For the 28th consecutive year, I will fail to attend Bouchercon. I should be slapped. But three of my fellow critique groupers from right here in Portland will be in attendance, and honorary Oregonian Cap'n Bob Napier is making the trek, this year in the company of Mrs. Cap'n (the Envy of American Womanhood). So hey, I'll get several eyewitness reports. It'll be almost like being there.
If you happen to spot these characters, I suggest you break the ice by sneaking up and slipping whoopee cushions on their chairs. Or better yet, tell 'em you saw them on
Davy Crockett's Almanack, and that I said they should buy you a drink (except for Bob, of course, who insists you must buy
him the drink).
Ann Littlewood (parrot not included) will be autographing her two ZooMysteries from Poisoned Pen:
Night Kill and
Did Not Survive. She's also featured on a Thursday morning panel discussing unusual settings. Miss it at your peril. You'll find more about Ann
HERE, and on her blog,
Ann Littlewood Zoo Mysteries.
Doug Levin (he's the one with the glasses) has a tale called "The Docile Shark" in the December issue of
EQMM, his second appearance in that magazine. His first mystery novel, which compares favorably to the work of Donald Westlake (when Westlake was pretending to be Richard Stark) will soon be in the hands of prospective publishers. Check him out at
Levin at Large.
Angela Sanders writes for magazines about food and fashion, and is a regular columnist for the premiere blog of perfume fanciers,
Now Smell This (I kid you not). She has one mystery novel in the can and another in progress. If you see a vintage designer dress at the con, she'll probably be wearing it.
Robert S. Napier has been haunting Bouchercons off and on (mostly on) since 1980. He'll be peddling autographed copies of his latest Five Star mystery,
The Toyman Rides Again. I'd step lightly around this gent. He's usually packing heat, and can be quick on the trigger. His Internet home is
The Cap'n's Blog.