Opening ceremonies at this year’s Bouchercon brought a very nice surprise when my story “Parallel Play” won the Macavity Award for Best Short Story amongst a very distinguished slate featuring short fiction by Lawrence Block, Craig Faustus Buck, Greg Herren, Paul D. Marks, and Joyce Carol Oates. I was stunned when the story’s title was called out, and forgot to mention all the other finalists as part of my thanks, but it was a joy to have my work listed alongside theirs in the first place—fine writers all, and many of them good friends as well.
Bouchercon generally has been going well, with many other highlights, including a great program celebrating Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine with 15 contributors to the magazine sharing stories that were alternately funny and emotional and revealing, several other panels on writing short fiction, editing anthologies, and browsing through the history of mystery, and then a very nice surprise when I was one of the authors spotlighted by the Toronto Star in their coverage of Bouchercon—yowsa!
Still more ahead, of course, with panels, programs, conversations, and—the big finale!—the Anthony Awards brunch. Whew!