Left Coast Crime: The Short Mystery Fiction Society will be there

 Many members of the Short Mystery Fiction Society will be on panels or otherwise engaging at Left Coast Crime, coming up in Albuquerque, this April 7-10.  This is a list of events involving members.  There will likely be changes, so please check back here.

PANELS

THURSDAY, 1:15-2:00. I Am What I Write: Real Life as Fiction.  Ellen Kirschman.

THURSDAY, 1:15-2:00. Writing Police Procedurals: Just the Facts or Just the Clichés?  James L'Etoile (Moderator) Frank Zafiro.

THURSDAY, 2:30-3:15. Amateur Hour: When Bad **** Finds Your Protagonist.  Peggy Rothschild.

THURSDAY, 3:45-4:30. Celebrating the Short Story. Mysti Berry, Conda V. Douglas (moderator),  James D.F. Hannah, Robert Lopresti.

THURSDAY, 3:45-4:30. Jewish Noir. Ellen, Kirschman, Jeff Markowitz, 

THURSDAY, 3:45-4:30. The Liars' Panel. Ellen Byron/Maria DiRico.

THURSDAY, 3:45-4:30. Why we Love Amateur Sleuths. Gigi Pandian.

FRIDAY, 10:15-11:00. How Cozy is Cozy? Colin Conway. 

FRIDAY, 10:15-11:00. Weaving Political and Social Themes into Mysteries. Terry Shames, Clea Simon.

FRIDAY, 11:30-12:15. Multimedia Murder: Escape From the Page. CJ Verburg.

FRIDAY, 11:30-12:15. Thrillers. David Heska Wanbli Weiden.

FRIDAY, 1:30-2:15. Lefty Humorous Nominees. Ellen Byron/Maria DiRico, Cynthia Kuhn, Raquel V. Reyes.

FRIDAY, 1:30-2:15. Where to Start: Plot? Characters? Setting? Coffee? Mark Stevens (moderator).

FRIDAY, 1:30-2:15. Murder All Over the Map. Gigi Pandian.

FRIDAY, 1:30-2:15. Scene-Stealing Secondary Characters. Greg Herren, Robert Lopresti (moderator).

FRIDAY, 2:45-3:30. Writing Characters Who Aren't Like Me. Clea Simon, Matt Witten.

FRIDAY, 2:45-3:30. Let's Keep it Short (Fiction): Cozies to Noir. Madeleine Harris-Callway, Gay Tolti Kinman, Lisa Q. Mathews (moderator).

FRIDAY, 2:45-3:30. Crime in Rural Settings. Susan Alice Bickford, Travis Richardson.

FRIDAY, 4:00-4:45. Small Town Crime. Leslie Budewitz/Alicia Beckman, Terry Shames.

SATURDAY, 10:15-11:00. Cozy Mysteries: Murder, Mayhem, & a Cup of Tea. Margaret Callison Morse.

SATURDAY, 11:30-12:15. When Less is More: Short Stories. Kim Keeline, G.M. Malliet, Gerald Martin, Raquel V. Reyes.

SATURDAY, 11:30-12:15. The Contradiction of Humor and Crime: How do you Know What's Funny? Cynthia Kuhn.

SATURDAY, 1:30-2:15. Importance of Family. David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Mary Keliikoa.

SATURDAY, 1:30-2:15. Creating Memorable Characters. Curtis Ippolito.

SATURDAY, 1:30-2:15. What's Noir Got to do With it? Andrew Bourelle, Madeleine Harris-Callway.

SATURDAY, 2:45-3:30. Graphic but not Gratuitous: Getting Police Procedurals Right.  Michelle Chouinard (moderator), James L'Etoile.

SATURDAY, 2:45-3:30. No Skirting the Issue: Female Protagonists in Historical Mysteries. Ann Parker.

SATURDAY, 4:00-4:45. Location as Character: The Importance of Setting. Jeff Markowitz, Laurie Rockenbeck (moderator).

SATURDAY, 4:00-4:45. Legal Themes. Leslie Budewitz, Margaret Callison Morse.

SUNDAY, 9:00-9:45. Art Crime: Sleuths and the World of Art and Artifacts. Margaret Lucke, M.A. Monnin, Nina Wachsman (moderator).

SUNDAY, 9:00-9:45. This Isn't Cabot Cove: Setting and the Small-Town Series.  Peggy Rothschild. 

LEFTY AWARDS BANQUET

Leslie Budewitz will be hosting a table with Kelly Garrett.

Michelle Chouinard and Ellen Kirschman will be hosting a table.

Colin Conway and Frank Zafiro will be hosting a table.

Conda V. Douglas will host a table with Kathy McIntosh. 

Cynthia Kuhn and Lisa Q. Mathews will be hosting a table with Becky Clark.

Robert Lopresti will be hosting a table with S.J. Rozan. 

 David Heska Wanbli Weiden will be hosting a table with Daisy Bateman.

 

OTHER EVENTS FEATURING SMFS MEMBERS:

All of these events are free.

WEDNESDAY to SATURDAY, Murderous Visions: The Interactive Murder Game.  Kim Keeline will be running this event. To learn more look for the table in the lobby near the conference rooms, the clues left throughout the event, or the Facebook page for the victim that is currently running.  A murder will be committed Wednesday night and you need to solve it by Saturday afternoon to be eligible for the grand prize.

THURSDAY, 11:00-11:45. Culinary Cozy Chat with Raquel V. Reyes and Mia P. Manansala. SOLD OUT.  at Humble Coffee. Coffee & a baked good on the authors.  Let’s meet by the LCC registration desk at 11:00 AM and walk to the 505 Food Hall together. http://rvreyes.com/

FRIDAY, 12:30-1:15 PM. Meet the Cop Doc with Ellen Kirschman. These past two years have been difficult for cops and their families: let's talk about how they are coping and what needs to change. Grab a go-to lunch, we'll sit and talk things over. You'll get a free book and some other cool stuff. Eight attendees. Let’s meet by the LCC registration desk at 12:30 pm. http://www.ellenkirschman.com

FRIDAY, 5–6 p.m.  On the Lam with the Grifters. This is no con—join Frank Zafiro, author and creator of the Grifter's Song series, along with fellow Grifter authors Holly West and Colin Conway for Happy Hour at one of Albuquerque's most popular bars, Sister (407 Central Ave.). The first drink is on us! (Plus swag). If you'd like to walk with us about two blocks to the bar, we'll meet at 4:45 at the LCC registration desk. Otherwise, meet us at the location at 5! We look forward to seeing you.  Co-sponsored by Down & Out Books.  http://www.frankzafiro.com/  https://colinconway.com/ 

FRIDAY, 5:00-6:00 PM. Murder & Magic Lovers. Meet four authors incorporating murder and/or magic in their books. Sandy Wright will give tarot card readings; Wendy Fallon will be sketching forensic art; Margaret Morse and Laurie Fagen will be taking digital photos with a witch's hat and a skeleton, and will email them to the twelve attendees.Grab your own beverage of choice and meet us for some fun in the Atrium seating area, right outside the HQue bar. Look for the red and black witch's hat.

FRIDAY, 8:45 PM. Sip and Sweets with Chicks on the Case. SOLD OUT. Six readers are invited to join Chicks on the Case bloggers Ellen Byron, Cynthia Kuhn, Lisa Q. Mathews, Jennifer J. Chow, Becky Clark, and Leslie Karst, for a wine and treats nightcap. Meet at 8:45 p.m. Friday evening in the hotel lobby.  Chicks on the Case

SATURDAY, 8:15-9:00 AM. Morning Mini Donuts.  Four readers are invited join Ellen Byron and Leslie Karst for a short stroll to nearby Yummy’s Mini Donuts and Ice Cream, where the authors will treat their guests to a round of delicious mini donuts. Meet at 8:15 a.m. Saturday morning in the hotel lobby.

 SUNDAY, 10:00-11:15 AM. Coffee. Award-winning author and recovering librarian Robert Lopresti will buy coffee for four attendees. Let’s talk about books, writing, or caffeine. Meet in the hotel lobby at 10:00 AM.  We will walk to a nearby coffee shop or bakery.  http://www.roblopresti.com