I’m a book nerd, born and bred. I’m replicating that with my son, who has gone from having a book collection resembling that of a small town library to going through series after series to taking a book whenever we go anywhere. It is one of the things I am most proud of with him, even if most of it is just his personality and I get no credit for it. Having a literacy practitioner for a mom probably doesn’t hurt his support network either.

With that love of books, I’ve always wanted to go to a book conference. I minimally helped to organize a mystery one here in Ottawa the year Jacob was born, and the weekend that it happened? Yeah, that’s the weekend Andrea had a premature partial rupture of the membrane (PPROM). Fun times, I hung out with her at the hospital, scared out of our gourd. No book conference for us! I haven’t tried for another one since! 🙂 The conference or another kid!.

Which leaves me wanting to attend a conference somewhere. I don’t know if I want to attend a book festival or a writing conference, although either will do for my interests. 🙂 I’m scouring the web for some options; let’s see what I find.

Options

San Francisco Writers Conference. Hey, it’s happening this past weekend, I think I missed it. Apparently, it is every July in SF, and I just went through the full schedule. Of some 83 “sessions” in the three main days, I think I saw at least 20-30 that caught my eye. Obviously, it is more of a writer’s conference (hence the name, doh!) than a book festival, but it would be good. I could register now for $700 for next year, or up to $900 by the start next year. Definitely an interesting option. (FEBRUARY)

Association of Writers and Writers Programs. This year, the event is in LA at the end of March. About $350 in person, $100 virtual. It’s apparently the largest literary event in North America with 12K attendees. ComicCon for bibliophiles? Having gone through the current program, and the virtual program, I think I’ll pass. (MARCH)

The London Book Fair. The LBF looks marvelous, with lots of great panelists although it is also a huge networking opportunity for those inclined (I am not). Maybe one day. (MARCH)

Left Coast Crime. Taking place in Denver this year, and San Francisco in 2026 (February!), LCC pulls in the heavyweights in mystery. Looking at the list, I’d want to check out Sara Paretsky, Janet Dawson, Lee Goldberg, S.J. Rozan, and Rhys Bowen. (MARCH)

Las Vegas Writers Conference. Okay, I’m biased. It’s small. I’ve never been to Vegas. It’s not the hot summer. And Michael Jamin is presenting multiple times. $600 in person plus hotels is a bit steep, but they have a $129 virtual thing I could consider, although it would only be for one day (but it would give me the session with MJ that I want!). (APRIL)

Malice Domestic. It’s already February, the event is happening in April, and the only thing on their website is the guests of honour, one of whom won’t be present. Other than that, it looks peachy to discuss mysteries in Maryland. (APRIL)

SleuthFest. A popular conference focused on mysteries, my favourite. It’s in Boca Raton, Florida in mid-May. Not as good for readers as writers, but that’s okay. (MAY)

Thrillerfest. One of the biggest and best with quick punch of two days in NYC. The program isn’t out yet for 2025, which strikes me as odd. We’re only 5 months out, and this is a juggernaut of a conference. (JUNE).

Midwest Writers Workshop Super Mini-Conference. It’s in Muncie, Indiana, not too expensive, hard focus on craft, and happening in July. I could see myself signing up instead for a virtual master class with Jane Friedman probably, but not so much the conference this year. (JULY)

Romance Writers of America Annual Conference. This one isn’t an obvious one for me to attend, but the RWA has one of the better organizational infrastructure for their conferences. And it is in mid-July in Niagara Falls, Ontario. (JULY)

Worldcon and North American Science Fiction Convention. The program for their August session in Seattle is not fleshed out yet, but at 5 days, it’s one of the longer ones. It is also a hybrid for writers, fans, etc. (AUGUST)

Killer Nashville. While the mystery / thiller-based program isn’t out for 2025 yet, the 2024 schedule had one of the largest selections I have seen…except it suffers from a short duration, meaning LOTS of panels all happening at the same time. I saw four out of about ten in the first session alone that I would have to decide between, most likely painfully. (AUGUST)

Bouchercon. This is one of the best mystery conferences going, and the location moves around. This year, it is in New Orleans but in CALGARY in 2026 (October). For this year, Michael Connelly and Lisa Jewell are just two of the guests of honours. (SEPTEMBER)

Setting some priorities

Sooooo, there are some variables at play outside of the conference. If it wasn’t for a certain Cheeto being elected again, we’d probably make a group trip of some sort to someplace in the U.S. Right now, I don’t mind doing the conference thing but with the tensions between Canada and the US, we’re not actively looking to do touristy things in the U.S. Otherwise, I would love the idea of doing almost any of the destinations with Andrea and Jacob, and with me already paying for a flight and hotel, it would seem like a good double-dipped expenditure.

I do have some concerns about timing. I’d rather NOT be gone during a big set of dates for Jacob like the end or start of school, for example, and there’s some bad dates for work, a few other personal events in our lives, etc.

Adding in the conference parameters, I think I would have a couple “tiers” to think about:

SECOND TIER OPTIONS:

• San Francisco Writers Conference — decent but not this year, and if I was to go next year, I’d do LCC instead;
• Left Coast Crime — great program, but it’s during March break this year (maybe February next year?);
• Romance Writers of America Annual Conference — good for craft and marketing tips, and it’s in Niagara Falls this year;
• Worldcon and North American Science Fiction Convention — Seattle in August but maybe Montreal in 2027?
• Killer Nashville — not enough details, lots of content though, maybe next year;

FIRST TIER OPTIONS:

• Las Vegas Writers Conference — I wouldn’t do the in-person thing, as it is not big enough for my first one, but I might do the virtual thing for April to see Michael Jamin;
• Thrillerfest — David Morrell is going to be there, he says, on the Thursday, love his stuff (and he created the Rambo character btw), not to mention he is a Canuck living in the US;
• Bouchercon — I am thinking VERY strongly about Calgary in 2026, but maybe I could go to New Orleans;

Nailing down the final option

I think Vegas can wait; I’ll find a way to see Michael Jamin for another venue or other virtual option.

ThrillerFest in New York is June 20-21, right in the middle of Jacob’s end-of-year exams. Except it’s on the weekend, so not a big miss. I could probably go down Thursday afternoon or so, miss Friday, and be back Sunday. Maybe a late birthday present for myself. He’d miss me one day for school stuff, not a biggie, most of the exams will be done earlier anyway for Grade 10. Let’s see, $677 for registration including the awards banquet (would I enjoy the banquet?). Flights would be less than $1000. But the NYC midtown hotel would kill me. The host hotel is sold out for the minimalist of dates, so if I try to for something nearby, the Saturday night fee kills me ($1000ish). If instead, I went down first thing Friday morning, and left late Saturday, I could get it down to just one night in hotel ($299) or even two (Thursday and Friday), home late Saturday. I would really need to decide soon. But almost $2200 for 2 nights.

Bouchercon is a different fish. Rather than trying to rush in and rush out, I’d be likely going the other way, staying longer. Arrive Tuesday September 2nd, stay until Sunday 7th. $250 for registration. Hotel is $180 per night x 5 nights = $900. Flights are about $1500 right now. But that week is really bad for Jacob for school, pretty much whole week to adjust for schedule. $2650 US for five nights, not including meals and stuff. Or I kick it to Calgary next year.

Decisions, decisions…and the flights are going fast…anyone have views?