contemplating, I'm sure we'll be cracking a few jokes. Stop by and join in before you head out to get plastered.

Sunday (9/18): I'm proud to say that I'll be attending the Anthony Awards Brunch, since my 2010 novel, Expiration Date, is up for Best Paperback Original. Wish me luck. The awards are determined by votes from this year's B'Con goers, so if you do happen to be a B'Con goer... make sure you find me so that I may buy you the drink of your choice. And perhaps some fine leather goods, or jewelry?

Also, a small reward for those of you who've read this entire blog post: The first five people to see me at Bouchercon and tell me to "Go to hell" will receive an arc of Hell & Gone, my second Charlie Hardie thriller. Come on up, don't be shy. (Believe me, I'm used to hearing those words.) People who walk up to me and tell me to "Fuck off" will be obligated to buy me a beer to soothe my bruised soul.