Catching Up and Moving Ahead

[Austin S. Camacho]

Since my last blog post I was part of the program on social media for writers that Johns Hopkins University and the American Independent Writers jointly presented. I learned quite a bit, and did some valuable networking.

Then I did some book signing at Waldenbooks in Virginia Center Commons. As always, manager Tracy took good care of me and I got to sign several of my titles.

I also held my first book signing at the huge Borders Bookstore in Annapolis. As often happens on a first visit, I sold out there.

I also received a very nice review on the Acme Authors blog. The talented DL Larson had some nice things to say about my latest novel, Russian Roulette. She had told me earlier that she thought my characters believable and that the mystery kept the pages turning. DL’s opinion is valuable to me as an author because she is also a successful writer of best selling historical novels. After you read the review, it’s easy to find links to her work on that same page, and you owe it to yourself to do so. But first, do read what DL Larson has to say about Russian Roulette - http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com/2009/10/russian-roulette-review-by-dl-larson.html .

STARTING TOMORROW my lovely wife Denise will join me for a whirlwind 4-day weekend in Indianapolis at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention. From Thursday at 9:00 a.m. until Sunday at noon there will be four, five or sometimes six different 55-minute sessions running at a time, followed by 25-minute book signing times, leaving 5 minutes to get to the next presentation. There will also be a few sessions with no conflicts, like the Guest of Honor interview with Michael Connelly.

If you can attend, look for me Thursday at 1:30 pm. I will moderate a panel on "TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY PRIVATE EYES," discussing current and future trends in the private eye novel with four of the best practitioners of the art: Jack Fredrickson, Greg Herren, Adrian Magson and Michael Wiley.

I'll also have lunch with my fellow Echelon Press authors, gather with the other contributors to this year’s Wolfmont Press holiday anthology, “The Gift of Murder,” and attend the Private eye Writers of America Banquet where this year’s Shamus awards will be handed out.

At the end of Bouchercon I’ll be sitting in at the Author’s Bazaar, handing out free copies of one of my Hannibal Jones mysteries. If you’re a real mystery lover you need to be at Bouchercon. And if you are there, please find me and say hello.