Left Coast Crime Annual Mystery Convention

[Ursula]

They met in Monterey this weekend and a few of our favorites walked away winners!

Louise Penny's How the Light Gets In won Best Novel Set Outside the US AKA The Calamari Award;

William Kent Kruger's Ordinary Grace won Best Novel Set Inside the US AKA The Squid Award;

Brad Parks' The Good Cop won for Most Humorous Mystery AKA The Lefty Award.

Just love the AKA names of the awards.  Will have to try and attend next year in Portland.

[rapa]

CHEERS!!!!   Thanks, Ursula, for posting.  Indeed some of our favorite authors were winners!

[officerripley]

Yes, indeed, thanks for posting; I'd love to make it to one of these conventions some day, I think it'd be so much fun.

[Baia]

During the years when I belonged to a mystery readers' club, Seattle hosted both Left Coast Crime and Bouchercon.  It was a real treat to meet so many favorite authors.  I had a funny experience with Faye and Jonathan Kellerman at a signing.  Meeting authors in the elevators was a trip.  More than just up and down.

[rapa]

Please share!!!!!!

[Baia]

The funny experience with the Kellermans?  Well I had worked my way up the line to Jonathan at the signing event and was chatting with him about the National Wilms Tumor Study where I worked and which was an interest of his when he was living and working in Seattle.  He (as did many other authors) was using a rubber signature stamp due to carpal tunnel syndrome brought on by many years of typing on an IBM Selectric typewriter.  He stamped my book and handed me off to Faye to sign the book of hers that I had brought along.  When she had written her own signature , she asked to see where Jonathan had signed for me.  She was appalled at how messy the stamped signature was and made him do it over again.  I can't remember her exact words, but if he had been her slacker teenaged son, it would have been appropriate.

[rapa]

THANKS! Memories are the best!!!!!