What is Bouchercon Anyway?
by Deborah Lacy
Picture being surrounded people who love crime fiction as much as you do for four days of author events, parties and meeting new friends at the world’s largest mystery convention. This year’s Bouchercon (pronounced BOW-chercon) will be held October 4-7 in Cleveland, Ohio. You can play basketball with S.J. Rozan. Hang out at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the conference opening ceremonies with likes of Elizabeth George, Mary Higgins Clark and Linda Fairstein. Discover great new authors and learn what it’s like to research a thriller while traveling in Africa.
There’s also an auction where attendees will bid to win a character naming in one of Lee Child’s or Karin Slaughter’s book (proceeds go to charity). How fun is that?
The stellar lineup of 2012 guests of honor includes:

• Elizabeth George, American Guest of Honor

• Mary Higgins Clark, Lifetime Achievement Award

• Robin Cook, Distinguished Contribution to the Genre

• Les Roberts, Special Cleveland Guest

• Doris Ann Norris, Fan Guest of Honor

Other authors attending include Sara Paretsky, Lee Child, Deborah Crombie, Carol Higgins Clark, Reed Farrel Coleman, Max Allen Collins, Karin Slaughter and many, many more.
This conference has a rich history. Started in 1970, Bouchercon is named for famed mystery writer, critic and science fiction editor, Anthony Boucher (the pen name for William Anthony Parker White). Its list of honored guests is literally the who’s who of crime fiction. It is held every year in different cities around the country and is entirely run by volunteers.
To learn more about Bouchercon, visit the conference website, join the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Bouchercon2012 and follow @Bouchercon2012 on Twitter.
Deborah Lacy blogs over at Criminal Element and Mystery Playground.