The Bouchercon Panel Thread

The full grid has been posted, (no direct link, just click on “Panels” in the drop-down menu) and a few things spring to mind:

By not listing the Shamus Award location and redirecting people to the PWA website, that’s supposed to deter crashers. No, that only deters crashers who are lazy, undetermined, and don’t know how to ask someone who knows someone who knows someone else how to get in. Then again, why anyone would be that determined is another question…

I thought the whole point was that one author got one panel. Guess not. That said, the organizers have done well to listen to what authors wanted, who they wanted to be with, and went from there. I mean, Jim Nisbet chatting with is friends? Jim Crumley in conversation? The Billingham/Connolly/Slaughter/Lippman/Guttridge rematch? Poetry readings with Ken Bruen, Reed Coleman and Peter Spiegelman? Way cool.

The "in-hotel" designation makes sense. But if these are taken off at the very last minute and there’s severe overcrowding for one party and sparseness for another, then what?

SUNY’s Pulps collection on display. You know that is going to attract a serious crowd.

You can’t have a short story symposium without including (or at least mentioning) what’s happening online. Pay or no pay.

Akashic’s opening night party is a must-attend.

Additional comments I leave to you in the backblogs till Sunday.