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Bouchercon
2005: what an experience it was. If you weren't there, you
should rightfully kick yourself and promise to make ammends
next time round. I know we were supposed to have an article
up last issue, but life got in the way. However, the lovely,
wonderful and supremely talented Mary Regan had allowed us
to plunder her image files and use some of her work so we
couldn't pass that up, now, could we? So while not a full
report, these images should give you some idea of the people
who were there and the times that were had. Not only that
but the fact that everyone's grinning should give you some
clue as to how much we all enjoyed ourselves.
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To
the left hand side we find Mr Allan "Sunshine"
Guthrie looking, well, like someone's just asked him
to explain about UK Gun control.
With
Ken Bruen late for a noir panel, Jason Starr tries to
convince everyone that to add authenticity to their
collaboration - Bust - they've actually swapped bodies
for the Con. No one is convinced.
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This
motley crew are (l-r), K J Wishnia (author of 23 Shades
of Black), Jen Jordan (fiction editor exatrordinaire at
Crime Spree Magazine) and our esteemed editor. Notice
the way Russel looks very glazed. Its not just wine, its
also jetlag. At least that's what he told everyone...
(With cheers to Ken for the photo) |
| Joe
Konrath, author of Whiskey Sour and Bloody Mary asks an
unsuspecting fan to "pull my finger" |
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Ayo
Onatade (left, columnist for various zines including Shots
and Crimespree) and Ruth Jordan (Right, of Crimespree)
pose for the cameras unaware that a blurry Jon Jordan
(rear, of Crimespree) is trying to hog the limelight... |
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To
the left, Ray Banks (The Big Blind) shows he isn't just
a cat-eating, Rendell-wrestling bundle of bad attitude...
On
the right, John Rickards (Winter's End, The Touch of
Ghosts) is trying to figure out the best time to drop
a bon-mot about weasels into the conversation... |
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| (l-r)While
Ken Bruen (The White Trilogy, The Guards), Jon Jordan,
Jen Jordan and Charles Ardai (editor, Hard Case Crime)
all manage to keep the party spirit going, your esteemed
editor suffers an unfortunate moment of jet lag... |
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On
the left, Bryon Quertermous considers giving up writing
for modelling hats...
While
on the right, we see Otis "Call Me Lit Idol"
Twelve taking time out from the bar to pose for Mary's
camera. |
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course, all good things must come to an end and sadly
this was as true of B'Con 2005 as with anything else.
Those who follow my blog will already know my adventures
and if you haven't read about them, then you really should.
I mean, I went into far too much detail and maybe vented
a little about the hell that was my journey over to the
states, but all the same, you'll find out even more the
kind of stuff you missed out on. But these are just a
few of the smiling faces you could have seen at B'Con
2005. No doubt many of them will be there next year...
and I do hope that we will see you there, too... But before
you go, here's what happened when I got home... |
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I
came back (left) an impressive pile of books and magazines;
enough, in fact, to keep me going for several months
But
I also came back with an ebola virus! Luckily for me
it was a very sweet and cuddly replica... (Cheers to
Rebecca Simpson for the pics and to Jen Jordan for the
ebola. No thanks to John Rickards for passing on to
me the Cold that Killed Chiago (tm)) |
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