RICHARD MOORE AND ME.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: ANGELA, PATTI, ME, BILL, TED, THOM, PHIL, AND JACKIE
TOP ROW: TED FITZGERALD, BILL CRIDER, TED HERTAL; SITTING: MAGGIE MASON AND JEFF MEYERSON
GOOD:
1. Raleigh is a very nice city. All the people I met were friendly and helpful.
2. It was great to visit with Patti, Phil, and Megan Abbott, Jeff and Jackie Meyerson, Bill Crider and Angela, George Easter, Ted Hertel, Ted Fitzgerald, Maggie Mason and Nancy, Janet Rudolph, Richard Moore, Marv Lachman, and Thom Walls.
3. Patti and Phil treated me to BBQ Tofu at THE PIT restaurant. Delicious! The Chocolate Factory was wonderful, too!
4. Loved Patti’s panel on “Metropolitan Mysteries.” Also enjoyed the panel where Bill Crider, Megan Abbott, and Lawrence Block talking about “influences” on their mystery writing and reading.
5. Had a great submarine sandwich at a place called SUB CONSCIOUS.
BAD:
1. The “Two Hotel Strategy” was a bit cumbersome. I was in the Sheridan while many others were in the Marriott. Even though there was only a 100-yards between the two hotels, the walk back and forth for panels grew tiresome. On Saturday, it rained so there were more complaints then, too.
2. The Dealers’ Room was a joke. I’m sure 99% of the books for sale were new books (mostly authors at BOUCHERCON). I was able to find a few good books at a couple of used bookstores in Raleigh: NICE PRICE BOOKS and READER’S CORNER.
UGLY:
1. The Sheridan Raleigh doesn’t have an airport shuttle so I had to spend $100 on taxis to and from the Airport. Bah!
2. I was caught in the Southwest Airlines computer meltdown. My bag didn’t show up until hours after I landed in Buffalo. There were moments when I didn’t think my flight was going to get off the ground in Baltimore. Ah, the joys of Travelling. But all in all, I really enjoyed the Raleigh BOUCHERCON. See you in New Orleans!
George, it’s so very good to see all of you!
Prashant, it would be great if you could attend a BOUCHERCON one day. You would really enjoy the people, the panels, and the books!
George, I’m sure I would.
George, you should’ve taken the Skylink shuttle. $25 from airport to hotel and vice-versa. Of course you could add a tip if you wanted to.
Bill, next time I go to Raleigh, I’ll take the Skyline shuttle. But I’m annoyed that the Sheridan Imperial has a shuttle but the Sheridan Raleigh doesn’t.
Good report and on target. Jackie got tired of walking back and forth between the two hotels and sometimes couldn’t remember which she was supposed to be too to. Also, II had to keep redoing the WiFi every time I changed hotels. The Sheraton WiFi connection sucked.
Overall, though, we had a great time seeing all of you.
I am glad I drove rather than flying.
Jeff, the flights home on Southwest were an adventure with the computers down. Everything was delayed because of all the paperwork! Jackie wasn’t the only BOUCHERCON attendee who didn’t like that walk between the Marriott and the Sheridan. Especially in the rain Saturday.
you guys had it easy. try the holiday inn walk! So that is maggie mason!
Patti, you need to stay at the main BOUCHERCON hotel in the future. Too much time wasted walking back and forth! Plus, you can just go up to your room for a “breather” when you need it. Maggie Mason will be in New Orleans for BOUCHERCON. I’d be happy to introduce you.
Good Bouchercon report, George. I’m sorry I missed it but I’ll see you all next year in New Orleans. As to accommodations – make your reservations at the convention hotel NOW. You can always cancel if you change your mind/something better comes along.
Patti reminds me of Libby Fischer Hellmann.
Beth, I have our room booked for New Orleans. It will be great to see you again in the Big Easy!
P.S. The Dealers’ Rooms just keep getting worse.
Beth, the Internet has killed the Dealers’ Room.
Which is one of the reasons I don’t fly, the others being price, lousy service, narrow uncomfortable seating and inconsiderate fellow travelers. Plus airports are sick houses. Every time I’ve been in an airport in the last 15 years, I’ve gotten sick afterwards. It sounds like, other than a few panels, seeing pals was about all that was worthwhile. We saved thousands by staying home, we figure, so it sounds to have been the right decision. If there’s ever another in Seattle, we’ll be there, but most of the group don’t travel west.
Yes, I caught that “bah”. Good one
Rick, I usually leave the “Bah”s to you. But in this case, a “Bah” was exactly what the situation required. Diane always comes home sick after a flight on a plane, too.
I usually get a cold after a convention, but haven’t in nearly 2 years This is my tip: CVS has a product I swear by: Cold Remedy fast melting lozenges. I get the lemon lime flavor. I use them before plane travel, during conventions and a day or so before and after being in a large crowd. Downside is it affects my taste buds. I used it on the way home and a couple of days after. Nothing tasted good. I didn’t use it during the trip as Dining out was one thing I was looking forward to. Had lots of yummy food.
Maggie, I’m a big believer in Vitamin-C. Diane doesn’t like to take pills of any kind.
Fun to see this report and the pics. Great!
Roy, hope to see you in New Orleans!