Another lively day at Bouchercon… it started with a panel on the legacy of Robert B. Parker. My fellow panelists were Joseph Finder, Dick Lochte, Mark Coggins, Declan Hughes, and Russel McLean. The panelists and the audience seemed to really enjoy it. Afterwards, a guy came up to me and said "You look like the most hated politician in San Francisco… but now that you're standing, I see that you're fatter."
I thanked him.
The panel was followed by a signing. A woman asked me to sign her program and, as I was doing so, she said "I really enjoyed your books back when they were good."
I thanked her, too. Oh, these dumb comments remind me of one that came up when I was "in conversation" with William Link. A guy in the audience stood up and asked Link "When you created COLUMBO, how much were you influenced by Huckleberry Finn?"
"Not at all," Link said.
"This brings up an interesting question," I said. "When you created MANNIX, how much were you influenced by CATCHER IN THE RYE?"
Link was still laughing about the Huckleberry Finn question today when I signed with him after the Parker panel.
After the signing, I grabbed a sandwich at Boudin and got a little writing done…then hung out in the bar for a while, talking with David Hewson, Bill Crider, Lynn Sheene, Doug Lyle, Christa Faust, Robert Ward, and probably a dozen others throughout the afternoon.
But the highlight of the day and the conference for me was the screening of my short film REMAINDERED tonight. The room was packed with authors, editors, agents, booksellers and fans. And they all seemed to love it. I couldn't have asked for a better first screening. It really was the perfect audience for the film. I just wish the cast and crew could have been there to enjoy it with me.
The screening was followed by a lively Q&A and then I headed up to the bar, where I talked ebooks and the future of publishing with Penguin/NAL senior editor Sandra Harding…and later with Mulholland Books editor John Schoenfeller and agent Josh Getzler. I also caught up with Sara Gran, Scott Phillips, Joe Konrath, Cameron Hughes, Megan Abbott, Allison Gaylin, and several other authors.
All in all, it was a terrific Bouchercon for me. I'm so glad that I came up for it.
(Pictured: Sara Gran, me, Scott Phillips)
Way to go, Lee! Am very happy to hear the film was well-received, the story was so deep and interesting.
Thanks Dan, but I must correct you on one thing. The movie may be interesting, but it’s certainly not deep. It’s proudly shallow.
Lee
I enjoyed your books back when they were good. ??? Who says that? Was she really old? I love your books – if anything, they get better and better. It amazes me the things people say to you (and your brother!).
kim
Lee,
It was great meeting you! I couldn’t make it to your film, sadly, but heard great things. Please tell your bro hello and that I truly enjoyed his classes.
Lynn
I’m so green. Next year, dammit – next year!
Please tell your bro hello and that I truly enjoyed his classes.
Hi, Mr. Goldberg. Doug Lyle just posted a cover of your book and mentioned you were at Bouchercon. The cover alone would inspire me to pick it up. Do you have a link? Sorry about the non-thinking comments. But the responses were classy and fabulous.
“Proudly shallow”? I don’t believe a word of it. You just don’t want to be accused of being relevent within the mystery world, of furthering the genre by introducing new motives for the girl and the guy.