Left Coast Crime is an annual mystery convention sponsored by mystery fans, for mystery fans. It is held during the first quarter of the calendar year in Western North America, as defined by the Mountain Time Zone and all time zones westward to Hawaii. This is a fan convention that I have never attended, unfortunately. Because I am on the East Coast, and travel is expensive. But I’ve heard marvelous things about it, and any mystery fan convention has to be great.
This year the location is in Sacramento, California, mining country, and that’s the theme–‘Mining for Murder.’ The convention runs from March 29 to April 1 2012. Besides mingling with other fans, there are author hosted panels that discuss the mystery genre. Here’s what the website for Mining for Murder says:
- Come hear the experts in mystery, crime, and thriller fiction.
- Attend multi-track panels on subjects from forensics to historical mysteries.
- Participate in writing workshops
Conventions such as these are never cheap–the registration fee which includes the banquet and awards ceremony, a reception
and breakfast, is $225.00.
and breakfast, is $225.00.You can get a day pass for 75.00 but that doesn’t include breakfast or the banquet. If you only want to go to the banquet, limited amounts of tickets are available for $75.00 also.
A writers workshop is available for an addition fee.
At the banquet ceremony several awards are distributed. Pre registered attendees vote for nominees and they’ve just been announced.
The Leftys is an award specifically given for humorous mysteries, an area that has been woefully overlooked in the past.
- Donna Andrews, The Real Macaw (Minotaur)
- Rita Lakin, Getting Old Can Kill You (Dell)
- Jess Lourey, October Fest (Midnight Ink)
- Kris Neri, Magical Alienation (Red Coyote Press)
- Cindy Sample, Dying for a Dance (L & L Dreamspell)
- John Vorhaus, The Albuquerque Turkey (Crown)
Donna Andrews has had a super career since her first novel, Murder with Peacocks, was lauded by critics and fans alike, and won several awards. Each book has a bird in the title, which can get tricky when you are brainstorming for the next book. Does 
one base the bird within the story on how the title will play out, or pick your winged friend and fit a title to match? I don’t know–I guess I should ask Ms. Andrews! “During a 2am feeding for her four-month-old twins, Meg Langslow hears an odd noise and goes downstairs to find her living room filled with dozens of animals — cats, dogs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, and a stunningly foul-mouthed macaw. She soon learns that financial woes have caused the local animal shelter to repeal its no-kill policy. Her kindhearted father, her zoologist grandfather, and other like-minded citizens have stolen all the shelter’s animals, both as a gesture of protest and to protect them until the hated policy can be repealed. But the volunteer who was to transport the animals to new homes has been murdered.” I’ll need to ask Ms. Andrews also, why ferrets aren’t included in the book!
one base the bird within the story on how the title will play out, or pick your winged friend and fit a title to match? I don’t know–I guess I should ask Ms. Andrews! “During a 2am feeding for her four-month-old twins, Meg Langslow hears an odd noise and goes downstairs to find her living room filled with dozens of animals — cats, dogs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, and a stunningly foul-mouthed macaw. She soon learns that financial woes have caused the local animal shelter to repeal its no-kill policy. Her kindhearted father, her zoologist grandfather, and other like-minded citizens have stolen all the shelter’s animals, both as a gesture of protest and to protect them until the hated policy can be repealed. But the volunteer who was to transport the animals to new homes has been murdered.” I’ll need to ask Ms. Andrews also, why ferrets aren’t included in the book!Rita Lakin is a veteran television show writer She worked on Dr. Kildare, Peyton Place, Mod Squad & Dynasty. The 60s/70s tv show called The Rookies about brand new police officers, starring an unknown Kate Jackson, was created by Ms. Lakin. Her mystery series features Gladdy Gold, an older lady who finds murder rather often. “Life isn’t all sunny in Fort Lauderdale’s Lanai Gardens. Returning from a blissful double honeymoon with her sister Evvie, Gladdy Gold announces that she wants her new hubby, Jack, to join her detective agency. But Gladdy’s gals say no dice, and soon Ida, Sophie, and Bella are striking out on their own, enrolling in a class to learn how to be real PIs.”
Jess Lourey is an author I’ve heard of, but am not familiar with. As is the norm these days, her 
series has a nifty hook–Murder By The Month. Yes, a murder occurs each month. I suppose when the 12 run out, she could do, murder a week, or murder every leap year. Anyhoo, here’s a little info. Her protagonist is Mira James, an urban woman with rural Minnesota roots. “Mira decides to begin a new life in rural Battle Lake. Right away she is offered jobs as an assistant librarian and part-time reporter, and falls into an unexpected romance with a guy who seems to be the perfect man — until he turns up dead between the reference stacks her tenth day on the job. ” a quote from her first book.
series has a nifty hook–Murder By The Month. Yes, a murder occurs each month. I suppose when the 12 run out, she could do, murder a week, or murder every leap year. Anyhoo, here’s a little info. Her protagonist is Mira James, an urban woman with rural Minnesota roots. “Mira decides to begin a new life in rural Battle Lake. Right away she is offered jobs as an assistant librarian and part-time reporter, and falls into an unexpected romance with a guy who seems to be the perfect man — until he turns up dead between the reference stacks her tenth day on the job. ” a quote from her first book.Kris Neri made a wonderful splash a while ago with her first mystery Revenge of the Gypsy Queen, which was quite a blast and nominated for every conceivable award. This book is a different series “featuring fake psychic Samantha Brennan and Celtic goddess/FBI agent 
Annabelle Haggerty. A spaceship crash in Roswell…a rumored alien…the mysterious Area 51…a harmonic convergence in Sedona. No connection, right? With its rock stars and shape shifters, gods and haunting militia leaders — Magical Alienation will turn what you think you know upside down.”
Annabelle Haggerty. A spaceship crash in Roswell…a rumored alien…the mysterious Area 51…a harmonic convergence in Sedona. No connection, right? With its rock stars and shape shifters, gods and haunting militia leaders — Magical Alienation will turn what you think you know upside down.”Cindy Sample is a completely new name to me, one that I obviously need to get to know. “Laurel McKay, a single soccer mom with attitude. Enjoy her laugh-filled adventures. In Dying for a Dance, lead-footed Laurel gets talked into learning a choreographed foxtrot routine for her best friend’s wedding. After tripping her instructor and crashing into a pair of dance pros, Laurel discovers ballroom dancing can be dangerous. When she stumbles over the body of a dance 
instructor, she realizes it can also be deadly.
instructor, she realizes it can also be deadly.
Ditto for John Vorhaus–I’ve no idea of who he is or what he writes, which just goes to show how out of the loop I’ve become. The Albuquerque Turkey –“World class con artist Radar Hoverlander is back in a new adventure! And — hail, hail — the gang’s all here, too, if by gang we mean Radar’s conny gf Allie Quinn and his hapless bff Vic Mirplo. They’re all hanging out in Santa Fe, New Mexico, trying to live the straight life.”There are more mystery writers awards given out at Left Coast Crime–which I will divulge latter tonight!