<a href="http://davidhewson.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/bcon_logo.gif"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-5961" title="bcon_logo" src="http://davidhewson.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/bcon_logo.gif" alt="" width="246" height="250" /></a>Doing anything next weekend? Find yourself in San Francisco? Lucky soul. It's <a href="http://www.bcon2010.com/" target="_blank">Bouchercon </a>time, and the world divides between two sets of people when you say that. Those who say 'yippee' and those who ask, 'What the...?'

What is Bouchercon? I suppose you'd say it was a convention for fans of crime and thriller fiction. You can read about the history and the origin of the name <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouchercon" target="_blank">here at the Wikipedia entry</a>.

For the uninitiated let me try to spell out what makes Bouchercon unique...
<ul>
	<li>It changes location every year, depending on who has pitched to host it. Next year it's in St Louis.</li>
	<li>It's organised entirely by volunteer fans.</li>
	<li>While it's a fan event writers and readers are very much on the same level. Authors pay to go and register just like everyone else. It is a very open and friendly event.</li>
</ul>
The other big event in the US for someone like me is <a href="http://www.thrillerfest.com" target="_blank">Thrillerfest</a>. This happens in New York in July every year and is organised by International Thrillerwriters. It's much more business-oriented and a different kind of fun. For me Thrillerfest is essential -- it's great to meet with the publishing business based in New York. Bouchercon is fun when I can make it, which isn't every year.

But San Francisco? How can this be anything less than a blast? So to all my Bouchercon friends... see you shortly and put the Anchor Steam on ice.