To keep our spirits up during this surreal period of COVID-19
confinement - one must plan for when we can next see our friends,
colleagues and fellow advocates of the Crime and Mystery Fiction Genre.
Sadly, many 2020 crime, mystery and thriller fiction events
have been cancelled in the wake of this RNA-Virus - such as Bouchercon 2020 [Sacramento, USA], Theakstons’
Crime Writing Festival 2020 [Harrogate, UK], Crimefest
2020 [Bristol, England] to name a few.
We’re waiting to see if Adam Hamdy, David
Headley and Liz Curle’s Capital
Crime 2020 [London, England] will occur, as it is after the summer and we pray
that we will have the COVID-19 situation under control by then.
Thriller writer KJ
Howe, with ITW’s technical bloke Jeff Ayers, and the team behind International
Thriller Writers Inc, have come up with a good plan, following the cancellation
of New York’s Thrillerfest 2020 [due to fears of COVID-19] – so the ITW gang
have a planned Virtual event, details HERE
We got word from the Bouchercon Board of Directors, that it’s
all steam ahead for Bouchercon 2021
[New Orleans, USA]; and that the work of Michael Connelly is to be celebrated
as he will receive the lifetime achievement award for his writing.
We are delighted that former journalist Michael
Connelly and his novels, stories [many featuring that singular creation
Harry Bosch] and film / TV is to be celebrated during Bouchercon 2021.
In 2018, the Crime Writers Association recognised a
lifetime achievement award in London, when he was presented with the CWA
Diamond Dagger.
We recorded the 2018 event, with CWA Chair Martin Edwards' introduction, and Mike Connelly’s acceptance
speech –
For many readers (myself included), Michael Connelly is one
of the greatest living crime writers working today, and for many - his creation
Harry Bosch of the LAPD is one of fiction’s greatest detectives. And now Amazon
Prime’s BOSCH series reaches its sixth season, with Titus Welliver playing the eponymous
Investigator. All seasons of Bosch are available to stream online at Amazon
Prime.
Reports from Jeff Peirce’s The Rap Sheet on our visits to
the Hollywood set of Season One can be accessed HERE
while our location visit for Season Two at Venice Beach [Los Angeles] can be
accessed HERE
Literary commentator / critic, horticulturist and sports presenter
Michael Carlson published an excellent feature for Shots Magazine THE ABSTRACT
ART OF BOSCH, which can be accessed HERE
And if you are readying yourself to watch Bosch Season Six,
remember part of the narrative arc comes from Michael Connelly’s THE OVERLOOK.
It was originally a story serialised in the New York Times, but eventually found
itself as a novel – I spoke with Michael at the time about this lean and
extraordinary post-911 narrative [one that features Larry Gandle as Bosch’s
Boss] – it is archived HERE
Joining Michael
Connelly, as Guests of Bouchercon 2021, are :-
Steve Berry – Thriller Guest of Honour
Craig Johnson – American Guest of Honour
Charles
and Caroline Todd – Historical Guests of Honour
Jo
Nesbo – International Guest of Honour
Alafair
Burke – Toast Mistress
Jonathan Maberry – Kid’s Bouchercon Guest of Honour
And for some reason, I’m also excited to attend.
Much thanks must go to the Dynamic Duo, of best-selling
thriller writer Heather Graham and the extraordinary Connie Perry [and their
team], for chairing the event, and returning us back to New Orleans after the extraordinary
event in 2016.
Here’s archive video
of the opening ceremonies -
And Jeff Pierce at the Rap Sheet has commentary and pictures
HERE
and remember 2021’s Bouchercon is a return trip for Mike Connelly to New Orleans,
as he was interviewed by Harlan
Coben – Archived video HERE
So as the crime, mystery and thriller clan gather, after so
long, I’d start planning for Bouchercon 2021: Blood on the Bayou
More information HERE
Hope to see you at the biggest celebration of Crime and Mystery
Fiction, Bouchercon 2021 and I’d register as soon as possible as registrations
are coming in thick and fast.
AND STAY WELL / TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND READ BOOKS TO ESCAPE
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