So long, farewell....

It's been wonderful to see you, and certainly a thrill....






...but the traveling road show that is Bouchercon is packing up and moving to St. Louis...so that we can do it all again next year!  If the smoke, confetti, and sparkles that are drifting our way from the vicinity of Bcon 2011 Central (chez Jon Jordan) are any indication, we're in for a whale of a good time.






A note about charity

We did good by having fun, and raised about $5,000 for charity from our raffle and our live auction;  proceeds will benefit 826 Valencia and Casa de las Madres.  And we're able to donate books to Friends of the San Francisco Library.   Many thanks to auctioneers Hank Ryan Phillippi, Harley Jane Kozak, and Donna Andrews.  And to Charity Wranglers Andi Shechter and Laura Atkins.  And to you, for opening your hearts and wallets.

Got photos?

Friend of Bouchercon and Webmaven Extraordinaire Maggie Griffin is looking for photos of Lee Child's Reacher Creature party at Bouchercon, or any photos of Lee. If you have them, send 'em along to her at  webmaven@leechild.com.

About those panel titles....

If you haven't already heard, they were episodes of The Streets of San Francisco.  Clever, huh?




Thanks......

And to be ever so slightly serious for a fraction of a second - it really has been wonderful to work with so many of you to put Bouchercon 2010 together over the past couple of years.  Challenging, frustrating, exhilarating, exhausting - usually all at the same time.  I'm ready for some serious relaxing, but so, so grateful for the experience.

So many people gave so generously of their time and talent that it would take hours to list them all.  But to name just a few:

• Jon and Ruth Jordan
• Dana Fredsti
• Janine Wilson
• Kim Krabill
• Judy Bobalik
• Andi Shechter
• BG Ritts
• Madeira James
• Martine Holmsen
• Laura Atkins
• Wendy Watkins
• Suzanne Murphy
• Karen Hamilton
• Allison Davis
• Cara Black
• Maggie Mason
• Maggie Griffin
• Eddie Muller
• Lee Child
• Denise Mina
• Laurie R. King
• Maddy van Hertbruggen

...I know I've forgotten some folks, which is why I hate these lists.  But trust me, it takes a huge amount of effort from countless volunteers (volunteers, as in we are not paid to do any of this) to create a Bouchercon.

And, once it all starts, to see smiling faces and hear happy conversations makes it all worthwhile.  Was it perfect?  Certainly not.  Was it fun?  Oh, yeah.  If I had known what I was getting into when I raised my hand back in 2008....I'd raise my hand again.  There's no experience like it.  But now it's Jon's turn to have all the fun, and Marjory after him in Cleveland, and then Al in Albany, and Ingrid in Long Beach.  Bouchercon just keeps rolling along.


So, without too much further ado......





See you in St. Louis!!!