Left Coast Crime - Saturday

Saturday was a full day at Left Coast Crime. Again, this is just a short summary, with pictures. I started the day at 6:30 at the French Pastry Shop here at La Fonda. Why skip a good thing? Their chocolate croissants are wonderful. After having that, I didn't need to eat when I went to the Established Writers' Breakfast. That's a difficult room to take pictures in, so Janet Dawson's is actually one of only two that turned out half-way decent. Janet is the author of the Jeri Howard mysteries.

Donna Andrews acted as host, and gave each established author a minute to a minute-and-a-half to introduce themselves and their books. Before I left just before 9, we heard from Kris Neri, Terry Odell, Ann Parker, Lea Wait, Laura DiSilverio, Deborah J. Ledford, Camille Minichino (also known as Margaret Grace, and, for a forthcoming series, Ada Madison), Beth Groundwater, Mike Orenduff, Rosemary Harris, Parnell Hall, Susan Cummins Miller, Rachel Brady, Susan McDuffie, Mike Befeler, Clyde Linsley, Nancy Atherton, Chris Eboch, R.J. Harlick, Vicki Delany, L.J. Sellers, Steve Havill, John Maddox Roberts, Barbara Fradkin, Annette Mahon, L.C. Hayden, Twist Phelan, Charlotte Hinger, Rosemary & Larry Mild, G.M. Maillet, Janet Dawson, Mary Ellen Dennis (or Deni Dietz), John Vorhaus, and Rhys Bowen. Since G.M. Maillet was at the table next to mine, I was able to get her picture.

 
I did skip the first panel of the morning, so I could have time to talk with Maddie James, otherwise known as xuni.com. No pictures of Maddee, as agreed, but we had a chance to catch up on personal lives.While waiting in the lobby, though, I was able to get a picture of Camille Minichino and Susan C. Shea together.

Camille Minichino & Susan C. Shea

After a half an hour with Maddee, I headed off to the panel, The Old West Anew, a terrific discussion by authors whose books are still set in the West. And, what a panel! Pati Nagle, a fantasy and historical fiction author whose books are set in the West, was the moderator. At the table were Brian Garfield, Craig Johnson, Ann Parker, and David Edgerley Gates. As I said, a terrific discussion. Pati ended the program by giving Craig a chance to tell one more story.

Left to right - Pati Nagle, Brian Garfield, Craig Johnson, Ann Parker, David Edgerley Gates

That was actually a perfect transition to the next program in which Craig Johnson interviewed Guest of Honor Margaret Coel. It was a popular program for "St. Margaret," as Craig called her, the author of the Father John O'Malley/Vicky Holden mysteries, set on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.

Margaret actually started the program by giving Craig his plaque for nomination for the Watson Award since he wasn't able to be at the program the night before.

And, Sandi Ault ended the program by presenting Margaret Coel with her award as Guest of Honor, honoring her body of work.

Margaret Coel and Sandi Ault

Before leaving, I was able to get a picture of Elizabeth Gunn, author of the Jake Hines mysteries, among others. (I love that series.)

Because that program ran a little long, I missed lunch with Kathryn Casey, author of the Sarah Armstrong mysteries, as well as a number of true crime books. At least I was able to catch up with Kathryn in the restaurant, and we had time to talk.

I ran off to catch part of the presentation, "You Can't Run in High Heels," in which Zoë Sharp and J.T. Ellison demonstrated self-defense techniques. I had heard great things about this program, and people were right. Lots of fun!

J.T. Ellison defends herself against Zoe

I ended the afternoon with a panel called "It's Not Just Fiction to Me," featuring moderator Susan Goldstein, and panelists Colleen Casey, Kathryn Casey, Reece Hirsch and Judy Starbuck. The authors all talked about how their actual careers influenced their writing. Goldstein is a divorce lawyer. Colleen Casey has been a judge for fifteen years, handling Workers' Comp Cases in the San Francisco area. Kathryn Casey was a journalist and true crime writer before turning to fiction. Reece Hirsch is an attorney in San Francisco. And, Judy Starbuck has used her background as a teacher, a handwriting analyst, and an adoptee in her short stories.

Reece Hirsch and Judy Starbuck

Susan Goldstein and Kathryn Casey

Kathryn Casey & Colleen Casey

Following the program, I did catch up with a couple people in the hallways and book room. I ran into Terry Odell who writes romantic suspense.

And, I was able to catch Deni Dietz and Parnell Hall in the middle of a duet.

After a short break, it was time for the reception, followed by the Awards Banquet. The reception provided the chance to catch up with Rob Rosenwald, owner of Poisoned Pen Press, and one of his authors, Jeanne Matthews. I finally met L.J. Sellers, and ended up with fellow Desert Sleuths, R.K. Olson, Chantelle Aimée Osman, Deborah J. Ledford, and Kris Neri. We also ended up with Kelli Stanley and Rebecca Cantrell before moving into the ballroom for the Awards Banquet.

Since we had been allowed to sign up for Authors' Tables, I picked Craig Johnson's. Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire series, was a gracious host. He entertained us with stories of the ongoing plans to turn the series into an A&E series, Longmire, with the filming of the pilot in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

The line to the buffet was quite long, since they were trying to feed over 400 people, so Mark Coggins introduced me to John Billheimer, and David Edgerley Gates and I had the chance to talk.

The Awards program itself went quickly. Toastmaster Steve Brewer did a short introduciton, with toasts to the Guests of Honor, Martin Cruz Smith, Margaret Coel, Steven Havill and Marv Lachman, as well as a toast to the fans and authors in attendance. He introduced the representative from ReadWest, a literacy organization that benefited from this year's raffle and silent auction. Then, Parnell Hall took the stage for a fun song about supporting your local bookstores. Brewer introduced Barbara Peters, owner of Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, who presented the Dilys Award, given annually to the mystery title that the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association most enjoyed hand-selling. That award went to Louise Penny for Bury Your Dead. Our table was thrilled when Craig Johnson received the Watson Award for Junkyard Dogs, representing the book with the best sidekick. Craig admitted he didn't know which character was the sidekick, but he thought it was Dog. The Lefty Award for most humorous mystery went to J. Michael Orenduff for The Pot Thief Who Studied Einstein. Jacqueline Winspear wasn't there to accept The Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award for The Mapping of Love and Death. She's touring for the next book in the series. And, Margaret Coel won The Hillerman Sky Award for The Spider's Web. It was voted as the mystery that best captured the landscape of the Southwest.

The program ended with thanks to, and by, Left Coast Crime 2011 chair Pari Noskin Taichert, who did a magnificent job. She then introduced Cindy Sample, co-chair of Left Coast Crime 2012 in Sacramento.

Craig Johnson was gracious, posing for pictures with those at the table. After congratulating him on his Watson Award, we both admitted Jen Forbus should have been there.

Then, I moved on to end the evening in the bar with friends, the Desert Sleuths, Rebecca Cantrell, and Avery Aames.

I'm ending my time at the conference with breakfast with Zoë Sharp and her husband, Andy Butler. I have a full notebook of program notes to summarize for you in the next week or two. I had a wonderful time at my first Left Coast Crime. Thank you to all my Desert Sleuths sisters, along with Kelli Stanley, Zoë and Andy, Kathryn Casey, Craig Johnson, all the authors and blog readers I had the chance to meet, along with Rob Rosenwald, Avery Aames, and Vicki Delany, who must have felt as if I was stalking her since we met in every hallway.  Love to the two goddesses I finally met, Maddee James and Janet Rudolph. You all made this conference wonderful for me.

And, a final thanks to the La Fonda. It's a beautiful, gracious hotel, and the accommodations, food and staff couldn't have been better. Thank you.

Winners at Left Coast Crime

Congratulations to all of the award winners and nominees at Left Coast Crime.

Barbara Peters from Poisoned Pen announced the winner of the Dilys Award for the book that independent booksellers loved selling the most. Louise Penny won for Bury Your Dead.

Attendees at this year's Left Coast Conference in Santa Fe voted for the following winners.

The Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery Novel went to J. Michael Orenduff for The Pot Thief Who Studied Einstein.

The Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award for best historical mystery novel, events pre-1950, went to Jacqueline Winspear for The Mapping of Love and Death.

The Hillerman Sky Award for the mystery that best captures the landscape of the Southwest went to Margaret Coel for The Spider's Web.

And, since I was sitting next to him at dinner, it's a pleasure to say that the Watson for mystery novel with best sidekick went to Craig Johnson for Junkyard Dogs.

Left Coast Crime - Friday

As promised, I did a little bit better job with pictures today from Left Coast Crime. The full report will have to come later, but I do have some pictures to share from today.

Mike Befeler hosted the New Writers' Breakfast, introducing sixteen authors who have debut crime novels. Congratulations to Avery Aames (The Long Quiche Goodbye), Wayne Arthurson (Fall From Grace), Joel Fox (Lincoln's Hand), Susan Goldstein (Hollywood Forever), Patricia Gulley (Downsized to Death), Reece Hirsch (The Insiders), Darynda Jones (First Grave on the Right), Andrew E. Kaufman (While the Savage Sleeps), Rob Kresge (Murder for Greenhorns), Jeanne Matthews (Bones of Contention), Patricia Morin (Mystery Montage), Colin T. Nelson (Reprisal), Kath Russell (A Pointed Death), Cindy Sample (Dying for a Date), Susan Shea (Murder in the Abstract), and Valerie Stocking (A Touch of Murder). A few photos follow.

Authors Kaye George and Avery Aames

Wayne Arthurson

 

Then, I headed off to the panel, Crafts, Hobbies and Murders. Before the panel even started, I was able to get a couple pictures. Donna Andrews' picture didn't turn out good yesterday, but it turned out she was sick. So, it wasn't just lighting. She agreed to be in a second picture.

Donna Andrews

And, Ann Parker, author of the Silver Rush mysteries, was in the audience behind me.

Ann Parker

Author Beth Groundwater was also in the audience to hear this panel.

Me and Beth Groundwater

I was lucky enough to get a picture of Camille Minichino, author of the Periodic Tables mysteries under that name, and the Miniature mysteries, written as Margaret Grace.

Camille Minichino

When the entire panel came together, it turned out they all wrote mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime.

Camille Minichino, Maggie Sefton, Avery Aames & Christine Goff

The next panel of the day was actually one of the liveliest. I didn't take pictures at the panel called Industry Professionals on Publishing, but the recap will make for interesting reading when it gets posted. Barbara Peters, founder of Poisoned Pen Bookstore, and co-founder and editor of Poisoned Pen Press was the moderator. Panelists were Kimberley Cameron, literary agent at Kimberley Cameron & Associates; Keith Kahla, an Executive Editor at St. Martin's Press/Minotaur; Larry Light, Executive V-P of Mystery Writers of America; Janet Reid, literary agent; and Jodie Renner, a freelance editor. Needless to say, it was a full house to hear these authors.

I did get a picture of friends after this panel. Two members of Desert Sleuths, along with Avery Aames. Avery's The Long Quiche Goodbye has been nominated for an Agatha award.

R.K. Olson, Avery Aames and Chantelle Aimee Osman

Before the last panel of the morning, I ran into author Deb Baker.

Deb Baker and Me

The panel was called Breaking Barricades & Opening Doors, with moderator David Morrell, and panelists Johnny D. Boggs, Michael McGarrity and Zoë Sharp.

Zoe Sharp & David Morrell

 During the lunch break, I was finally able to meet two women I think are goddesses. First, I met Maddee James, web designer to the stars at xuni.com. Maddee designs web sites for authors, and this blog wouldn't exist without her help six years ago. Thank you, Maddee! And, I hope to see her again at the conference.

I have Vicki Delany to thank for finally getting me together with Janet Rudolph. Janet is the editor of Mystery Readers Journal. And, then there's her blog, Dying for Chocolate. Janet's fabulous.

Janet Rudolph

Since I ran into Steve Brewer, author of seventeen crime novels, including the Bubba Mabry private eye stories, I asked for a photo. We actually ran into each other in the elevator.

Steve Brewer

The last panel of the day was Living Diversity: Mysteries with a Difference. R.J. Harlick was the moderator. Panelists were Gar Anthony Haywood, Deborah J. Ledford, Neil Plakcy and Darryl Wimberley. I was able to get pictures of three of them in the book signing room.

Neil Plakcy and Darryl Wimberley

And, I had the chance to thank Gar Anthony Haywood who told me I had to read Ed McBain. He was right.

Gar Anthony Haywood

 It was a full afternoon. From there, I went to hear Toastmaster Steve Brewer interview Guest of Honor Steven Havill.

Steven Havill, interviewed by Steve Brewer

And, I ended the day at the Welcoming Reception. Pari Noskin Taichert, chair of this Left Coast Crime Conference, did a wonderful job. The reception started with a stunning performance by the Ice Mountain Dance Group from Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, who included a blessing for the conference. Paprri then thanked all the volunteers, and read an official proclamation from New Mexico's first female governor, who said she was a mystery reader, and proclaimed March 25, 2011 as Left Coast Crime Day in New Mexico. But, the focus on tonight's program was on the award nominees at the conference. Congratulations to all of them.

Some of the Award Nominees - Kris Neri, Kelli Stanley, Deborah J. Ledford and Rebecca Cantrell

The Rocky Mountain Writers' Group fed us well at the reception, and I ended the evening with just a few casual shots.

R.K. Olson, Lifetime Achievement Honoree Martin Cruz Smith, and Zoe Sharp

Rebecca Cantrell and Gabriella Herkert

 Terrific day. Tomorrow will be just as busy, culminating with the Awards Banquet tomorrow night. That includes a special song by Parnell Hall. Can't wait!

Left Coast Crime - Panel Pictures 1st Day

No informal pictures today from Left Coast Crime, so maybe I need to go hang out in the bar tonight. But, here are pictures from the panels, with apologies to a few people. Hard to get good pictures in meeting rooms while people are speaking. First panel was Hot & Cold: Effect of Climate on Crime. Recaps later.

Lance Zarimba and Vicki Delany - Panel - Hot & Cold: Effect of Climate on Crime

Moderator, Victoria Heckman & Lance Zarimba, Hot and Cold Panel

Lance Zarimba, Vicki Delany & Neil Plakcy

Then, the panel, Focus on the Funny: Humorous Mysteries, with panelists Donna Andrews, Denise "Deni" Dietz, and Jimmy Olsen.

Jimmy Olsen and Deni Dietz

A Poor Picture of Donna Andrews

The last panel I attended today was Supernatural Mysteries, moderated by Rochelle Staab, with authors Nancy Atherton, Darynda Jones, Margaret Lucke and Kris Neri.

Rochelle Staab and Kris Neri

Margaret Lucke and Darynda Jones

Darynda Jones and Nancy Atherton