Bouchercon 2023

After a successful Left Coast Crime Conference in Tucson, I’m ready for my next mystery conference for mystery fans and authors: Bouchercon 2023 in San Diego August 30 – September 3. This is a large conference with typically 1500 – 2000 attendees. This will be the fourth time I’ve attended a Bouchercon Conference, and I’ll be able to drive there from the LA area.

A Successful Left Coast Crime Conference

Last week’s Left Coast Crime Conference in Tucson was a great success. Approximately 500 mystery writers and fans gathered to hear panels, discuss mystery novels and chat. I participated in the Author Speed Dating during which I traveled from table to table with fellow mystery author Alan Orloff. We each gave the attendees at 18 tables a pitch about our latest mystery novels.

 I was on two panels. The first was titled, How Do You Know What’s Funny, with Catriona McPherson, Leslie Karst, Ed Lin and D. R. Ransdell. It was a hoot, and we kept the audience entertained.

 My second panel was titled, Senior Sleuths, with Alicia Gaspar de Alba, Barna W. Donovan, Ellen Kirschman and Susan McCormick. Since I write primarily about older characters, this was an enjoyable opportunity to share our experiences.

 

I hosted the Meet the New Authors Breakfast where each debut author gave a one-minute pitch on the most important thing readers should know about their new mystery novel.

 

On Saturday evening, I co-hosted a table at the awards banquet with fellow Encircle Publications author B. J. Magnani.

 

All-in-all it was a busy four days with many enjoyable conversations.

More about Meet the New Authors Breakfast at the Left Coast Crime Conference

Here’s the list of the new mystery authors who will be presenting at the Left Coast Crime Conference in Tucson:

Author                                                       First mystery

Erin E. Adams                                           Jackal

Lawrence Allan                                         Fig Fat F@!k-up

Mindy Carlson                                           Her Dying Day

Ron Cook                                                  Firebrand

Eli Cranor                                                  Don’t Know Tough

Ramona Emerson                                      Shutter

Meredith Hambrock                                  Other People’s Secrets

K. B. Jackson                                             The Sasquatch of Hawthorne 

                                                                    Elementary

Dorothy Leonard/Andre Charles               The Bell Tower

Sharon Lynn                                              Death Takes a Bath

Lexa M. Mack                                           Legacy of Lies

Jennifer J. Morgan                                     Shadows in the Forest

D. M. Rowell                                             Never Name the Dead

Mary Seifert                                               Maverick, Movies & Murder

Donald Sheagley                                        Murder in the North Atlantic

Robin Yeatman                                          Bookworm

Anastasia Zadeik                                       Blurred Fates

 

I always encourage people to take this list to their local library so these fine books can be ordered.

Meet the New Authors Breakfast at the Left Coast Crime Conference

I have the honor of hosting the Meet the New Authors Breakfast at the Left Coast Crime Conference on Friday, March 17, in Tucson. Sisters in Crime is sponsoring the breakfast.

We have 17 new mystery authors whose books run from cozy to suspense to thriller and take place in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Minnesota, England, and on an Atlantic cruise ship.  The criterion is that their first mystery/crime/thriller must be published within 2022 and up to March 19, 2023.

Why do we have this program? To pay tribute to new authors who have run the gauntlet of rejection, agents, editors or self-publishing to get books into the hands of loyal fans.

A little history. The first Meet the New Authors Breakfast was at LCC2008 in Denver. The minimum number of new authors was 2009 on the Big Island of Hawaii at 12. The maximum was 2014 at 44. Originally, we called it the New Authors Breakfast, but people thought it was only for new authors to come to breakfast.

Each new author will have up to 1 minute to tell the attendees the most important thing they should know about the debut novel.

Getting Ready for the Left Coast Crime Conference

I’ll be attending the Left Coast Crime this March. I’m on two panels, one for senior sleuths and one for humor. I’ll also be hosting the Meet the New Authors Breakfast, participating in author speed dating, and co-hosting a table at the Saturday night banquet. It will be a busy time, but I always look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.