Time to take a few quiet moments and think about books and authors. We have been getting ready for Bouchercon, which means we have been ordering books and trying to keep up with the list of attendees so we don’t miss any authors who register late; plus trying to figure out how we will fit all of the books into the way too small space available to us at the convention; John has to check in books as well as get the fixtures we take with us ready–it is not a quiet, easy time in the run up to a convention. We figure this is our last convention as vendors, except maybe for Magna cum Murder next year. We are too old for this! We have bad backs and bad knees; we get cranky when we get in a hurry trying to set up; we don’t bend well to get merchandise for buyers–well, you get the picture, and it isn’t a pretty one.

We have gone to conventions for all but the first year we had the store; we did 19 years of Malice Domestic conventions as vendors; we have done Magna cum Murder I don’t know how many times (it is our easiest one, only 4 hours from home and an easy set up, besides we love Kathryn Kennison who runs the convention); we did Mayhem in the Midwest a few times in Omaha; and we have done Bouchercons in Toronto, Washington, D.C. and now Indianapolis as vendors, besides attending as fans for several others.

We love the interaction with fans and authors and just being around hundreds of people who love mysteries as much as we do is intoxicating. Even more than the hotel bars, though they don’t hurt. There is just a special thrill in meeting people who understand what you are talking about when you mention something from a favorite book or author.

One thing which always surprises us is the number of authors we find in preparing for the conventions that are new to us. You would think that having owned and run a mystery bookshop for 20 years that authors would get past us; but every time we do this we find someone with three or four books published that we don’t know. Of course, meeting new authors, either beginners or ones new to us, is one of the best things about going to the conventions. If you haven’t gone to a Bouchercon, you should consider it. It isn’t too late to register for this year in Indy, although a hotel room might be a problem, but there is always next year! (Now there is a statement that is very familiar to a Browns/Indians fan .)

Last this weekend we sorted books and packed books and then Tuesday we load up the van and Wednesday we head to Indy. Come and see us in the dealers’ room if you’re at the convention! Or in the bar after the room closes!