Left Coast Crime - Part I

Rabbit, rabbit! Right? Kind of funny saying that the day AFTER Easter. I hope you all had a great weekend.

So, you know I traveled to Colorado to attend my first Left Coast Crime. And I have to say, it was a great experience. I liked the size of the conference and the resort was absolutely lovely. I personally would have preferred it in the summer, but some left-coasters who don't get to see snow very often enjoyed it. Here's a view of the scenery Friday morning:

This was the same view Saturday morning:

This was also the reason Lou Diamond Phillips had a difficult time getting to Colorado Springs, but more on that later. Despite the weather, we had a grand time.

Thursday was our panel on social media. I video taped the panel, but unfortunately the view wasn't wide enough to get everyone. So, it's only a partial view. When I have that available on YouTube, I'll let you all know. But we touched on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads (too bad we didn't have the Amazon topic to throw in), Pinterest and Google Plus. Time prevented us from addressing blogs, websites and newsletters, though. Our panelists were so wonderful and all had unique perspectives, so the conversation was great and we received many compliments. The greatest thing I heard from people was that they learned something something from the panel. Yay!

The next day started off with a panel about literary influences, followed by a panel on the anti-hero. The discussion on the anti-hero was rather fascinating and revealing. Questions such as "is there a line your anti-hero can't cross" and "should the reader judge the anti-hero" came up. I think readers are going to judge all characters no matter but whether they're justified in doing so is the real question. This brings to mind for me the idea that readers should first and foremost ask themselves if the author is doing what he/she set out to do. John Gilstrap says the problems arise when you have the anti-hero step outside his/her own code.

The panel was all male and I wonder what direction some of the questions would have taken if there had been a female on the panel. It was pointed out later in the panel that Zoe Sharp writes a female anti-hero. That may very well have changed the climate of this panel, but it was insightful nonetheless.

One of my favorite panels of the weekend was the "Lighter Side of Death and Dismemberment" featuring Deb Coonts, Harley Jane Kozak, Rochelle Staab, Brad Parks and Chuck Greaves. These folks know how to avoid taking life too seriously. While I had a hard time believing that Brad Parks is the shy quiet one in his family, the fact that Deb has made it her life's mission to embarrass her son sounded like a parental truth.

The idea of humor in the darker books of crime fiction came up and humor as a defense mechanism was discussed. Most professions that encounter regular horrors like law enforcement, the medical professions, etc. have a way of dealing with what they witness every day. To people on the outside that may come across as sick, but for those in the trenches, it's the only way to remain healthy. So humor is true to life for these people.

I have some video from this panel as well. I need to do some editing with it, but will hopefully have that done soon so I can share. I think you'll enjoy a little tidbit from this panel.

Following this humor panel, I attended another absolutely hilarious event and that was the Truth or Dare panel. The folks subjecting themselves to this were Brad Parks, Toast master David Corbett, Guest of Honor Laura Lippman and Parnell Hall.

The questions and dares were posed by Rhys Bowen. At first everyone was willing to respond to the truths: what non-living writer doesn't deserve their fame? What's your birth name? What's the worst thing anyone's ever said or written about you? But when the question of "What LIVING author doesn't deserve their wealth or fame" no one was willing to answer and the dares started. 

Several of the dares dealt with singing, but when they arrived at Brad, he was given a blind fold and then Jan Burke came to the stage and stood next to him. He had to determine who Jan was without looking. And yes, we were all a little concerned about this! No lives or limbs were lost, however.

To top off this night, Brad Parks and I went to dinner at a dive called The Hatch Cover. Brad had been in the "Concealed Weapons Fashion Show" as James Bond and was decked out in a tuxedo. I fit in much better in my jeans and sweatshirt. As Brad describes it, when we walked in the record scratched and everyone turned to look at the first tuxedo to grace the Hatch Cover. The tuxedo may also have been the reason the waitress carded Brad when he ordered a beer. He was astonished and had to brag to everyone that night about being carded. A success Friday at Left Coast Crime I would say!

I'll have more on Saturday tomorrow, so stay tuned!

You've the Right to Six Words - Week 3

June is here and so are the next round-up of six-words from our favorite crime fiction writers.

Memoirist number one just released his newest thriller, DAY ONE, on June 1. Bill Cameron is all about number ones. Actually DAY ONE is Bill's third novel, but he's also had his shorter work published in three anthologies: KILLER YEAR, PORTLAND NOIR, and also due out this month FIRST THRILLS. Anne Frasier said of Bill's writing, "Real is the word that immediately comes to mind when stepping into a world created by the exceptionally talented Bill Cameron. The landscape he illuminates is one we've seen before, but never with such focus or appreciation."

In addition to his writing, Bill plays "staff to a charming yet imperious cat" and his poodle. When he isn't at their beck and call, you might find Bill blogging over at Criminal Minds or chatting on Twitter. Bill and his wife reside in Portland, Oregon, and it's a good idea to test the waters before approaching Bill because

"Oh, I'm in a mood now."

Simon Wood also has a new book out. TERMINATED is Simon's nineth publication, seven novels and two collections of short stories. From his most recent short story collection, ASKING FOR TROUBLE, comes "Protecting the Innocent" which has just earned Simon a Dagger Award nomination from the Crime Writers Association.

Simon is a man who lives to conquer his fears and do what most wouldn't expect. He suffers from dyslexia but is a writer; he fears heights but is a licensed pilot in the United States and the United Kingdom. Simon loves travel and says he won't be happy until he's visited every country on the planet. He's also an avid soccer player. So when he has time for his furry family, too, I don't know. But a long-haired dachshund and four cats depend on Simon and his wife, Julie, for their well-being. That's quite an accomplishment list for a man who started out in engineering!

So how does he sum this all up in six words? With

"Possesses a small talent for disaster."

And rounding out our memoirists this week is Jan Burke. Probably best known for her Irene Kelly series, the Edgar Award-winning novelist also penned FLIGHT, a bit of a spin-off of the Irene Kelly series because it features Irene's husband, a standalone novel, and a collection of short stories.

In addition to her own writing, Jan has worked to help others through her work on the Sister's in Crime guide to getting published, BREAKING AND ENTERING, and the MWA handbook, WRITING MYSTERIES.

Oh, you think that's enough contribution? How about the fact that Jan is the founder of the Crime Lab Project to encourage greater support for forensic science in the United States?

And finally, seeing as our first two authors are dog people, I simply couldn't have the third not be. Jan and her musician husband Tim have two dogs, Cappy and Britches. Based on her memoir, I would have to say that Jan has made the best of all life has thrown at her:

"Great time. Thanks for inviting me."

I'm sure I speak for far more than myself when I say, "so glad you could come, Jan!" And so glad all of the authors today could contribute and be a part of the six-word memoir project this year.





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Caught! - Simon Wood

Simon Wood is so thoroughly engrossed in Lawrence Block's HIT MAN that he has to do a little multi-tasking. Entertaining the dog and reading.

After that strenuous dog play session, Simon's taking his reward cue from Thomas Kaufman and relaxing in the hammock! This dog isn't interested in playing. This dog wants to read, too!

Simon's newest thriller, TERMINATED, will be released June 1st.