New England Crime Bake Recap 2017

2017 Guest of Honor: Lisa Gardner
Location: Woburn, Massachusetts
Hotel: Hilton Boston/Woburn
Date: November 10 – 12, 2017

Bouchercon Recap 2017

Bouchercon 2017: Passport to Murder
Location: Toronto, Canada
Hotel: Sheraton Centre Toronto
Date: October 12 – 15, 2017

Bouchercon is the world’s finest annual crime fiction event, bringing together more than 1,500 authors, fans, publishers, reviewers, booksellers, editors, and every other part of the community for a fantastic four-day event.

---

Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Arrived in Toronto and checked into my room. Got a nice view of the CN Tower. Went to the bank and got some Canadian money. Had lunch in the Food Court under the hotel – Chinese. Then did my volunteering gig – working the registration desk. Ann from Oz and I took a cab ($15 CAD) to Eva’s Original Chimneys (454 Bloor St W) and tried their hand-made ice cream cone – I had the typical vanilla/chocolate twist with rainbow sprinkles on the cinnamon coated cone. Yummy. To prevent the ice cream from falling through the bottom, they put a chocolate truffle as the base.

We decided we would brave their subway system, which is so cool. We couldn’t just buy a one-way ticket, so we paid $20 for their reloaded card and darn if we couldn’t figure out how to pay for our fare. It was fun taking their subway – although, we couldn’t figure out if we got off the correct stop because we were looking for a particular word – but with help from a train rider we were on our way. The funny thing is we kept saying what is “M” and then we look up on the door and it told us.

Then we went to the park across the street from hotel and enjoyed the TORONTO sign that changes colors three times. For some reason, I couldn’t get the colors in my picture, but it did reflect on the ground. Then I ran into my friends and spent the rest of the evening in the lobby hanging with my friends.

view from my hotel room

Eva’s Original Chimneys

Toronto signage and reflections

Wednesday, October 10, 2017
Had an early breakfast at hotel and then Ovidia and I went to Dundas Square / Eaton Centre to take the hop on and hop off bus tour, only we plan to stay hop on and besides the weather was dismal with rain and a damp day. We saw Casa Loma, Bata Shoe Museum, China Town, CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District. Then we decided to walk back to the hotel from within the Eaton Centre mall and the walk wasn’t that bad, since when we came out of the underground mall, we were right next to the clock building. Later I had a pre-convention board meeting and after, there was more hanging out with friends.

Departure (First) stop on Hop On Hop Off Tour

Royal Ontario Museum (merging the old with the new)

Hockey Hall of Fame

Windows painted on side of building

Dog park (they are statues)

St. Lawrence Market

Thursday, October 14, 2017
Met Judy, Kristopher, Michael, Ann from Oz and Kris’ friend Erin LaBonte-Mckay for breakfast at Tim Horton’s. After, they went to the Speed Dating Event and I went to the panel that I was on: Bouchercon 101. On the panel were Jeff Siger, Ruth Gordon, Erin Mitchell, Mike Bursaw, Dru Ann Love and Helen Nelson. We had to tell a story and for the life of me, I could not remember Sue Grafton’s name so instead I said “you know the Y-Lady, the one who writes the alphabet book.” And everyone knew who I was talking about and then the other panelists talked about their encounter with the “Y-Lady.” It was funny.

Bouchercon 101 Panel (photo courtesy of John Thomas Bychowski)

Speed Dating – right side

Speed Dating – left side

Bouchercon 101 – right side

Bouchercon 101 – right side

Then went to the Kensington gathering where I saw a plentitude of authors (Gave a big hug to Laura Bradford) and picked up two books from new upcoming series. A group of us (Judy, Susie and Risa) went to SOMA Chocolatemaker in the Distillery District for a chocolate tasting, where I braved sampling the three different types of dark chocolate and yes, they had one milk chocolate sample). We also got to taste pure chocolate nibs and chocolate dust (that’s what I’m calling it. It which was very informative. For dinner, another group (Susan Elia MacNeal, Judy Bobalick, Erin Mitchell, Susan Vasli) went to Maezo Restaurant– an Indian restaurant where we and shared five dishes. Everything was delicious. Then onto the Opening Ceremony and then the HarperCollins reception.

SOMA Chocolatemaker in Distillery District

Chocolate nibs

Chocolate Tasting Sample

Friday, October 13, 2017
As part of my Bouchercon tradition, I had breakfast with Rae James who writes the fabulous “Hollis Morgan” series. Then it was off to a few panels where I was waylaid and missed a few panels chatting with friends along the way. Then there was the GMM board meeting where we voted four new members on the board. Next up was the Librarian’s Tea where an unexpected event happened – – the fire alarm went off and like the person she is, Hank Phillippi Ryan held court with great aplomb, even incorporating the fire alarm in her talk. Interesting note was the fire alarm had a nice melody as it rang throughout the evening. Had dinner with Matthew, the former English Teacher, Eric and Aimee at BNB (Burgers & Bistro) restaurant where I had once again, the Chorizo Rigatoni. Yum, Yum. The evening closed with the Pub Quiz, hosted by the Crime Writers of Canada, which was a barrel of fun. Our team lost with a score of 13 points, but we had a good time.

New Author’s Breakfast

Swags

Dark Side of the Loon: Susan Thibadeau, Jess Lourey, Donna Andrews, Larry Kelter, Elizabeth J. Duncan, Patricia Smiley,

Wartime and Crime: Holly West, Susan Elia MacNeal, Radha Vatsal, Charles and Caroline Todd, John Lawton

True v Clue: Martin Edwards, Matt Coyle, Jessie Chandler, Leigh Perry, Lachlan Smith

Hank Phillippi Ryan, Linwood Barclay (unseen), Laura Bradford, Sara Paretsky, Diane Vallere

The Librarian’s Tea with Ausma Zehanat Khan and Nadine Nettmann

Saturday, October 14, 2017
The day started with the Sisters in Crime breakfast where Diane Vallere gave her last speech as President. New President is Kendel Lynn.

Sisters in Crime buffet breakfast

Diane Vallere, 2016 President, Sisters in Crime

Kendel Lynn, 2017 President, Sisters in Crime

Then it was the day I have been waiting for. A group of us (Art, Judy, Rae, Janet, Susie, Alice, John, Eric, Aimee, Ovidia, and I) went to the Fairmont Royal York Hotel for an Afternoon Tea event. To get there, we traverse through the underground and oh what a lovely walk it was as we consulted various maps to get us there on time. The Library Room where the tea was held was picture perfect, although one of the picture on the wall was slight skewed. The tea was perfect. I selected the Jasmine tea which was heavenly as was the traditional finger sandwiches and their selection of pastries. Because my friend Eleanor couldn’t attend, I was sending her pictures of so that she can join us vicariously. After tea, a few of use trekked back to hotel underground while another went topside.

Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Royal York (photo courtesy of Art Taylor)

The menu

The delicacies

finger sandwiches

the pastries

the scones

English trifle

While at the hotel, I get a message from my New York friend, Judi, telling me she is also in Toronto and we agreed to meet up for a few minutes in the hotel lobby. Next up Judy, Kristopher and I walked in the rain to the Minotaur reception that was held in the La La Club and then to the Seventh Street reception that was held in the Ben McNally Book Store. The evening closed with dinner with Kristopher, Nikki and I at Shopsy’s Deli Restaurant.

Reading the Rainbow: Kristopher Zgorski, Owen Laukkanen, Stephanie Gayle, John Copenhaver, Jessie Chandler, Greg Herren

Do You Want to Know a Secret?: Hank Phillippi Ryan, Rhys Bowen, Ingrid Thoft, Hallie Ephron, Roberta Islieb, Jenn McKinlay, Deborah Crombie

Sunday, October 15, 2017
My last day with the crime fiction tribe. Of course, at 4 in the morning, there was a loud argument outside my door (drunken guests) and soon I heard banging on the doors (not my door). I heard later that security was called. On the agenda, was brunch and the Anthony’s Award. After a few goodbyes, it was time to leave where I encountered a 3-hour delay due to air traffic. Finally arrived home at 11:30 and crashed.

last view of the CN Tower from my room

Thespian Readings: R.J. Koreto, L.A. Chandlar, Kimberly G. Belle, Catriona McPherson, J.A. Hennrikus, David A. Poulsen

After a 3-hour delay, finally taking off.

Looking forward to next year’s Bouchercon which is being held in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Anthony Award Nominations 2017

The Anthony Award nominations for 2017 have been announced on the Toronto Bouchercon website. Winners will be announced in Toronto at Bouchercon’s Passport To Murder in October.  Below is the list of nominees. Congratulations to them all!

Best Novel
You Will Know Me – Megan Abbott [Little, Brown]
Where It Hurts – Reed Farrel Coleman [G.P. Putnam’s Sons]
Red Right Hand – Chris Holm [Mulholland]
Wilde Lake – Laura Lippman [William Morrow]
A Great Reckoning – Louise Penny [Minotaur]

Best First Novel
Dodgers – Bill Beverly [Crown]
IQ – Joe Ide [Mulholland]
Decanting a Murder – Nadine Nettmann [Midnight Ink]
Design for Dying – Renee Patrick [Forge]
The Drifter – Nicholas Petrie [G.P. Putnam’s Sons]

Best Paperback Original
Shot in Detroit – Patricia Abbott [Polis]
Leadfoot – Eric Beetner [280 Steps]
Salem’s Cipher – Jess Lourey [Midnight Ink]
Rain Dogs – Adrian McKinty [Seventh Street]
How to Kill Friends and Implicate People – Jay Stringer [Thomas & Mercer]
Heart of Stone – James W. Ziskin [Seventh Street]

Best Short Story
“Oxford Girl” – Megan Abbott, Mississippi Noir [Akashic]
“Autumn at the Automat” – Lawrence Block, In Sunlight or in Shadow [Pegasus]
“Gary’s Got A Boner” – Johnny Shaw, Waiting to Be Forgotten [Gutter]
“Parallel Play” – Art Taylor, Chesapeake Crimes: Storm Warning [Wildside]
“Queen of the Dogs” – Holly West, 44 Caliber Funk: Tales of Crime, Soul and Payback [Moonstone]

Best Critical Nonfiction Work
Alfred Hitchcock: A Brief Life – Peter Ackroyd [Nan A. Talese]
Letters from a Serial Killer – Kristi Belcamino & Stephanie Kahalekulu [CreateSpace]
Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life – Ruth Franklin [Liveright]
Something in the Blood: The Untold Story of Bram Stoker – David J. Skal [Liveright]
The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer – Kate Summerscale [Bloomsbury/Penguin]

Best Children’s/YA Novel
Snowed – Maria Alexander [Raw Dog Screaming]
The Girl I Used to Be – April Henry [Henry Holt]
Tag, You’re Dead – J.C. Lane [Poisoned Pen]
My Sister Rosa – Justine Larbalestier [Soho Teen]
The Fixes – Owen Matthews [HarperTeen]

Best Anthology
Unloaded: Crime Writers Writing Without Guns – Eric Beetner, ed. [Down & Out]
In Sunlight or in Shadow – Lawrence Block, ed. [Pegasus]
Cannibals: Stories from the Edge of the Pine Barrens – Jen Conley [Down & Out]
Blood on the Bayou: Bouchercon Anthology 2016 – Greg Herren, ed. [Down & Out]
Waiting To Be Forgotten: Stories of Crime and Heartbreak, Inspired by the Replacements – Jay Stringer, ed. [Gutter]

Best Novella (8,000-40,000 words)
Cleaning Up Finn – Sarah M. Chen [CreateSpace]
No Happy Endings – Angel Luis Colón [Down & Out]
Crosswise – S.W. Lauden [Down & Out]
Beware the Shill – John Shepphird [Down & Out]
The Last Blue Glass – B.K. Stevens, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, April 2016 [Dell]

Malice Domestic Recap 2017

Event: Malice Domestic 29
Location: Bethesda, MD
Hotel: Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Date: April 27 – May 1, 2017

Malice Domestic is an annual fan convention in the metropolitan DC area that celebrates the traditional mystery, books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The genre is loosely identified as mysteries which contain no explicit sex, or excessive gore, or violence.

---

I had a world-wind weekend starting Thursday evening at the Edgar’s Award then Friday morning, it was onto a road trip to Bethesda with Terri Bischoff and Catriona McPherson driving making good time on the trip. We even beat some of those who took the train down who left at more or less the same time.

Upon arrival at the hotel, I was met by friends and it felt like homecoming week (and I’ve never been to one). It was great seeing friends, old and new and introducing my new housemate, Koko. She had a wonderful time hanging out with my friends, but alas, I had to ship her home earlier than planned.

The hotel has done some renovating and it showed in the room. I had a nice corner one with a hypoallergenic filter machine. What I noticed most was the many outlets in which to plug the many electronics I travel with. It was funny when I was trying to find the closet which was tucked inside the vestibule of the bathroom. On the bathroom mirror was a clock which kept the right time.

Friday afternoon was a mish mash of a day with socializing with friends, dining out and just relaxing.

On Saturday I was moderating the “What’s Your Line” panel with Mary Angela, Kate Carlisle, Mary Feliz and Sherry Harris on the panel. I was a bit nervous because I wasn’t sure of the questions and how it would play out. But it did and I even ran out of questions to ask and opened it up to the audience and we had great questions. We also had good laughs during our panel. When people came up to me and said our panel was good . . . that made my day. The day ended with the banquet where I had the chicken and opted for the fruit dessert (not a fan of mousse). It was a long day for me, so I crashed earlier.

On Sunday I went to breakfast with author Cathy Ace and we talked about books and marketing. Headed back to hotel for a panel before it was time to check out my room and wait for the shuttle to whisk me away to the airport. When I arrived at the airport I ran into Jessie and Terri who’s flight was moved to my gate. My flight was delayed but luckily I was able to get on a flight to LaGuardia and upon landing discovered that my luggage was still in DC. Not to worry, Koko was at another destination waiting to travel home. Luggage was delivered Monday morning and Koko was delivered Tuesday afternoon. All in all had a wonderful time and I look forward to next year’s Malice which will be in a new hotel.

This is such a wonderful convention and  I’m looking forward to next year’s Malice Domestic where it will be held in a new hotel.

????

Silent auction

Author swags

Author swags

crowd shot of author signing

crowd shot of author signing

Photo courtesy of Robin Templeton

Photo courtesy of Robin Templeton

crowd shot of author signing

glass work of Cheryl Hollon’s book cover by her husband

banquet cocktail hour

Malice dessert

fruit cup

Malice 30

Koko at home

MWA 2017 Edgar Allan Poe Awards

The Edgar® Awards were presented to the winners at the 71st Gala Banquet on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. Winners of the 2017 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honored the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television published or produced in 2016. I am the recipient of the Raven Award which recognizes outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing..

The evening was very nice. My co-workers from my “Daytime Situation” attended as well as the five guests that I invited. Also attending was another friend who came all the way from Virginia to see me get this award. Thank you LynDee!

The best part was seeing the ad that my daytime situation placed in the program book and then discovering one of my favorite and nicest author/friend, Alafair Burke was doing the introduction for the award and she also wrote up the piece in the program book as well. All in all, I had a terrific and memorable evening that I will not forget.

Here is my introduction and my speech.

BEST NOVEL: Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR: Under the Harrow by Flynn Berry

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL: Rain Dogs by Adrian McKinty

BEST FACT CRIME: The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer by Kate Summerscale

BEST CRITICAL/BIOGRAPHICAL: Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin

BEST SHORT STORY: “Autumn at the Automat” – In Sunlight or in Shadow by Lawrence Block

BEST JUVENILE: OCDaniel by Wesley King

BEST YOUNG ADULT: Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

BEST TELEVISION EPISODE TELEPLAY: “A Blade of Grass” – Penny Dreadful, Teleplay by John Logan

ROBERT L. FISH MEMORIAL AWARD: “The Truth of the Moment” – Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine by E. Gabriel Flores

GRAND MASTER: Max Allan Collins and Ellen Hart

RAVEN AWARD: Dru Ann Love

ELLERY QUEEN AWARD: Neil Nyren

THE SIMON & SCHUSTER – MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD: The Shattered Tree by Charles Todd

The 2017 Raven Award

Tonight (April 27, 2017) is the night that I’ve been waiting for ever since this was announced . . .

The Raven Award recognizes outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing. Dru Ann Love will receive the 2017 Raven Award.

Dru Ann Love is owner/editor of dru’s book musings (https://drusbookmusing.com/), a blog where characters give a glimpse into a day in their life, as well as her musings. Her musings also appear in Crimespree Magazine. She is also a guest blogger at the Stiletto Gang. Dru Ann is an avid reader, writes poetry, quilts, and loves attending reader/fan conventions. Dru Ann’s blog was nominated for a 2015 Anthony Award for Best Critical or Non-Fiction Work. She also serves on the Bouchercon standing committee.

When told that she would receive the Raven Award, Love said, “I’m so thrilled and honored to be awarded the Raven. The mystery community is like a big family and I’m so proud that they have embraced me with open arms. Thanks to the nominating committee for selecting me and a big thanks to the authors—without them, this would not be possible.”

I’m deeply honored to be awarded this prize and I look forward to sharing this evening with you. Photos to follow after the event.

The evening starts with a gathering for the nominees followed by the cocktail hour and then the banquet. Then it’s off to the Malice Domestic Convention. A busy weekend for me and I’m loving it.

Left Coast Crime Recap 2017

Left Coast Crime 2017: Honolulu Havoc
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Hotel: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
Date: March 16 – 19, 2017

Left Coast Crime is a convention of fans and authors who gather 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) to celebrate crime fiction.

---

Aloha!

First Class – that’s how I flew from New York to Hawaii. It was recommended that I fly first class and nonstop. On the trip to Hawaii, I had a 3-hour layover in Los Angeles, this after changing my original flight on Tuesday to Monday due to a pending snow storm on the east coast. First Class is awesome on a long flight. You get to sit in their private lounge where the food is free; you get to board the plane first; you get your own overheard storage bin; you get an offer a beverage as soon as you board the plane and your meal is really, really good. But the best part is the seat…wide for those of us who are not of average size with plenty of leg room and the seat either reclines or turns into a flat bed. Nice.

After arriving Monday evening in Hawaii, my friend, Eleanor J. and I dined in the airport hotel’s restaurant where we were amused by our waiter before heading to our room for the evening. Tuesday morning Mary R. , a long-time resident of Honolulu, was our tour guide on the island.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

On the first day of our trip towards the North Shore we started at Green World Coffee where we took a little walking tour (5 minutes) through their garden. Then we headed to the most magical place on the island, the Dole Plantation where we took the Pineapple express train ride (20 minutes) and sampled the Dole Whip. Then it was off to Haleiwa where we had lunch at the Breaker’s Restaurant and Bar. Next stop was Three Tables Beach and scenic views of Pupukea and then we drove by several shrimp farms in Kahuku. Then it was off to see the sea arch/cutout in the rock at La’ie Point State Wayside. Next up was the ranch at Kualoa Private Nature Reserve, where they filmed parts of Jurassic Park and King Kong. Right across the street was Chinaman’s Hat island and lastly but not least, we visited the Byodo-In Temple where we gonged the bell and saw a black swan, before heading to our final destination at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort in Waikiki.

Green World Coffee Farm

Dole Plantation

Three Tables Beach

La’ie Point State Wayside

Kualoa Private Nature Reserve, where they filmed parts of Jurassic Park and King Kong

Chinaman’s Hat island on Oahu Hawaii

The Byodo-In Temple

Standing near the gong at The Byodo-In Temple

 

---

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

On Day 2, we started out early from the hotel and headed to Leonard’s Bakery to get a couple of delicious Malasadas as our breakfast treat. The first tourist stop of the day was to see Dog’s the Bounty Hunter’s house in Portlock. Then we enjoyed the scenic wonders of nature that included Hawaii Kai and Koko Crater. We, along with other visitors stopped by Halona Blowhole to see it spout, but alas there wasn’t enough waves to accomplish this feat and on the opposite side is the Secret Beach, where the beach scene from the movie “From Here to Eternity” was filmed. Then off to Makapuu Beach park and then to Rabbit Island and the eastern side of island. We stopped at Waimanalo Beach for some frolicking and then drove to Kailua; and then up to Nu’uanu Pali State Wayside Lookout. We headed back to downtown Honolulu to the Iolani Palace and to King Kamehameha statue that is seen in the opening credits of Hawaii Five-O. Yes, Eleanor and I hummed the theme song as we took our photos. Our last stop of the day was up a steep and winding road to Mount Tantalus for an awesome view of the city and of Diamond Head.

Leonard’s Bakery, home of the malasadas

The door of Dog, The Bounty Hunter’s house

Koko Crater

The coastline from Lanaʻi Lookout

Secret Beach at Halona Beach Cove, Oahu, where the beach scene from the movie “From Here to Eternity” was filmed

Rabbit Island, also known as Manana Island

The view from Nu’uanu Pali State Wayside

Other view from Nu’uanu Pali State Wayside – notice the small island in foreground – that is Chinaman’s Hat Island

King Kamehameha statue that is seen in the opening credits of Hawaii Five-O

Mount Tantalus with an awesome view of the city and of Diamond Head

---

March 15 – 19, 2017

From the Thursday to Sunday, my time was spent watching the sunrise over the ocean, attending panels, and socializing at Left Coast Crime. On Friday was my panel: Reviewers & Critics: Are authors at their mercy? with Jen Forbus moderating a panel with Les Blatt, Daniel Boucher, me and Jane Stillwater. On Saturday we went on a whale watching tour and yep, we saw some whales. Then on Sunday before heading home, we made a detour to check out Pearl Harbor  Historic Sites.

Author speed dating round

LCC Panel: Reviewers & Critics: Are authors at their mercy?

Whale going back into the water

whale spout

LCC banquet

Pearl Harbor Historic Sites

The USS Arizona Memorial, at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii

Diamond Head – view from plane headed back home

This was a trip of a lifetime that I never thought I would take and I’m so glad that I got the chance to experience Hawaii. Mahalo!

Bouchercon Recap 2016

Bouchercon 2016: Blood On The Bayou
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Hoteln: New Orleans Marriott
Date: September 15 – 18, 2016

Bouchercon is the world’s finest annual crime fiction event, bringing together more than 1,500 authors, fans, publishers, reviewers, booksellers, editors, and every other part of the community for a fantastic four-day event.

---

I arrived in New Orleans a couple of days before the start of the convention to get in some sightseeing. First on the agenda was a 2-hour highlights tour of New Orleans. We stopped at Willies for our first taste of New Orleans foods eating Chicken Fingers and it was delicious. Then onto our tour where we saw the sights and sounds of New Orleans that included a stop at St. Louis Cemetery #3, a stop in City Park where we had our first taste of beignets amid a thunderstorm and lightening. Then off to tour Katrina and it’s aftermath. Our final meal of the day was at Creole House where I had the Taste Of The Bayou which is a combination of bayou traditions: Chicken & Andouille Gumbo, Crawfish Etouffée, Red Beans & Rice and Cajun Jambalaya.

The next day we walked to the Aquarium only to find it closed. Then we took the railroad to Jackson Square. We strolled in several of the stores on our way to Café du Monde. We sat in Jackson Square Park and enjoyed the shade and then headed back to the hotel. We had lunch at Palace Café and for our evening meal, we went to Mimi’s for TAPAS. I always wanted to know what it was. I sampled the duck, salmon and broccoli, and steak; I didn’t even look at mushroom plate. Then back to hotel for conversations with other early Bouchercon attendees.

Tuesday was my day to volunteer, so I helped stack books for the Book Bazaar and was impressed with how it was set-up. Then we took a trip to Central Grocery, home of the Original Muffuletta Sandwich. A traditional-style muffuletta sandwich consists of a muffuletta loaf split horizontally and covered with layers of marinated olive salad, mortadella, salami, mozzarella, ham, and provolone. Then a group of use headed to Napoleon House where I. ATE. ALLIGATOR. It was very gamey but good as I ate all of it while left the regular sausage on my plate.

Wednesday, I went on another on another 2-hour tour, this time St. Louis Cemetery #1, where we saw plenty of mausoleum and shrines. We even saw the tomb that actor Nicholas Cage has built. Then it was off the the BOLO Books soiree where we dined on appetizing snacks and imbibed Lemoncello. A good time was had by all.

Thursday was the first official day of the convention and my panel was at noon. We were given a 3-section room and I was surprised that it filled up as it did. The opening ceremony featured the guest arriving on floats. That was fun.

Saturday I attended Ellen Byron’s book launch for Body on the Bayou at Hall-Barnett Gallery where the appetizers were appetizing and the drinks flowing. Another good time was had.

I could tell you more, but I don’t remember much, but these pictures highlight my first trip to New Orleans. Enjoy!

*** SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 ***

*** MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 ***

*** TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 ***

*** WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 ***

Nicholas Cage’s tomb

*** THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 ***

*** FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 ***

*** SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2016 ***

*** SOCKS ***

Have you ever attended a reader/author convention?

Left Coast Crime Recap 2016

Left Coast Crime 2016: The Great Cactus Caper
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Date: February 25 – 28, 2016

Left Coast Crime is a convention of fans and authors who gather 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) to celebrate crime fiction.

---

It was called The Great Cactus Caper and what happened in Phoenix, of what I remember, gets recanted on this blog.

Authors, fans, booksellers, editors, librarians, publishers, oh my! Loads of fun at every corner and in every bar (okay there was only one bar, but it had many corners).

Seven hundred and counting. That’s how many were registered, which makes Left Coast Crime a shade larger than Malice and much smaller than Bouchercon. A perfect compadre to the other two major reader/author conventions.

I found the atmosphere and relaxation quotient to be a cross between the other two conferences and that’s where I coined the phrase “introvert break” because I was able to do this multiple times and not miss much of the conference.

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency and it’s a beautiful hotel, nice and airy. I found the perfect spot to people watch as my friends started trickling in. Inside this hotel there were four places to eat, Networks Bar and Grill (lunch, dinner and drinks), Einstein Bros. Café (bagels), Terrace Café (breakfast) and Compass Arizona Grill (never made it up there). I mostly had breakfast at Steve’s Greenhouse Grill. Other restaurants sampled were Majerle’s Sports Grill, Seamus McCaffrey Irish Pub, Marston’s Café and I know I’m forgetting a place. All dining experiences were excellent.

I started the convention out by volunteering with book stuffing and ended with assigning guest to the dinner table for the banquet. A fun time was had with my partner, Ann Hogsett. My other volunteer responsibilities were taping the signs to the wall with the author’s name prior to their signing time.

The next day was the start of the conference and I was more or less prepared for the panel I was sitting on, but before that, I enjoyed the several panels that I did attend which started with Author Speed Dating and ended with the Opening Ceremonies and Welcome Reception. Ran into several friends and had gabfests and just had a relaxing day of the convention. Then it was time for my panel and I had a good time sitting up on the dais with a nice group of friends. It is always a delight to see friends in the audience – sort of tampered down the nervousness. PANEL: Fans and Reviewers Talk Their Favorite Books with Bill Fitzhugh moderating and panelists: Katrina Niidas Holm, Lesa Holstine, Dru Ann Love and Lucinda Surber. The day ended in the bar.

The next day was another day of panels that started with the Continental Breakfast featuring Debut Writers and ended with the Have Your Cake and Murder Too Dessert Reception. I also attended the Meet the Canucks Reception where we had to get the answers from the Canadian authors and correct answers won a prize. I got a copy of Unreasonable Doubt by Vicki Delany. I also signed up for the author/reader connection with Seventh Street Sleuths authors: Lori Rader-Day, James W. Ziskin, Jennifer Kincheloe, Lynne Raimondo, and Terry Shames at the Hyatt Regency Network Bar & Grill. I had a good time gabbing and listening to all that was around me. The day ended in the bar.

Saturday, once again started with the Discover Mystery Breakfast hosted by Poisoned Pen Press. Ann and I table hosted for Tina Whittle who was under the weather. Saturday was also the day I was moderating the PANEL: The Making of a Cozy Murder: What defines a cozy? with Ritter Ames, Donna Andrews, Carolyn Greene and Camille Minichino sitting on the dais. It was a good panel and I started out nervous but felt good when it was over.

Then the rest of the day was spent, yet again, attending panels, eating, drinking and volunteering. This was also the night of the banquet where the Lefty Awards was given out and it was fun. I sat at Cindy Brown and Kate Dyer-Seeley table and we played a few games and took pictures with our masks. They also had an auction prior to the awards and it was fun listening to the bids, I believe one item went for $2,000.

Then it was time to give out the awards: Donna Andrews won the Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel; Rhys Bowen won the Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel; Gigi Pandian won the Lefty for Best LCC Regional Mystery Novel and Louise Penny won the Lefty for Best World Mystery Novel. And once again, the day ended in the bar.

The last day of a fun-filled weekend comes to a close with the usual dining, gabfest and the Closing Panel Interview with Guests of Honor. Then it was time to say goodbye until the next time. The day did not end in the bar.

The pictures will tell you how much fun was had at my first Left Coast Crime convention.

---

Thank you for reading about my wonderful time at Left Coast Crime. Have you attended a reader/author convention before?