Scenes from Left Coast Crime

Last week was the annual, epic mystery convention we call Left Coast Crime. I came home with the same convention crud (cold/flu) as a bunch of other attendees, as well as a host of incredible memories. Only the memories will last!

Here are some of the highlights...

Hanging out with my wonderful Poisoned Pen Press editor, Annette Rogers.

Taking part in a great panel on strong women (though we agreed a) it's time it's just "women" and b) we'd like to see the "weak men" panel sometime)

(l to r: Francine Matthews, Allison Brennan, Mark Coggins, Deborah Crombie, and me)

Rocking killer shoes with Rochelle Staab

Treating our LCC banquet guests to goodies and tiaras

(with my co-host, Rochelle)

Sharing tiaras with a few other deserving folks 

(clockwise from top left: Annette Rogers, Ingrid Willis, Jenn McKinlay, Catriona McPherson, Rochelle, and me)

Moderating the closing panel, an interview with LCC's guests of honor (Ann Cleeves, Catriona McPherson, Gregg Hurwitz, and Chantelle Aimee Osman)

I can't wait for next year. See you all in Hawaii!

Holiday Edition: What Are You Reading?

I've been musing on a variety of topics ... the rain finally falling (briefly) in Southern California, the decorating I want to do for the holidays (and the cleaning that needs to happen prior to that), starting my Christmas shopping, and so forth.

But all I want to do is read. I figure many of you feel the same.

So it's time for a semi-annual survey: what are you reading? and what books should I have on my list? what books should I give away as Christmas presents?

I'll start. This is a combination of what's waiting in my TBR and what I just finished ... pretty much guaranteed to all be excellent:

1. Michael Connelly (I read/re-read all of the Bosch series, the couple of Walling/McEvoy, and now I'm moving on to Mickey Haller).
2. Catriona McPherson's new Dandy Gilver book, A Deadly Measure of Brimstone.
3. Tina Whittle's new Tai and Trey mystery, Deeper Than the Grave
4. Jeff Siger's new Inspector Kaldis novel, Sons of Sparta.

What are you excited about reading? What did you just read that you loved? 

Bouchercon Outtakes

A convention as busy and long as Bouchercon means lots of stories. Most of which I remember after I post a summary. So here are a few more bits and pieces of memories from the event....

First, one of the last-minute tasks I took care of for the convention organizer was to introduce Michael Connelly and Sebastian Rotella, who had a session "in conversation." All I had to do was read the bios the publisher had sent over, but I thought, hey, I'll get a photo with them before it starts (I had to run off to other duties and didn't stay for the talk). I even dragged a friend with me to take the photo ... only to realize too late that the men were waiting in a corner of the big room. My friend/photographer did what he could, and since I couldn't stop and smile for the camera while handing the mic over to Michael, this is my proof. Worst photo ever (not my friend's fault), but proof!

And another moment of connection with William Kent Krueger. I met Kent in late 2011, and when I saw him again six months later, he sat me down to compliment me on my first book. Six months after that, he agreed to blurb my second book. And he greets me with big hugs every time I see him. You won't find a nicer man in the mystery world. 

Another author who keeps raking in the awards is Catriona McPherson, who won the Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original at Bouchercon (for As She Left It) and who was officially installed as the national president of Sisters in Crime the same day. The seal of office for SinC is a stuffed white seal. The Anthony Award was a crow on a beach ball. Here's Catriona with her to-go bag of animals, ready for anything!

And finally, I have my own reminder of Bouchercon at home with me. Ingrid, the organizer, had trophies made for all of her volunteers as well, with the job titles we selected. So sitting near my writing desk at home is my own crow with my name and my role: Girl Friday.

Next time: more Poisoned Pen Press group photos, more photos with the friends I'm so eager to see (Tina Whittle, Rochelle Staab, I'm looking at you). And maybe less running around like a crazy person.... See you there!