LEFTY AWARD NOMINATIONS: Left Coast Crime

2016 Left Coast Crime “Lefty” Award Nominations

Left Coast Crime 2016, “The Great Cactus Caper,” will be giving four Lefty awards at the 26th annual LCC convention, to be held in Phoenix next month. There’s something new this year: now all LCC awards are called “Lefty” — for humorous, historical, regional, and worldwide. The awards will be voted on at the convention and presented at a banquet on Saturday, February 27, at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix. The award nominees have been selected by this and last years’ convention registrants. The nomination period has just concluded, and LCC is delighted to announce the Lefty nominees for books published in 2015:

Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel (given since 1996). This year’s nominees are:
   • Donna Andrews, Lord of the Wings (Minotaur Books)
   • Ellen Byron, Plantation Shudders (Crooked Lane Books)
   • Jess Lourey, February Fever (Midnight Ink)
   • Cindy Sample, Dying for a Donut (Cindy Sample Books)
   • Diane Vallere, Crushed Velvet (Berkley Prime Crime)

Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel (Bruce Alexander Memorial, first given in 2004) for books covering events before 1960. This year’s nominees are:
   • Rhys Bowen, Malice at the Palace (Berkley Prime Crime)
   • Susanna Calkins, The Masque of a Murderer (Minotaur Books)
   • Heather Haven, The Chocolate Kiss-Off (Wives of Bath Press)
   • Jennifer Kincheloe, The Secret Life of Anna Blanc (Seventh Street Books)
   • Laurie R. King, Dreaming Spies (Bantam Books)
   • Susan Elia MacNeal, Mrs. Roosevelt’s Confidante (Bantam Books)

Lefty for Best LCC Regional Mystery Novel, set in the LCC Geographic Region (Mountain Time Zone and all time zones westward to Hawaii). The nominees are:
   • Michael Connelly, The Crossing (Little, Brown and Company)
   • Matt Coyle, Night Tremors (Oceanview Publishing)
   • Robert Crais, The Promise (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
   • Gigi Pandian, The Accidental Alchemist (Midnight Ink)
   • Josh Stallings, Young Americans (Heist Publishing)

Lefty for Best World Mystery Novel (set outside LCC Geographic Region). The nominees are:
   • Lou Berney, The Long and Faraway Gone (William Morrow)
   • Lisa Brackmann, Dragon Day (Soho Crime)
   • Chris Holm, The Killing Kind (Mulholland Books)
   • Louise Penny, The Nature of the Beast (Minotaur Books)
   • James W. Ziskin, Stone Cold Dead (Seventh Street Books)

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 26th annual Left Coast Crime Convention will take place in Phoenix, AZ, February 25–28, 2016. This year’s Guests of Honor are authors Gregg Hurwitz (American Guest of Honor) and Ann Cleeves (International Guest of Honor). Chantelle Aimée Osman is the Fan Guest of Honor, and author Catriona McPherson will serve as Toastmaster.

For more information on Left Coast Crime 2016, please visit www.leftcoastcrime2016.com

Lucinda Surber & Stan Ulrich, LCC Awards Committee Co-Chairs
Ingrid Willis, LCC 2016 Chair