Left Coast Crime Award Nominations

Left Coast Crime 2012, "Mining for Murder," announced the four awards - 23rd annual LCC convention in Sacramento, California. The awards will be voted on at the convention and presented at a banquet on Saturday, March 31, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel. The nomination period has just concluded, and LCC is delighted to announce the nominees for books published in 2011:

The Lefty has been awarded for the best humorous mystery novel since 1996. This year's nominees are:

Donna Andrews, The Real Macaw (Minotaur)
Rita Lakin, Getting Old Can Kill You (Dell)
Jess Lourey, October Fest (Midnight Ink)
Kris Neri, Magical Alienation (Red Coyote Press)
Cindy Sample, Dying for a Dance (L & L Dreamspell)
John Vorhaus, The Albuquerque Turkey (Crown)

The Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award, first awarded in 2004, is given to mystery novels covering events before 1960. This year's nominees are:

Rhys Bowen, Naughty in Nice (Berkley Prime Crime)
Rebecca Cantrell, A Game of Lies (Forge)
Ann Parker, Mercury's Rise (Poisoned Pen Press)
Priscilla Royal, A Killing Season (Poisoned Pen Press)
Jeri Westerson, Troubled Bones (Minotaur)
Jacqueline Winspear, A Lesson in Secrets (Harper)

The Golden Nugget is a special award given to the best mystery set in California, in recognition of the location of this year's convention. The nominees are:

Jan Burke, Disturbance (Simon & Schuster)
Michael Connelly, The Drop (Little, Brown)
Janet Dawson, Bit Player (Perseverance Press)
Sue Grafton, V is for Vengeance (Putnam)
Kelli Stanley, City of Secrets (Minotaur)

Eureka! is a special award this year for the best first mystery novel. The nominees are:

Sally Carpenter, The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper (Oak Tree Press)
Darrell James, Nazareth Child (Midnight Ink)
Tammy Kaehler, Dead Man's Switch (Poisoned Pen Press)
Rochelle Staab, Who Do, Voodoo? (Berkley Prime Crime)

The Left Coast Crime Convention is an annual event sponsored by fans of mystery literature for fans of mystery literature, including both readers and authors. Usually held in the western half of North America, LCC's intent is to provide an event where mystery fans can gather in convivial surroundings to pursue their mutual interests.

The 23rd annual Left Coast Crime Convention will take place in Sacramento, California, March 29–April 1, 2012. The convention's theme is Mining for Murder, harkening back to the Gold Rush days. This year's Guests of Honor are John Lescroart and Jacqueline Winspear. James Rollins is a Special Guest, and Noemi Levine is the Fan Guest of Honor. Author Harley Jane Kozak will serve as Toastmaster.

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