Bouchercon 2014 was my first and it was a whirlwind.

I saw a lot of writers and publishers on a number of different panels. These were talented people engaged in deep conversations about their love of crime and mystery fiction, long and short, and how they approach their craft. Sure, I got some useful tips, but mostly what I got was inspired.

I also scored a ton of books.

Here were a few of my favorite panels. Look the participants up:

• Building Readership through Social Media
  You’ve published an e-book, and now you find your audience.
• Short But Mighty
  The Power and Freedom of the Short Story
• Long and Short of It 
  Writing Short Stories and Full-Length Novels
• Noir at the Bar
  One Minute Author Readings
• The Mean Streets of Los Angeles
  LA Crime Through the Ages
• Plenty of Crime, Y’All
  Southern Murder and Mischief
• Short and Scary
  Thriller and Noir Short Stories

I also had the pleasure to see a number of authors read and otherwise entertain in 20 minute segments. Here’s the whole list. Here are the ones I am most eager to read more about and from (there are many others – excuse my faulty memory):

• Sam Wiebe
• Tom Pitts
• Paul D. Marks
• Art Taylor
• Erik Arneson
• Eric Beetner
• Jess Lourey
• Robert Lopresti
• Mike Monson
• Anonymous 9
• Mike McCrary
• Rob Hart
• Sarah M. Chen
• Bryon Quertermous
• Stephen Buehler
• Joe Clifford

Thanks to everybody who made me feel welcome in my first year. I had some great conversations and a lot of laughs. See you next time.