If you’re like me, you have a limited budget for marketing and promotion. Attending a con, especially an out-of-town con, can be a difficult decision. By the time I add up the registration fees, hotel, airfare, meals, books, and incidentals (my bar tab), I can’t afford to make a bad decision. For several years, friends and colleagues have recommended that I go to Left Coast Crime and this year, I finally made the trip. The convention changes location from year-to-year. This year it was held February 25 – 28, in Phoenix (The Great Cactus Caper). You can find closer mystery cons, but I’m not sure you’ll find many that are better.
Left Coast Crime is “an annual mystery convention, sponsored by mystery fans for mystery fans.” There were approximately 600 registered attendees, roughly half were readers. With 80 panels, there was something for everyone, but the focus is primarily on readers.
It is, of course, the focus on readers which makes Left Coast Crime a great destination for authors. The con is organized to promote opportunities for readers to meet their favorite authors and discover new favorites. In addition to the panels and book signings, the schedule included Author/Reader Connections (authors host informal activities for small groups of readers “such as lunch or a walk through town”) and Author Speed Dating (authors make their way through tables filled with readers, giving a two-minute book pitch). But, as is often the case, the best opportunities to network happen in the hallways, the lobby, the book room and the bar.
The New York Chapter was well represented. I spotted Triss Stein, Ken Wishnia, Dru Ann Love, Hilary Davidson, Michael Sears, and Annamaria Alfieri. I’m sure there were more chapter members that I missed.
And, in one of the coolest author promotions, felony and mayhem sponsored the official convention cocktail. The drink was good, but the book was better.
Next year, Left Coast Crime moves to Hawaii (Honolulu Havoc, March 16 – 19, 2017).
If you were in Phoenix for Left Coast Crime (and especially if I missed you), please leave a comment and share your thoughts about the convention.
Jeff Markowitz is the author of the Cassie O’Malley Mysteries, an amateur sleuth series set deep in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Markowitz loves to write early in the morning. “You can usually find me at my computer at 5:30 in the morning,” he says, “plotting someone’s murder.”
Jeff, I think you captured it! This was my fourth LCC. I was hooked after the first one. I had heard that there were 600 fans and about 200 writers at this one, but the grapevine could have been wrong about that. But I can say with absolute certainty that being with you and Carol while there was one of the best parts for me!!
I really had no clue that such an event or even a mystery writer’s org and convention ever existed. Man, that sounded like a blast. And it was held in one of my favorite cities!
That sounds awesome! I like how there were lots of readers there. Bet you made some great connections with current and future fans.
Hi Jeff,
I think these conferences are great for networking–meeting fans and fellow authors as well as editors and agents. I wish I were able to attend. But thanks for sharing with us.