If you couldn’t tell from all of our award nominee announcements over the past few weeks, conference season 2012 has arrrived in force. There’s the biggie, of course, Bouchercon, but that’s not until October. In the meantime, there are a host of smaller conferences, like Sleuthfest in Florida starting March 1st, and this weekend’s Love is Murder conference in Chicago.
Do you attend conferences? If so, do you prefer them grand or smaller, and which ones are calling you this year?
I went to Sleuthfest the past two years. It was a lot of fun, but they’ve moved it and it’s just way too expensive if I have to pay for a hotel (or even a camp site) in addition to the registration. One of these days I’m going to have enough disposable income to try more of them.
I know a bunch of people who go to Sleuthfest–in fact, thanks to them, there will even be Criminal Element bags stuffed with some cool books at the raffle– but I’ve still never made it myself. I also have a couple of great-sounding conferences I’ve never attended on my list and other ones I know are great but can’t attend due to budget or scheduling issues. I hate having to choose : (
I’m headed to Sleuthfest soon to meet my posse. We all share rooms, a rental car and eat off-site which brings the cost down.
I’m also lucky enough to be going to Bouchercon this year. It looks like a great line up. I can’t wait.