Love is Murder: R.I.P.

Sad news from:

October 31, 2015

With genuine regret, we announce that circumstances beyond our control, including diminished attendance, have made LIMCon Chicago 2016 financially unsustainable. And so, with a heavy heart, we must cancel the 2016 conference and future conferences.

We want to thank you for your support of the 16 Love is Murder conferences we produced. Thanks to you and our hundreds of attendees over the past 16 cons, we’ve had a bloody good time!

With sincere appreciation,
Your Love is Murder Board

LOVEY AWARD WINNERS

LOVEY AWARD WINNERS
Love is Murder XVI
www.loveismurder.net

BEST FIRST NOVEL
The Black Hour / Lori Rader-Day

BEST TRADITIONAL / AMATEUR SLEUTH
Dead Between the Lines / Denise Swanson
BEST SUSPENSE
Black Stiletto: Secrets and Lies / Raymond Benson

BEST POLICE PROCEDURAL / PI
Retribution / Annie Rose Alexander

BEST HISTORICAL
Shall We Not Revenge /D. M. Pirrone

BEST THRILLER
Death and White Diamonds / Jeffery Markowitz

BEST PARANORMAL/ SI FI
Plagued by Quilt / Molly MacRae

BEST SERIES
The Charlie Fox Series / Zoe Sharp

BEST SHORT STORY
What We Do For Love / Kiddieland & Other Misfortunes / Tim Chapman

Photo caption: 2015 LOVEY Award winners, from left, front: Lori Rader-Day, Molly MacRae, D.M. Pirrone, Denise Swanson, Raymond Benson; back row: Zoe Sharp, Annie Rose Alexander, Jeff Markowitz.

Lovey Award Nominees

Love is Murder XVI 
Mystery Writers & Readers Conference in Chicago 
February 6-7-8, 2015 
www.loveismurder.net 

LOVEY AWARD NOMINEES
Nominees will be attending the Conference

BEST FIRST NOVEL
Honor Above All / J. Bard-Collins
Stinking Rich / Rob Brunet
The Black Hour / Lori Rader-Day
Death Stalks Door County / Patricia Skalka

BEST TRADITIONAL / AMATEUR SLEUTH
Dangerous Threads / David Ciambrone
Implications / Richard Davidson
Tradition of Deceit / Kathleen Ernst
Bean in Love / Annie Hansen
Wolf Pack / Jeanne Meeks
Sex Change / T'Gracie Reese and Joe Reese
Fatal Reaction / Jennie Spallone
Dead Between the Lines / Denise Swanson

BEST SUSPENSE
Black Stiletto: Secrets and Lies / Raymond Benson
Once Upon a Crime / Evelyn Cullet
The Conan Doyle Notes / Diane Gilbert Madsen
Titania's Suitor / C.L. Shore
The House on the Dunes / Nancy Sweetland
Murder Across the Ocean / Charlene Wexler

BEST POLICE PROCEDURAL / PI
Mercy / B.J. Daniels
Murder in the Ballpark / Robert Goldsborough
Nobody's Child / Libby Fischer Hellmann
Retribution / Annie Rose Alexander

BEST HISTORICAL
The Counterfeit Heiress / Tasha Alexander
From the Charred Remains / Susanna Calkins
Death at Chinatown / Frances McNamara
Shall We Not Revenge /D. M. Pirrone

BEST THRILLER
Black Stiletto: Endings & Beginnings / R. Benson
Run / Andrew Grant
Death and White Diamonds / Jeffery Markowitz

BEST PARANORMAL/ SI FI
Unmasked / EM Kaplan
Plagued by Quilt / Molly MacRae
Buried Innocence / Terri Reid

BEST SERIES
The Black Stiletto Mysteries / Raymond Benson
The Miller Sisters Series / Gale Borger
The Nero Wolfe Mysteries / Robert Goldsborough
The Leigh Girard Series / Gail Lukasik
Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries / Molly MacRae
The Emily Cabot Mysteries / Frances McNamara
The Nina Bannister Mysteries / T'Gracie Reese and Joe Reese
The Charlie Fox Series / Zoe Sharp
The Scumble River Mysteries / Denise Swanson

BEST SHORT STORY
Death of a Sad Face / A Serafina Florio Short Story / Susan Russo Anderson
Ghost / MWA  Anthology/ Raymond Benson
Perko's Farm /Down, Out and Dead/ Rob Brunet
What We Do For Love / Kiddieland & Other Misfortunes / Tim Chapman
Dr. Watson's Casebook  / In the Company of Sherlock Holmes / Andrew Grant
No Good Deed / Fiction River Crime Edition / Libby Fischer Hellmann
The Inheritance / Romancing the Lakes of Minnesota -Autumn / Kathleen Nordstrom
Ghost Light / Romancing the Lakes of Minnesota -Autumn / Rachael Passan
Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern / A Mary O'Reilly Short Story / Terri Reid

Lovey Awards 2014

Love is Murder Mystery Conference announced the 2014 Lovey Awards:

Best First Novel: One Man’s Castle by J. Michael Major (Five Star)

Other nominees: Bright and Yellow, Hard and Cold, by Tim Chapman (Allium Press); The Butterfly Sister, by Amy Gail Hansen (Morrow); Bad Policy, by James M. Jackson (Barking Rain Press); Buried Truth, by Gunter Kaesdorf (Cambridge); Rim to Rim: Death in the Grand Canyon, by Jeanne Meeks (CreateSpace); and Deception, by Sue Myers (CreateSpace)

Best Traditional/Amateur Sleuth: Peak Season for Murder, by Gail Lukasik (Five Star)

Other Nominees: Death of a Garden Hoe, by Gale Borger (Echelon Press); Dangerous Threads, by Dave Ciambrone (L & L Dreamspell); Murder by the Seaside, by Julie Anne Lindsey (Carina Press); and Locked Within, by Helen Macie Osterman (Dark Oak Mysteries)

Best Suspense: The Black Stiletto: Stars & Stripes by Raymond Benson (Oceanview)

Other Nominees: Fear of Beauty, by Susan Froetschel (Seventh Street); Havana Lost, by Libby Fischer Hellmann (Red Herrings Press); Deceived, Julie Anne Lindsey (Merit Press); Inconspicuous, by M.E. May (CreateSpace); Brilliance, Marcus Sakey (Thomas & Mercer); and The Fate of Mercy Alban, by Wendy Webb (Hyperion)

Best Paranormal/Sci-fi: Girl Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie by Christine Verstraete (Intrigue)

Other Nominees: Blood Red, by Heather Graham (Mira); How I Started the Apocalypse, Book Two, by Brian Pinkerton (Severed Press); and The Vanishing, by Wendy Webb (Hyperion)

Best Series: Close-Up on Murder (Murder, She Wrote) by Donald Bain (NAL)
Other Nominees: Totally Evil (The Miller Sisters Mysteries), by Gale Borger (Echelon Press); The Ice Woman Assignment (The Stark & O’Brian Series), by Austin Camacho (Intrigue); Emma Caldridge Series by Jamie Freveletti (Morrow), and the Krewe of Hunters Series by Heather Graham (Mira)

Best Short Story: “Harry’s Loss of Grace” by Luisa Buehler

Other Nominees: “Once Upon a Time in the Woods,” by Raymond Benson (from Kwik Krimes, edited by Otto Penzler; Thomas & Mercer); “War Secrets,” by Libby Fischer Hellmann (from Mystery Writers of America Presents The Mystery Box, edited by Brad Meltzer; Grand Central) and “A Letter to My Ex,” by J. Michael Major (in Splatterlands: Reawakening the Splatterpunk Revolution, edited by Anthony Rivera and Sharon Lawson; Grey Matter Press)

HT: Ominmystery News

LOVEY AWARD WINNERS

The 2013 LOVEY Awards for mystery writing were presented at the 14th annual Love is Murder mystery writers and readers conference on Saturday, Feb. 2. The awards were presented in nine categories, with more than 40 entrants.

2013 WINNERS:

Best First Novel: PERFIDY by M.E. May
Best Traditional Amateur Sleuth: THE LIGHTKEEPER’S LEGACY by Kathleen Ernst
Best Thriller: COMPANY ORDERS by David J. Walker
Best Historical: ARCHIE MEETS NERO WOLFE by Robert Goldsborough
Best Police Procedural: PORTRAIT OF MURDER by Rob Riley
Best Suspense: A BITTER VEIL by Libby Fischer Hellmann
Best Paranormal/Sci-Fi: LAST WOOL AND TESTAMENT by Molly MacRae
Best Series: TRICKSTER’S POINT by William Kent Krueger
Best Short Story: HARRY’S FALL FROM GRACE by Luisa Buehler

Congrats to all!

For the list of nominees, go HERE.

LOVEY AWARD NOMINEES: Love is Murder Conference

LOVE IS MURDER TO PRESENT 2013 LOVEY AWARDS AT ANNUAL MYSTERY CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 1-3 IN CHICAGO

The 2013 LOVEY Awards will be presented at the 14th annual Love is Murder Conference taking place Feb. 1-3 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Rosemont, just outside of Chicago. The awards, in nine categories, will be presented at the Saturday evening awards dinner/banquet.

 
The 2013 LOVEY nominees are:

Best First Novel
COURTING MURDER, by Bill Hopkins
SOULJOURNER, by D. L. Marriott
PERFIDY, by Michele May
IN HER SHADOW, by August McLaughlin
 
Best Traditional/Amateur Sleuth
WHERE DID YOU DIE, by Patricia K. Batta
THE TRASHY GOURMET, by David Ciambrone
A SMALL HILL TO DIE ON, by Elizabeth Duncan
THE LIGHTKEEPER'S LEGACY, by Kathleen Ernst
DABBLERS, by Kathryn Flatt
THE LOST ARTIST, by Gail Lukasik
LAST WOOL AND TESTAMENT, by Molly MacRae
EMMA WINBERRY AND THE EVIL EYE, by Helen Osterman
MURDER IN THE ROUND, by Patricia Rockwell (an Amelia Barnes Acoustic Mystery)
CROSSCURRENTS, by Powell Smily, with Susan Smily and Honora Finkelstein

Best Thriller
HITMAN: DAMNATION, by Raymond Benson
THE BLACK STILETTO: BLACK & WHITE, by Raymond Benson
THE NINTH DAY, by Jamie Freveletti
COMPANY ORDERS, by David J. Walker

Best Police Procedural
PORTRAIT OF MURDER, by Rob Riley
THE SONS OF JUDE, by Brandt Dobson
Best Paranormal/Sci-Fi
WALK-IN, by Honora Finkelstein and Susan Smily
WHEN THE MOON IS GIBBOUS AND WAXING, by Angela Myers

Best Historical
ARCHIE MEETS NERO WOLFE, by Robert Goldsborough
DEATH AT WOODS HOLE, by Frances McNamara
THE BOOTLEGGER'S NEPHEW, by Sara Wisseman

Best Suspense
A BITTER VEIL, by Libby Fischer Hellman
MOONLIGHT FOR MAGGIE, by Karen L. Syed

Best Series
GET FLUFFY, by Sparkle Abbey (the Pampered Pets mystery series)
THY WILL BE DONE, by Richard M. Davidson (the Lord's Prayer mystery series)
THE JANUS REPRISAL, by Jamie Freveletti (Robert Ludlum's Covert One series)
KILLERFIND, by Sharon Woods Hopkins (the Rhetta McCarter mysteries)
TRICKSTER'S POINT, by William Kent Krueger (the Cork O'Connor mystery series)
THE WATCH, by Jerry Peterson (the AJ Garrison crime novels)

Best Short Story
"Harry's Fall From Grace" by Luisa Buehler, prequel to the Grace Marsden mystery series
"The Love Nest", by Sharon I. Cook, in THE LEGEND OF JUDGMENT ROCK & OTHER MYSTERY STORIES
"Capital Partners", by Libby Fischer Hellman, in WRITES OF SPRING
"Early's Christmas", by Jerry Peterson, in STORIES OF THE SEASON anthology
"The Case of the Extra Ingredient", by Mary Welk, in HOT CRIME, COOL CHICKS

Lovey Awards: Love is Murder

The winners of the Lovey Awards, given out at Love is Murder.

BEST FIRST NOVEL: BASIC BLACK by SCOTT DOORNBOSCH
BEST TRADITIONAL: THE FINE ART OF MURDER by DONALD BAIN
BEST PI/POLICE PROCEDURAL: THE TOWMAN’S DAUGHTERS: by DAVID J.WALKER
BEST THRILLER: NORTHWEST ANGLE by WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER
BEST HISTORICAL: TERROR AT THE FAIR by ROBERT GOLDSBOROUGH
BEST SUSPENSE: TOXICITY by LIBBY FISCHER HELLMANN
BEST PARANORAMAL/SCI FI/HORROR: HOMEFRONT: THE VOICE OF FREEDOM by RAYMOND BENSON
BEST SERIES: THE WHITE HOUSE CHEF SERIES by JULIE HYZY
BEST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE: A LOT LIKE LOVE by JULIE JAMES
BEST SHORT STORY: DIAMONDS AREN’T FOREVER by MARY WELK

Love is Murder Conference: Chicago

The 13th Love is Murder Conference returns to Chicago next month, February 3-5 at the Intercontinental Chicago O'Hare Hotel.

This Midwest mystery conference includes three days of panel discussions, beginning with "Til the Last Perp Walks" -- presentations by 13 forensic experts in crime scene investigation, computer fraud, money laundering, guns and weapons, poisons, the "blood splatter guy" and more.

Featured authors at the conference: Donald Bain (author of the Murder She Wrote and Coffee, Tea or Me? series), Julie James (A Lot Like Love, Something About You), David Morrell (The Naked Edge, The Shimmer), and Hank Phillippi Ryan (The Other Woman, Drive Time and the Charlotte McNally series); and Local Featured Author Julie Hyzy (the Alex St. James, White House Chef and Manor House series). Featured authors are on hand throughout the weekend to chat with conference attendees, sign books and answer questions.

Other events: book signings; Pitch-A-Palooza with NYC- and Chicago-based agents, editors and publishers; Master Writing Classes presented by featured authors; writing tracks presented by the Midwest Writers Association; the Lovey Awards; Saturday afternoon tea party; booksellers and exhibitors; entertainment by Those Were The Days radio players, the Mystery Shop and Mixed Company Troupe; networking with authors and hundreds of fellow mystery readers and fans from the U.S. and overseas; and the annual snowball fight.

Visit the Love is Murder #13 website (www.loveismurder.net) for more information and/or to register for the conference; or, email registrar Terri Stone at tvmstone@yahoo.com.

Love Is Murder: Lovey Awards

Love is Murder, a small mystery conference was held in Chicago over this past weekend.  The Lovey Awards were originally known as the Reader's Choice Award, and have been a feature of the Love Is Murder conference since 2000. Because no conference was held in 2010, books published in both 2009 and 2010 were considered for 2011 awards.

Update: Carol Thomas just posted the entire list on examiner.com Thanks to Jamie Freveletti for pointing me that way!

Lovey Award Winners:
Best First Novel: Stein, Stoned  by Hal Ackerman
Best Traditional/Amateur Sleuth: Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy
Best PI/Police Procedural: Hostile Takeovers by Michael Black
Best Historical: Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander
Best Thriller: Running Dark by Jamie Freveletti
Best Romantic Suspense: Red, White, and Dead by Laura Caldwell
Best Series: Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
Best Short Story: “The Sugar Cure,” by Carolyn Haines (from Delta Blues, 2010)