Our First LCC: Tina Whittle and Annie Hogsett

Tina: My first Left Coast Crime was Sacramento 2012: Mining for Murder. I remember being terribly excited because as a lifelong Right Coaster, I had never been to this part of Left Coast Land (there were rumors of wine country!) But mostly because I was to meet the person who would become my BCB — Best Conference Buddy.

Annie: Seriously? That was Tina’s first LLC? I thought she’d been to
thousands. I remember walking into the lovely convention hotel wearing my (figurative) Screaming-Freaked-Out-Newbie t-shirt. And there They were — the real writers — gathered in small, intimate clusters. I didn’t know anyone. Not even my wonderful new friend, critique partner & pen pal, Tina. Sure, we’d exchanged 50,000 words of email. But what if we couldn’t, like, talk? Ah, well. At least there would be the wine tour. Wine makes for some easy talking, right? It worked.

Tina: And of course I caught some kind of plague-virus on the way over, so I was fevered, sniffling, wretched — not the best first impression. But Annie didn’t banish me to the hallway (this was when I knew she was a gem among humankind) and we set out on our first LCC adventure, the wine tour.

I highly recommend taking advantage of these LCC side trips,by the way — arrive a bit early before the daybreak-to-midnight action of the convention begins and experience the flavor of your host city. An adventurous conference buddy is a boon, and Annie and I enjoyed this particular adventure immensely. There was rolling terrain. There was convivial mystery-loving company. There was wine, so very much wine.

And then properly inebriated acquainted, we went back to our room and cracked opened the ginormous programming schedule.

Annie: Now, about that schedule. I heard Anthony Doerr speak a while ago and he said he had viewed college as “an unlimited buffet.” So there I am, looking at this giant menu … er … program. Except instead of plunging in Doerr-style, I froze.

To avoid schedule planning freeze, try this. Ask yourself, “Why am I going to LCC?” And tell yourself the truth. Write it down. Fine tune it. Let it percolate. Then look at the presenters and the panels with your question in mind. And keep an eye out for a BCB candidate who can provide calm, coherent advice.

Tina: Or more wine. Conference buddies are also good for that.

Regardless, look upon Left Coast Crime as an immersion. Dive deep. Come up for air as you need to. And bask in the warmth of book-loving people. You’ve already got friends here — you just haven’t met them yet.

Annie: One more thing. Here’s something I’ve never told Tina about that “plague virus.” I caught it. I had it for a solid month. And here’s what else: It was SO worth it. See y’all in Phoenix!

Tina: ANNIE!
_________________________

Tina Whittle’s Tai Randolph/Trey Seaver mysteries — featuring intrepid gunshop owner Tai and her corporate security agent partner Trey — have garnered starred reviews in Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal. The fourth book in the series — Deeper Than the Grave — was released in November from Poisoned Pen Press.

Annie Hogsett used her M.A. in English Lit to worm her way into a copywriting job in a large Cleveland advertising agency. Those years were great training for making up crazy fabulous stuff you then have to sell to a marketing department. This summer her dogged agent search paid off, and now she writes, rewrites, and waits. Fingers crossed. Annie lives with her husband, Bill, and cat, Cujo, ten yards from Lake Erie in Collinwood, OH. The Great Cactus Caper will be her fourth LLC.

The Way We Were

by Rochelle Staab, LCC Member at Large

Phoenix 2016 will be my sixth Left Coast Crime, and the memories get better every year. At my first LCC, Los Angeles in 2010, I was a newbie-newcomer—too dazzled by the big-time authors, interesting panels, real live agents and editors, and the closing banquet to take photos. Wish I had. The pictures I saved from Santa Fe, Sacramento, Colorado Springs, Monterey, and Portland are treasured remembrances of good times.

 

My stroll down memory lane got me wondering, could I find a collective of everyone’s LCC photographic memories? I went to Pinterest, the social network mega-scrapbook, typed in “Left Coast Crime,” and found a smattering of past LCC photos.

Then I thought, hey, why not assemble them in one Pinterest scrapbook for everyone to see? Why not see how many more the LCC team could add, how many photographic memories from LCC’s past we could gather and share in one place? So we did. And now we want YOU. Actually, we want your old LCC photos for a new Pinterest board: Left Coast Crime Memories. 

You know the images: the pix of you and your pals in the lobby, on a panel, at the bar. That long shot of your favorite author on the podium, the toastmaster you’ll never forget, the Guest of Honor you were dying to meet. The group photo of the author/fan event you attended last year. New friends, old friends, an agent!

Three simple ways to join in the fun:

• Post your photos to our Facebook page or tweet them to us @leftcoastcrime.
• Post your LCC photos, tagged with the year and names, on Pinterest, and then shoot us an email at social@lcc2016.com. We’ll move your pix to the LCC Memories album.
• Email your pix with captions to social@lcc2016.com and we’ll post them in the LCC Memories album for you.

Can’t wait to see your photos from the past and to make new memories with you in Phoenix!

___________________________

Rochelle Staab is the best-selling author of the Mind for Murder Mystery series, and winner of the LCC 2013 Watson Award.

My First LCC, By Tammy Kaehler

My first Left Coast Crime experience feels like ancient history … so long ago, when I was so young.

And yet, it’s only been five years. Los Angeles. 2010.

But maybe author years are like dog years. Don’t you think? At my first Left Coast Crime, I was a clueless, dorky, new kid in kindergarten. Just five years later, this year in Portland, I felt at least like a self-conscious high schooler—projecting an air of confidence and savvy, as if by pretending, I’d really feel them.

Maybe in another couple years I’ll have matured to the level of cool, knowledgeable adult. Then again, I haven’t reached that as an adult yet, let alone as an author, so maybe it’s too much to hope for.

But back to my first LCC. I’d been trying to sell my first book for a couple years, and I hadn’t yet connected with Poisoned Pen Press (still my publisher, thank you very much). I didn’t know much about Left Coast Crime at all, nor about Bouchercon (we could do a whole series on how we discover our great fan conventions), but I knew someone on the organizing committee.

So since the convention was happening near me, I went. And I discovered a whole new world. It’s probably not hyperbolic to say that’s when I first discovered my tribe.

I don’t remember meeting specific people—except for Matt Coyle, both of us pre-published and trying to soak up published-author mojo. And I don’t remember any specific advice or panels, though I remember listening to (and marveling at) Lee Child and the Kellermans.

But what I remember, and what has stayed with me, is the sense of community I felt. At that first LCC experience and at every other since then, I’ve felt connected to other attendees, to mystery readers and lovers, to writers. I always leave inspired to go write something interesting, as well as to read as much as possible.

That’s why since 2010, I haven’t missed a Left Coast Crime. That’s why I’ll be in Phoenix, looking for new books to read, inspiration for my own writing, and people to have good conversations with. Will you be there too? And what’s your first LCC memory?

_________________________

Tammy is the author of the award-winning Kate Reilly Racing Mystery Series, published by Poisoned Pen Press. She's also unable to say no when asked to help plan mystery fan conventions.

Back By Popular Demand!

Author/Reader Connections

We know it’s not always easy for readers to connect—or spend quality time—with your favorite authors during the whirlwind of Left Coast Crime, so we’re making it easier by bringing back Author/Reader Connections (after their successful debut at LCC2015).

Author/Reader Connections are specific activities, such as lunch or a walk through town, hosted by authors for readers. All connections are free, and some may also include giveaways or benefits from the author(s).

Example connections from Crimelandia: Left Coast Crime 2015:

• Happy Hour: Pints and Pretzels with Kate Dyer-Seeley
• Coffee with Simon Wood
• Criminal cocktails with the Women of Suspense (Cathy Perkins, Donnell Bell, DV Berkom, and Christine Finlayson)
• Lunch with Dave Putnam and Matt Coyle
• Wine tasting with Wendy Hornsby

Authors: We challenge you to be creative! Team up or offer an activity on your own—whether you stay close to the hotel or venture off to local sights, the sky's the limit. Once you've decided what you want to offer, email your proposal to connections@lcc2016.com.

Readers: Once we have options for you to choose from, we'll post them to the LCC2016 website. Simply sign up, then meet your author during the convention at the scheduled time and place. 

Let's connect!

Notices:

Left Coast Crime 2016 registration is required to participate in these activities. Signing up for a connection doesn’t mean you can’t spend time with authors throughout the convention.

Author/Reader Connections are not official activities sponsored by Left Coast Crime, but are agreements between the participants. Participants assume the entire responsibility and liability for losses, damages, and claims arising out of injury or damage during Author/Reader Connections activities. Participants shall indemnify and hold harmless Left Coast Crime, and the agents and employees of the organization from any and all such losses, damages and claims.

Help Us Help You!

We know many members of the mystery writing community have just returned from Bouchercon in Raleigh, North Carolina. And anyone who wasn't in attendance was probably following the revelry on social media.

If you're starting to recover, we figure you're asking yourself, "When can I see these great people again?"

Left Coast Crime 2016 has the answer. Actually, it IS the answer! Next February 25-28, we hope you'll join us in Phoenix for The Great Cactus Caper. We promise a break from winter weather, as well as another great mystery community gathering. And remember, you've got until October 31 to register at the discounted rate of $235! Sign up today!

Of course, there's something you can help us with, beyond your registration and attendance. And that's your ideas. We know we come home from one convention full of thoughts and ideas for the next one ... but we also know how easy it is to forget those after a couple weeks of "real life."

So here's your chance to help make Left Coast Crime 2016 awesome: send us your ideas. Whether they're for the kind of dessert you want at the banquet, the kind of sessions you want to attend, or the other activities you think should be available, we want to hear your thoughts. (Obviously, we can't promise to implement them all, but we want to hear them!)

Just email us at social@lcc2016.com and tell us what you think!

What to See in Phoenix

The Phoenix visitors bureau (VisitPhoenix.com) says the city's "perpetual sunshine might tempt you to spend all your free time lounging next to a swimming pool." Those of us who attend Left Coast Crime know we're more likely to be indoors all day and night talking mystery! But whether you slip away for an afternoon's hike, an evening meal, or a quick shopping trip—or better yet, if you come a day early to LCC or stay a couple days late—we hope you'll explore this fascinating city.

Note: Packaged tours will soon be arranged for LCC attendees to some of the attractions below. More info soon!

History/Culture:
Major museums and sites in Phoenix focus on Native American culture. And uniquely American architecture. And music. So ... a little bit of everything.

Heard Museum: dedicated to the sensitive and accurate portrayal of Native arts and cultures, the museum boasts a significant permanent collection, as well as rotating exhibits focused on different aspects of Native American life.

Taliesin West: the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright, America's most famous architect and a National Historic Landmark, offering a totally immersive tour experience.

Musical Instrument Museum: the first in the world dedicated to the celebration of global instruments, including examples from 200 countries and territories. 

Outdoor exploration:
You can find nearly any fair-weather outdoor activity available in Phoenix, including golfing, balloon rides, canyoneering, ATV tours, horseback excursions, and hiking. Some of the most popular are below, but whatever you choose, be sure you take plenty of water with you to combat the extra-dry climate!

Desert Botanical Garden: home to the world's finest and most diverse collection of succulent plants, a site for discovering the wonders of the Sonoran Desert (photo from the DBG website).

Camelback Mountain: the city's most famous landmark, which resembles a camel in repose, it challenges hikers with a rugged but rewarding trek to its 2,700 foot hump.

South Mountain Park and Preserve: the largest municipal park in the United States, covering 16,000 acres, making it nearly 20 times bigger than New York's Central Park. Filled with native flora, ancient petroglyphs, and 50-plus miles of trails—including a paved road to the summit.

Phoenix Zoo: featuring more than 1,400 animals, including Bornean orangutans, Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers, Komodo dragons, Andean bears, and more in 125 acres of natural habitats. 

Shopping:
What you want from Phoenix is the flavor of the Southwest, from Southwest designs, to Native American crafts, to the cowboy aesthetic. With maybe a little quirkiness and mystery thrown in....

Old Town Scottsdale: galleries dedicated to Native American and cowboy arts share a pedestrian-friendly streetscape with shops that sell Southwestern jewelry and crafts—along with some of Greater Phoenix's finest restaurants and trendiest nightlife.

Lawless Denim, where you can get custom jeans made to your style, color, thread, button, and pocket-liner specifications.

Curious Nature, a "natural history emporium" where you can learn a lot (mostly about taxidermy) and purchase one-of-a-kind treasures. In case you want to show off an articulated bat skeleton or a freeze-dried toad to your friends in the LCC bar.

The Poisoned Pen Bookstore: an independent bookstore specializing in fiction, especially mystery, thrillers, historical and literary fiction, and literature of the Southwest.

ICYMI: Lefty Awards Updates

If you’ve ever been to a Left Coast Crime, you know about the awards handed out. There’s always a “Lefty Award,” there’s often a historical award, and after that, the categories tend to shift around a bit, because the local organizing committee has the ability to define which other awards they want to present.

The names also tended to change every year, to reflect the local area. For example, in LCC Portland this year, “The Rose” was handed out for the best mystery novel set in the LCC region, and “The Rosebud” was awarded to the best first mystery novel.

But that’s going to change a bit, starting at the Great Cactus Caper (Phoenix, 2016). Going forward, there are two major changes being made to the LCC awards structure:

1.       Naming convention: all awards will be considered “Leftys.” That means we’ll see the Lefty for Best Humorous Novel, the Bruce Alexander Memorial Lefty for Historical Mystery, the Lefty for Best First Novel, and so on.

2.       Two fixed awards: from now on, the Leftys for both the Best Humorous Novel and the Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Novel will be awarded every year. The local organizing committee will have the choice to award as many as two additional Leftys, in the categories of their choosing.

What does this mean? Maybe you should start making your lists now! LCC Phoenix will send out nomination requests after the first of the year for the following categories:

• Best Humorous Novel: awarded to the best humorous mystery novel of 2015.
• Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award: awarded to the best mystery novel of 2015 covering events before 1960.
• Best LCC Regional Novel: awarded to the best mystery novel set in the LCC region.
• Best Novel: awarded to the best mystery novel of 2015.

And you wouldn’t want to forget that great book you read in the first half of the year….