Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Left Coast Crime: A Wrap Up by Jenn McKinlay

 Jenn McKinlay: Not gonna lie, in a post Covid world, I've had a hard time getting back into the flow. Conferences seem like breeding grounds for the plague (watching The Last of Us did not help) and the travel expenses and time away didn't seem worth it. But then Left Coast Crime decided to hold their conference in my home state of Arizona. Well, how could I not go to a conference I'd enjoyed for years when it was just two hours away? Obviously, I had to go.

On deadline, I arrived late (still didn't meet that pesky deadline but whatever). Hub came with me - his first conference as we're empty nesters now - and within hours I was back in conference mode. As we walked through the fabulous El Conquistador hotel and I saw readers and writers I hadn't seen in a couple of years, I would swerve into  people's conversations, invade their lunches, and jump over short walls to catch them as they walked by for fear I would miss them if I didn't. As Hub observed, "Conference you is rather terrifying." My defense, "I have very little time and a lot of people to hug."

One of those people is Dru Ann Love of Dru's Book Musing, a fabulous book blog, who happened to be the Fan Guest of Honor this year. I've known Dru since I don't even know when but she does more for writers than most publishers do and she is a treasure. Seriously, we must protect her at all cost! 

Well, when Dru gave her acceptance speech, she took me out at the knees. She talked about her very first Left Coast Crime in Phoenix in 2016 where she found herself sitting in the lobby, alone, wondering about her place in things. She then said (and I'm paraphrasing because I have the memory of a turnip), "And then who came shooting across the lobby and plopped down next to me? Jenn McKinlay. We talked for sixty minutes." She spotted me across the room in the banquet crowd and asked, "Do you remember what we talked about?" I didn't so I shook my head. And she said, "The Hooligans." 

LOL, well, of course we did! Dru Ann then went on to say that that interaction was what conferences and Left Coast Crime were all about -- finding your people, being accepted, and forging lifelong friendships. She was 100 percent correct...and she made me cry. 

Dru Ann accepting her award.

The Hub and me and our table mates, applauding Dru.
(Photos by Christina Estes) 

There were so many wonderful moments like this throughout the conference. Hub, who is a bigger reader than I am -- frankly, he is the most well read person I've ever known -- had read most of the authors in attendance and was delighted to meet Naomi Hirahara (he was stunned when I told him, "She's my friend") and Ed Lin who I was lucky enough to be on a panel with alongside Leslie Karst, Leslie Budewitz, and Emmeline Duncan. 


And of course, I got to see our Rhys, which was wonderful, as always.

Rhys and Jenn

I also attended Rhys's panel - How to Keep a Series Fresh - and her response to how to end it when the series was definitively over was, "Well, when Clare and I are tired of Molly, we're only a few years away from the Titanic." Which, of course, sent the packed crowd into peals of laughter. 


There were so many more memories made and special moments shared but I don't want to hold you hostage, so I'll close with the list of nominees and winners of this year's Lefty. 


My takeaway was this: livestreams and zooms and all of that are lovely but nothing beats being with your people in person to share the tears and the laughter and the hugs. 

Now how about you, Reds and Readers, what in person events have you been attending and how are you feeling about it? 









91 comments:

  1. It does sound as if everything was just about perfect at the conference, Jenn . . . getting back to where we used to be sometimes seems fraught with difficulty so it’s good to know when it works out so well.

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  2. A lovely wrap-up, Jenn, thank you. I heard that Dru brought lots of folks to tears during her speech. I wish I'd been there, but after my Puerto Rico trip, it seemed like too much traveling.

    And next month is Malice, yay! I've already bought my train ticket to DC. I went last year, and those hugs were worth even the COVID I brought home. I also attended Bouchercon in Minneapolis, so things seem possible again.

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    1. I am so looking forward to Bouchercon in San Diego!

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  3. I have never been to a readers/writers conference. Next fall I will attend the one in Boston and meet Debs and Hank and Hallie and Edith...and...

    We were traveling yesterday so didn't get to comment on travel food. Then I was afraid you'd kick me off JRW if I told you that we travel with home- made sandwiches, grapes and berries, and home-baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Apples. And coffee. May I still be part of the gang?

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    1. Sounds wonderful! Maybe you could pack all of our lunches!

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    2. Judy, of course, and yes please pack a lunch for the whole gang!

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    4. From Celia: I LOVE your travel snacks. And I’m still planning to be at Crime Bake this Fall and it will be my first Con too. So see you there Judy.

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    5. Judy, that's my husband's preference, too, although he very dearly loves McDonald's coffee. Back in the days before cell phones he would actually write letters to me from his lecture tours. So many of them began, "I'm having coffee at a McDonald's in X".

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    6. You'll all have to put your orders in early if I am making lunch/tea/snacktime for the whole gang!! XXOO (Yes on the MacDonald's coffee for me, too, Karen.)

      Oh, and I have stories about TSA searches of my carry-ons because of the food in the bag. Don't ask;-D

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    7. Yes, Celia. I will be so happy to meet you in person. Julia, too. Right? Oh Boy!!

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    8. I love your travel snack, Judy! And I'll be so excited to meet you, and Celia!

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    9. I would love a home packed lunch - I'd be happy to travel with you, Judy!

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  4. I attended LCC this year- my first conference and loved it! I left with many new books, many new author recommendations and days filled with book lovers like me 😀📚❤️

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    1. Hub and I were cracking up at how many books he bought. Taking him along might put conferences out of price range. LOL.

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  5. I still haven't attended many events myself. A Jon Land book signing at a store in Rhode Island and a few weeks back I was at Hank's signing at the Sandwich Public Library.

    But other than trivia night (9 wins in a row so far this year), my Saturday stop at the comic shop and the monthly mystery book club meeting at the local library, there's really nothing on my schedule.

    That is until next month. In early April, I'm going to a concert for the first time in over 3 years. But I will still be masked when I go.

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  6. Family! Saw my niece and my cousin along with her whole family. 1st time any of them met my 3 grandchildren. All born during during covid.

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  7. Best Humorous Mystery: I was delighted when I saw "Streetcar Named Murder" by Herron, as I had just finished reading it. Very delightful characters and story. Highly recommend it.

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  8. Sounds like such fun! I am planning to go to Bouchercon and Crimebake this year...

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  9. I'm planning to go to Bouchercon in San Diego and hope to say hi to some Reds and red fans while I'm there. My first writers' con was Bouchercon in Tampa and it was so thrilling to me as an unpublished, star-struck fan. Ian Rankin walked past me as we entered the hotel to register and I nearly fainted, Lee Child sat at the next table at the Awards and we rescued Lisa Scottolini from an over-ardent fan and got a lovely photo with her as a thank you. I'm published now, with help from the wonderful writing community in general and some Red Writers, through classes, (thank you Hallie,) and encouragement (thank you Hank). I hope to meet a few old friends, but I'm looking forward to meeting new ones as well. I think it's true that the connections you make at these conferences stay with you. After all, we have so much in common. We love books, writers and writing, oh, and wine, and those little snacky things they hand out before events. Hope to see some of you there, Joyce W. :-)

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    1. Joyce, I met some of my best friends at my first Malice in...mumble, mumble... so long ago I don't even want to say!

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    2. Writer/Reader friends are the best friends to have!

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  10. WAAAH! I was going to Tucson LCC but became sick the weekend before and had to cancel. I was supposed to be on a panel with Fan GOH Dru & am crushed that I missed that rare chance to be on the stage with her. All the LCC photos and posts look lovely. SIGH.

    Last year's Minneapolis Bouchercon was good but many regulars were absent. It's was the first year that I can remember where none of the Reds made it. I am registered for San Diego Bouchercon and hope to see the lovely Reds and readers there in person!

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    1. Oh, no. I hope you're feeling better by now, Grace. I was wondering why I wasn't seeing posts from you.

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    2. Grace, what a disappointment. Come to Crimebake!! Come to Crimebake!

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    3. Grace, we'll look forward to seeing you in San Diego!

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    4. Grace, how are you feeling. It was funny Kris and I were like where's Grace. We know she normally arrives early and stay off campus and then when conference starts she comes to the hotel. We kept saying we don't want to see her on dateline with the missing body. Finally we contacted her and was glad to see she was sick, not part of a mystery.

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    5. Grace, WE MISSED YOU!!! I hope you're feeling better now.

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    6. I was wondering why I didn't see you on Dru's panel. Hopefully, we'll meet up again soon.

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  11. I understand your comments on the feeling of being with your people, and how so much more is accomplished in a conference. In an earlier life, I used to be a volunteer with 4-H Ontario. I went as a rep from a small area one time, caused a bit of grief to the powers that be (I argued that some of what they wanted to bring in as changes would mean that many rural children would be costed-out-of attending), and then was called and asked to be part of ‘staff’ – still as a volunteer. Every year we had a 3-day conference in Guelph, where the format was the same, with educational meetings interspersed with good food, and even better fun. We were all locked-in in a cozy resort, so conversations off the agenda often went on for hours. It was something to look forward to, to actually talk with people face to face, to meet again with old friends, and to make new friends. Zoom and a deadline can never do that!

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  12. Aww, Jenn! I can see why Dru's remarks made you cry. How cool is it that your husband was not only along for the ride, but enjoyed it as much as you did!

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    1. He really did. He even sang with J.A. Jance in the bar for a bit. :)

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  13. What fun, Jenn. Thanks for taking us with you, and sharing your photos. I had no idea you are tall enough to tower over Rhys.

    Of course you talked about the Hooligans. 😊

    For the last two weeks I've done nothing but socialize. Because Robin lived in Boulder for 13 years, she has so many friends here, and between driving her to PT, the office, and to meet up with the friends who did not drop by with food, flowers, and wine, it's been nonstop.

    Going home tomorrow, back to our much more quiet life!

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    1. I find after many days of socializing, home is a lovely place to be.

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  14. I went to Malice and Pennwriters last year. And managed to arrive home healthy both times.

    This year, it's Malice, Pennwriters, and Bouchercon. I'm very excited.

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  15. I attended LCC with my husband in 2014 (Monterey) and 2016 (Phoenix) and loved it so much, but I've had to cancel my reservations to the last 3 conventions due to Covid (I didn't have it, but I didn't want to take a chance). I've been registered for Bouchercon in San Diego this August/September for months--hope springs eternal! As I live in California, it will be an easy trip (I think I'm going to fly rather than take a long drive alone), but it will be the first time without my late husband. Fortunately, there will be lots of friends there from Sisters in Crime NorCal and Capitol Crimes, as well as all of you! I'm so looking forward to it!

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  16. Oh, Jenn - this so perfectly captures what I love about in-person conferences. Connecting! It just doesn't happen online in the same way. I'll be at a bunch of conferences this year. Surrey International Writing Conference in Vancouver Canada where I'm teaching a master class. Hoping to get to our own New England Crime Bake in the fall. And most especially the Writers Digest annual conference back in NYC (YAY!)
    Last year I caught covid at Disneyland in Florida. Haven't caught it (yet) at a conference. But I am planning to GO! And inhale... And Jenn,, I hope to see you around and about along with the rest of the Reds! And Dru! And and and...

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    1. LOL - yes, I hope we meet up soon, Hallie. And I want a full report on the Writer's Digest conference.

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  17. Gosh, I haven't been to any since Bouchercon in Dallas. I used to go to author talks at Murder by the Book but that isn't available to me anymore. Sooo! ooo. Jenn, you're lucky your husband loves to read as much as you do!

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    1. That Bouchercon in Dallas was my last one, too. Yes, Hub could talk books with anyone. He's amazing.

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  18. Oh, I love this so much! Aww....and have to re-read, actually. Jenn, it sounds marvelous and your essay about it is so touching and perfect. Aw, Dru. A Treasure in every way. And it does show us how people remember things..in ways we may never know.
    I am on book tour right now---and TRYING TO EDIT and flying around again is very weird. RUSHING but I'll see you at Malice (were I am GOH, and with Ann Cleeves as Intl GOH!) , and Thrillerfest (where I am teaching a master class,) and Iceland Noir! (where I think I'll trying to keep warm...?)xxxxx

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  19. Jenn, this captures it so perfectly. Thank you for writing it. Answering your question, I went to both Malice and Bouchercon last year, first "live" ones in several years. How did I feel about it? Just great! Spirits were so high after (sort of after) covid and it was wonderful be back with my people.This year, I can't justify a big trip to CA but was planning to go to Malice, not far for me. Instead I will be going to a less fun but much more needed workshop the week right after. And already wishing I could do both. For all the reasons you gave. There's always next year!

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    1. Yes, there is next year. And LCC will be in Seattle - I am very excited about that!

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  20. I haven't attended in-person anything other than work and church. That said, I have taken a couple of trips to my sister's. I flew, with masks, rode a train, post mandatory masks, and drove. I keep going to the Bouchercon website but haven't push the button yet. Like Margie, I'm California, so I could drive. Per Mapquest, the drive would only about an hour longer than going to my sister's. My only fear would getting through the LA traffic. My first conference was in Dallas. I met so many people and despite my fear of social gatherings, I had a great time.

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  21. I am still waiting for the day when I can walk into a room full of people and not see a petri dish. We’ve got some medical conditions at home that make me unwilling to take the risk, but we are slowly entering the real world again. For all of Zoom’s shortcomings, I’m grateful for the continuing availability of connecting with other writers all over the world without having to think about virus, expense or travel time.

    On the other hand, if something was held within a short drive of my city I might be persuaded to dip a toe into the pool…!

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    1. That proximity to home tipped the scale for me!

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  22. First of all, congratulations to Dru! Dru, you have introduced me to a number of new-to-me authors over the years. Your award is well-deserved!

    I’ve never been to one of those conferences. I would love to go to one , but they’re not in my budget. I rely on those of you who go to report back to us on all that happened! And I’m still not entirely comfortable with being surrounded by so many people. I came down with Covid early in December from taking Amtrak to and from visiting relatives in NJ. And I was double-masked on the train!
    DebRo

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  23. Sounds like a great time. Jenn, I can just see you jumping barricades to get to people.

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  24. I'm so jealous! I really wanted to be there. Or at Malice next month. Stupid job keeping me from all the fun. At least I have the LA Times Festival of Books coming up.

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  25. Aw, Jenn, you made me wish I'd signed up for LLC. And the hotel looked so fabulous! I haven't been to a conference since Bouchercon in Dallas but I've got three scheduled this year, California Crime Writers in LA in June, Bouchercon, and Crimebake, so I'm really looking forward to dipping my toes back in the water. Even the virtual conference I did this month made me realize how much I miss being around my writer/reader people! For those who aren't able or comfortable attending in-person events, I'd highly recommend Murderous March, the virtual conference put on by the Upper Hudson SinC chapter. It was so well organized, the panels were great, and it really felt like a conference. They just need to add a virtual "hanging out in the bar."

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    1. Debs, yes! Murderous March was a delight, the next best thing to "being there," and I too highly recommend it!

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    2. I'd love to check out Murderous March! Sounds very well done.

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  26. Jenn, I did make somebody cry. It was such a memorable moment I had to share it in my speech. I will be at Malice this year (a very short trip) and Bouchercon since I'm Fan Guest of Honor. Looking forward to seeing everyone who attends. Grace, I may do the same type of panel - so I'll get you on a panel with me.

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    1. Woo hoo! Can't wait to see you at Bouchercon, Dru. Your speech was just perfect.

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  27. Live conferences I've already booked: Maine Crime Wave in June, Bouchercon in early September, New England CrimeBake in November. All others are on a "maybe, let's see where the book is" basis.

    Jenn, I hope the Hubs liked LCC enough to keep going to conferences with you now the Hooligans have been unleashed upon an unsuspecting world. Ross loved going to conferences with me, as the Reds and many readers here can attest, and some of our best trips as a couple were built around Bouchercon (it was a lot easier for a special ed teacher to get away at the beginning of the school year than at the end.)

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    1. He loved it and it made it so much easier for me because he's a walking encyclopedia of which author wrote what. I didn't even need Google - LOL.

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  28. Jenn, fingers crossed that everyone at left coast crime Tucson were vaccinated and that no one caught Covid!

    The last conference in person was at the left coast crime in San Diego and I flew home on the same day as the lockdown! Even before covid, I noticed that I get sick at hotels if I stay two nights so I decided to go for a short time. I stayed only one night.

    I would love to go to conferences this year. I need to make sure that my vaccinations are up to date. And there is a conference that I want to attend this year. I need to check with the conference to make sure that it is accessible in regards to sign language interpreters. With masks, it is hard to read lips!

    Loved seeing the photos and reading stories about the conference in Tucson. Wishing that I could be there in person.

    Diana

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    1. I was at that one, too, Diana. It was very intense, which made being back even more poignant.

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  29. Thank you for sharing photos and stories from LCC in Tucson. I would have loved to go. However, I have been fighting this awful cold and I could not go, Jenn.

    Hope that no one caught Covid at the Tucson conference this time.

    Would love to go to one of the conferences this year. I need to make sure that I am fully vaccinated before I go. And I need to speak with the conference organizers to ensure that there is access for me at the conference. I missed so much at the Toronto conference because it was not accessible.

    Last conference I was at was the conference in San Diego and I flew home on the same day as the lockdown. I already planned to stay for a very short time before the covid pandemic because I get sick in hotels. Someone mentioned a chain of green hotels so I am going to try that when I go to the conference in person.

    Diana

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  30. I shared much of your trepidation, until I walked past the lobby and into the gathering space Wed evening. Then, it was all hugs and wine and reconnection. Being on a panel with you was great fun -- you all made me hungry and made me laugh, and after all we've all been through the last few years, nothing could be better!

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    1. It was an excellent panel. I will never forget Ed Lin's description of flat, hot chicken. I still want it.

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  31. Have not yet made to any larger groups, but this report from LCC sure looks fun. Maybe it's time to venture further afield again...

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    1. Would love to see you whenever you venture forth, Amanda!

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  32. Jenn, thanks for the great pictures and your lovely wrap-up. I followed the conference on FaceBook by looking at the pictures everyone posted, and everybody was having such a good time. The resort was beautiful, too. I think it's fantastic that your husband not only went with you, Jenn, but he had read the authors attending, too. I love his observation that "conference you is rather terrifying." Your response was right on target, too.

    I love the story of how you and Dru met, although it's hard for me to imagine Dru not being surrounded by people. So many long-lasting friendships have been formed at these conferences by two people both just taking a break from the action and beginning a conversation. Dru, something I thought was brilliant was your Dru's Corner set-up at LCC. While I missed your GOH at LCC, I'll get to see it at Bouchercon, so I'm looking forward to that.

    I haven't been to anything bookish since Bouchercon St. Pete. I had thought about LCC this year, but I just wasn't ready to fly yet. I am set to go to Bouchercon in San Diego this year, and I can't wait to see so many friends in person once again. And, next year Bouchercon is in Nashville, only 2 to 2 1/2 hours away from me. I can finally drive to a Bouchercon! I'm already signed up for that, for sure.

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    1. Woo hoo! Can't wait to see you in San Diego, Kathy! I'm also very excited about Bouchercon in Nashville.

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  33. Thanks for your round-up of the conference, Jenn. Dru Ann is a marvel! I volunteered with her at Malice and had no idea how important she was to authors. I was hoping to go to LCC but had a conflict. Last year, I attended Bouchercon and Malice. The highlights for me were interviewing Dennis Lehane for "Mystery & Suspense magazine," meeting Barbara Peterson of PoisonPen, and getting a hug from one of the warmest people I've ever met, Wanda Morris. I met so many other authors I've adored, and what fun to do the speed rounds and make new friends/fans for my novels. I'm trying Killer Nashville this year and I'm back to Bouchercon in the beautiful city of San Diego.

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    1. I think Bouchercon San Diego is going to be off the hook. Everyone seems to be going.

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  34. What a delightful post. Thanks for your report and photos, Jenn. And Dru, huge congratulations on being Reader GOH. Somehow I've missed the existence of your wonderful blog, but I'm remedying that now.

    All my book-related activities have been virtual for the last three years (shout-out to Elaine Petrocelli and her excellent staff at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA), and I've never been to a conference. Being the caregiver for my husband has limited my activities, but during football season I'm able to get respite care and attend my beloved Niners games. (We have fun texting each other during the games, as he watches on TV and I'm in the stadium.) A family reunion in Wisconsin is in the works for early July, and we'll probably go. We're completely vaccinated and boosted, and will wear masks while we travel, but any other travel will have to wait. ~Lynda




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    1. I love that you're a Niners fan. You and author Paige Shelton will have to talk about Joe Montana one day. He's her #1 :)

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  35. I’ve done a few “gathering of possible germ carriers” things, but mainly wear masks when indoors to try to be safe. We’re going to try to get one more round of vaccinations in April so as to be hopefully better prepared for our son’s wedding in June.
    I am registered for Bouchercon in August and absolutely thrilled it’s in my hometown! Well, other than the fact I probably won’t be able to hang out in the bar and then just go to my nearby hotel room… I have been introduced to so many authors and readers through JRW (including Dru and her Musings!). At first I just assumed the commenters on the daily blog were readers like me, but have since found that many (most?) of you are also published authors so that’s widened my scope, too. Hope to meet many of you in San Diego this August. Stay well! — Pat S.

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    1. Looking forward to it, Pat and congratulations on your son's wedding!

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  36. I loved hearing about Left Coast Crime, Jenn. Good preparation for my first-ever visit to a mystery-writers' conference: Malice in Bethesda at the end of April. Sounds like I'll be seeing quite a few of you there, which is very exciting. And even more of you at Bouchercon in San Diego. Yay!

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    1. Have fun at Malice, Kim, and see you in San Diego!

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