We’ll see how much I can write in an hour. (I do need some reading time!) Thursday morning, I volunteered, working with tireless volunteer coordinator Lucinda Surber. I don’t think she stops during the entire conference. I admire her for that.
The first panel of the convention for me was Murder on the Books: Mysteries involving books. Panel – Left to right, Les Blatt (moderator), Kristin Eckhardt, Erika Chase (Linda Wiken), R. Franklin James & Mary Jane Maffini (Victoria Abbott).
It was a fun panel. How can you go wrong with authors who write about books?
I was really looking forward to the next panel. This is another group that had the chance to talk about books, authors, pet peeves.
Left to right – Lucinda Surber (Stop, You’re Killing Me), Katrina Niidas Holm, me, Dru Ann Love (photo by Hilary Davidson)
And, thanks to the official LCC photographer, Darrell Hoemann, for the above photo. Left to right – Lucinda Surber, moderator & author Bill Fitzhugh, Katrinia Niidas Holm, me and Dru Ann Love.
I had dinner with my friend Aubrey Hamilton on Thursday night, and that didn’t turn out so well for my health. I missed all of Friday.
But, Saturday was filled with friends.
Dru Ann was talking with Nancy Herriman when I came down to the convention floor on Saturday.
Below is part of the panel, Two Sleuths are Better Than One: Fictional Crime-solving Duos – Moderator Rochelle Staab, Laurie R. King & Anne B. Cleeland
Then, the other panelists – Mary Anna Evans, Tina Whittle and Michael Robertson.
I went to the signing area afterward to see some friends. Below I’m with Paige Shelton. She moved to Arizona soon after I left. (sniff)
Below, I’m with Mary Anna Evans who came to the very first Lee County Reading Festival and Anne Cleeland, who I just met.
My friend, Chantelle Aimee Osman, was Fan Guest of Honor. She didn’t want to be interviewed. Chantelle is always up for something fun & different. So, she was the MC for Chantelle Aimee Osman presents The Match Game.
There were some pretty funny pictures of this panel, but this one is my favorite. That’s Steve W. Lauden, Janet Rudolph, Glen Erik Hamilton, me, Hilary Davidson, and Chantelle.
The above photo is a little closer, though.
A couple more friends before the final panel. Here’s Clea Simon.
Then, the other photo is Clea Simon, Paige Shelton and Sherry Novinger Harris.
The final panel was terrific. Rhys Bowen was the moderator of the Liars Panel. She asked them a question, and each author told us a story (sometimes a lie) in response to the question. The audience had to guess if it was the truth or the lie. We only guessed right about half the time. They’re excellent liars!
The top photo above is Rhys Bowen, Gary Phillips, Carolyn Haines & Parnell Hall. In the lower one, Gary Phillips, Carolyn Haines, Parnell Hall and Kelli Stanley.
Those two authors above were terrific liars, er, storytellers. Kelli Stanley & Gary Phillips.
Above is Gregg Hurwitz, American Guest of Honor.
Catriona McPherson, above, was a terrific toastmaster, funny, gracious.
The authors who host tables at Saturday night’s Left Coast Crime banquet bring swag to the guests at their tables. I sat at the table hosted by Chantelle Aimee Osman and Sara Henry. They dressed in wizard robes, and gave us Harry Potter glasses, jelly beans, a wand, along with a copy of Sara’s book, A Cold and Lonely Place.
When Brad Parks stopped by, he was excited about our swag. I thought I was posting a picture of Harry Potter. Brad said he looks more like Mad-Eye Moody.
After all the photos, it’s appropriate to end the post with the photo below, taken by Mike Bunting. I met Margie and Mike at Left Coast Crime in Monterey. They’re both avid readers. And, they’ve become friends in the mystery community. The three of us went to Grimaldi’s in Scottsdale for pizza on Wednesday night, and then to the Poisoned Pen.
It’s perfect to end this post with this photo because that’s what Left Coast Crime and the mystery community means to me – friendship. It’s about meeting and making friends who all care about mysteries. Whether we’re authors, reviewers, or readers, in the end, we’re all readers who love mysteries. So, thank you, Mike for the photo, and both of you, Mike and Margie, for the friendship formed around mysteries.
I loved this and loved sharing your adventures during the week, Lesa. I also love your observation that in the end we are all readers!
It was nice to see you there, Lesa! Loved it and sorry I didn't make either of your panels. I was on overload the whole time – just so many authors, books, fun things, experiences…..and Phoenix mostly from a window. Ah well, we'll get back to Phonix another year without a doubt.
Hope to get to another conference sometime. We'll see. I'm probably going to drive my blog readers crazy, but I'm planning a whole week of posts about LCC next week. I need to write the posts before I forget everything. LOL
Thank you, Nancy. I don't think any of us would be involved if we weren't readers first, and always.
Kay, I'm so glad I had the chance to see you a couple times. Don't worry about not getting to the panels. I didn't get to a couple I would have liked to have attended either. There were some good ones opposite the ones I was on.
Oh, I think your blog readers will enjoy all the posts. It's nice to see what we missed.
Lovely post, Lesa – I'm so jealous! What a lot of fun you all seem to have had.
I so wanted to go so thanks for all the photos! (and Treasures in My Closet is coming soon?)
How I envy you and Kay being there!
How nice of you to print our photo, Lesa. I treasure the time I have spent with you and look forward to the next time (Sacramento 2018?). I really love Left Coast Crime. It's the only mystery convention we have attended, but I understand it's one of the best–small enough that there is a lot of opportunity for interaction with authors, both favorites and those new to us. I'm still on a high from our experiences in Phoenix, and Mike and I are impatiently waiting for the books we shipped home.
It was terrific, Rosemary! I wish you could have been there.
Cindy, I haven't even started Treasures in My Closet, and I'm going to a concert Thursday night! But, I'll be working on it, so maybe I can get part of it up! I usually do it in two parts anyways.
Wish you could have attended, Nan. And, it was good to see Kay.
Maybe Sacramento in 2018, Margie, who knows? I haven't really even thought of 2018 yet, only 2017 and Bouchercon. But, it's always so nice to spend time with you and Mike. And, my Mom looked at the Facebook photos and thought you two looked so nice. Sorry you're waiting for those books, though!
Thanks for sharing your Left Coast Crime experience with us, and the beautiful pictures. I really enjoyed reading about it, the next best thing to actually being there. ( :
You're welcome, Laurie. I wish every mystery fan could experience it once.
What a great time you had!!!! I hate missing this. Thank you for this terrific write-up and all the pictures. But – we have New Orleans to look forward to. See you soon, Lesa! xxoo
What a blast that was! Very much enjoyed re-living it through your blog (and so glad you didn't miss too much of the con!). See you in New Orleans!