Bouchercon? What’s That?
Anthony Boucher. It’s appropriate the name is an alias, derived from his Grandmother’s maiden name and the name of his favorite saint. He was also known as H. H. Holmes, not from Sherlock Holmes but from Herman W. Mudgett, a famous serial killer, executed in 1896.
Boucher (pronounced like voucher) was born William Anthony Parker White. His aliases were used not to commit crimes, but to write mystery, horror, fantasy and science fiction books and short stories. In 1942, he wrote his last novel and instead became a critic.
Although he continued to write short stories for mystery and science fiction markets, fame came from the reviews he wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Chicago Sun Times and the New York Herald Tribune. Critical acclaim came from writing for the New York Times Book Review, from 1951 until his death in 1968. In all, he wrote over 850 review columns, titled Crime At Large. Recognized as the nation’s foremost authority on crime fiction, he was also its most popular reviewer. It’s been said he never forgot the plot of a book.
It is fitting that one of the largest mystery conventions in the US be named after him. Bouchercon 2011/St. Louis ran from September 15th through September 18th and brought 1,600 writers, editors, agents and fans together in the shadow of the Arch. The purpose is to introduce both new and established writers to get people excited about books. Mission accomplished!
There were ninety-two panel discussions and interviews, an indoor firing range simulator, book signings, a live auction, silent auction, a bowling tournament, awards, dinners, and books, books and more books.
Each year the convention is held in a different city. Cleveland will be the host the fourteenth Bouchercon in 2012. Planning the schedules of writers for panels, shipments of books for sale, seating, rooms for receptions, hospitality, registration, and outside events like library appearances, can take years. A block of rooms for guests at the Grand Renaissance Hotel was booked three years in advance. Those rooms sold out and overflow guests stayed at nearby hotels—when there was time to sleep.
Of the panels
Thursday morning, I got registered and then made it to the first panel, Night Chills, Making Things Go Bump in the Night with St Louis writer Angie Fox, M. R. Sellars, Jason Starr, Monette Draper, Dakota Banks, and Sarah Glenn.
While early morning is not my best time of day, what I remember from this panel is Angie Fox talking about the first mysteries she wrote—they didn’t sell. She finally decided to write something she’d like to read. Late night thinking led to the idea of grandma in a biker gang of witches, a Jack Russell terrier who rides along and a woman who led a calm life until she got caught up in the whole thing. The Accidental Demon Slayer series was born. Angie’s very popular with biker gangs—and her publisher, agent, editor and fans.
Jason Starr pitched a television show based on a book he’d written. It was picked up by Fox. They asked if he had more ideas. He said, “Sure! I have tons of ideas.” He had none then—but by the next day he made sure he did.
Fox passed on those ideas so his agent said, “Maybe you should write another book. They liked that before. Let’s try it again. Got any ideas?”
Jason, who had none, said, “Sure!” And soon, he had five chapters of The Pack (werewolves) to show. Fox loved it and bought the option before the book was even sold to a publisher.
