04 October 2022

Opportunity Abounds


We met Mary Tyler Moore
on the streets of
Minneapolis.

I returned home from Bouchercon Minneapolis with two things: Covid and a renewed appreciation for the value of in-person Bouchercons.

A mere 1.4% of Bouchercon attendees reported contracting Covid at the convention, which places me among the select few. I don’t know from whom I caught it, but I’m pretty sure I know at which unofficial event it happened. A handful of the other attendees at that event also reported positive Covid test results post-convention.

The disease hit me hard, knocking me back the first week I was home. The second week I operated at about half-speed. As I write this, I’m three weeks post-diagnosis, and I’m almost back to full speed.

It’s a good thing, too, because I came away from Bouchercon with many new and renewed connections. From preplanned dinners to impromptu lunches to coincidental breakfasts, and from late night poker games to hotel bar confabs to hallway howdies, I spent a great deal of time with writers I knew well and those with whom I have worked on various projects. Additionally, I met many writers for the first time, writers with whom I may work on future projects.

I came home from every previous in-person Bouchercon (beginning with Toronto) with a new project or opportunity that I likely would not have had had I not attended Bouchercon. This time was different, but no less exciting.

I had the opportunity to spend time with an anthology co-editor, had the opportunity to refine an anthology concept I’m working on with another co-editor, and had the opportunity to discuss potential future projects with several writers to gauge their interest level. I also had the opportunity to discuss editorial needs for Black Cat Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Weekly, and other projects already in progress.

Additionally, and no less important, Temple and I had the opportunity to get away from the daily grind, to experience a new city, and to spend time with people who enjoy the same things we enjoy. Though it’s difficult to quantify the value of all of this, it has clearly rejuvenated me.

Once I pushed through the impact of Covid, I dove into the backlog of projects piled atop my desk and atop the dining room table, and I’ve already diminished the piles by half. If I maintain this pace, I’ll be ready to pitch a slew of new projects come the new year.




Black Cat Mystery Magazine #12, the special cozy issue, released last month. It features new stories by K.L. Abrahamson, N.M. CedeƱo, Debra H. Goldstein, Darren Goossens, Gordon Linzner, Charlotte Morganti, Alan Orloff, Bev Vincent, Stacy Woodson, Elizabeth Zelvin, and a classic reprint by Johnston McCulley.

22 comments:

  1. I am relieved you recovered so well. And wow, have you rebounded. You're amazing, Michael. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm glad you're feeling so much better. I'm also glad I didn't catch covid despite talking with you just a few hours before your symptoms began.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So am I, Barb. It appears I was selfish and kept it to myself. No one I interacted with—other than at the event where I likely caught it—seems to have caught it.

      Delete
  3. Sorry about the Covid but glad the conference was so worthwhile!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I saw more than 48 attendees report on social media that they got it while there. Soem started reporting they had it and left early on that Saturday. Can also confirm I spend way to much time on social media.

    That being said, it was really hard for me to miss out. Now that I have some idea how much it matters to be at one in person after being here for Dallas, this one hit hard.

    Anyway, glad you got over it so well and hope that continues.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glad to hear you've recovered. It sounds like you were hit pretty hard.
    Bob

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was hit hard, and I've pondered how ,much worse it might have been without two shots and a booster...

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    2. Two boosters, actually. It's the third I've yet to get.

      Delete
  6. I'm glad you're feeling renewed after your bout with COVID.

    ReplyDelete
  7. So glad you recovered from COVID. Part of the reason I didn't go was because I was worried about Covid, not just for myself, but even more for my husband.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know how important it is to consider those around us. My father-in-law lives a few blocks away, and I haven't seen him since I returned. Perhaps I'm overly cautious, but better safe that sorry, to fall back on a cliche.

      Delete
  8. Glad you're past the Covid, Michael. I just had my third booster last week, which is good because more and more businesses around here are no longer requiring masks.

    I'm even more impressed by how you keep making new connections and building on older ones for new projects. You're an absolute jobs magnet, and it's amazing how you can keep them all straight.

    Keep doing all your doing. All writers are beholden to you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know of anywhere other than my doctor's office that still requires masks, so I've been out and about (in Texas!) for months. I had to travel to Minneapolis to catch it.

      And thanks for the kind comments.

      Delete
  9. Glad to hear you're back up to express-train speed, Michael. Now you've made us curious about where you and the others got it. I know you won't name the event, but how about clues? A large group or a small one? A small room or a large one—and was it locked? Stand-up or sit-down? Were you masked or unmasked? What was the tipping factor?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You must be hell with a bright light and a rubber hose, Liz. I'm innocent, I tell you, innocent! More seriously: The event happened on two consecutive nights, never more than 11 people and most of them were present both nights: unmasked, sitting around a large table in closed room of modest size.

      Delete
  10. Michael, glad you're back up to speed. Take care, and keep juggling all those projects!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I might be delusional, but this afternoon I had an idea for an anthology titled DRUNKEN KRAKEN. Still haven't figured out what the guidelines would look like...

      (See what I did there? The ellipse? Hah!)

      Delete
    2. Drunken Kraken? Featuring two bozo lawyers in a comically corrupt caper to steal an election? Nah, that wouldn't be realistic.

      Glad you're doing so well, Michael.

      Delete

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