If I finish up a book I'm reading tonight, I will have read 100 books in 2013. However, the number is not what made this past year one of the best reading years I can remember. A large part of the credit goes to attending Boucheron for the first time, and as a matter of preparation for it, I discovered favorite new mystery authors and series. At the Bouchercon event itself, I met and became friends with many of these authors, as well as getting to meet old favorites and getting literally suitcases of books signed. Elly Griffiths, Jen Danna, Louise Penny, Deb Crombie, Rhys Bowen, Laurie R. King, Julia Spencer-Fleming, Lyndsay Faye, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Hallie Ephron, Lucy Burdette, Sue Grafton, Tess Gerritsen, Anna Loan-Wilsey, Catriona McPherson, Ovidia Yu, Simone St.James, Michael Robertson, Harlan Coben. Also, I met new reading friends there, most notable becoming a member of the FOLs (Friends of Laurie R. King). These warm and gracious fellow readers helped me to successfully navigate my first Boucercon, and I remain in awe of their knowledge and event savvy. Sharing this experience with someone who has been a friend of mine since kindergarten was the cherry on top of the cake. So, I am going to share some pictures from this monumental book event in my life to end out the magical year. The first two photos are of the magnificient FOLs, and the last photo is of my dear friend Mary Susan, who enthusiastically joined me in Albany and then led me on to some other great adventures in upper state New York and Niagara Falls.
Author Lyndsay Faye
Author Elly Griffiths
Author Laurie R. King
Authors Rhys Bowen, Deborah Crombie, Louise Penny
Author Louise Penny, her husband Michael, super fan Chris Aldrich, and me
Author Julia Spencer-Fleming
Authors Elly Griffiths and Jen J. Danna
Author Michael Robertson
Author G.M. Malliett
Author Deborah Crombie
