Murder’s a Beach Newsletter: August 2019

Meet Your San Diego Co-Chairs

Lisa Brackmann

Lisa Brackmann is the New York Times best-selling author of the Ellie McEnroe novels set in China (Rock Paper Tiger) and the thrillers Getaway, Go-Between, and Black Swan Rising (set here in San Diego). Her work has also appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Travel+Leisure, Salon, Los Angeles Review of Books and CNET.

She doesn’t like mornings but she does like craft beer and going on long walks. She lives in San Diego with a cat named Ghost, far too many books and a bass ukulele. After a 17-year break, she’s playing music again, in a local band called Plunderbund (though the bass ukulele generally stays home). Musicians take note — she’s hoping to show the Rock Bottom Remainders how it’s done with a band made up of crime fiction stalwarts that will perform at the conference — the Left Coast Criminals?

Kim Keeline

Kim Keeline is the current president of the local chapter of Sisters in Crime, which calls itself Partners in Crime. A freelance marketing, communications and design person, she enjoys working with authors, making their web sites, bookmarks, and generally help them get the word out about their books.

She’s been writing a mystery novel for awhile now and is happy to have her first fiction publication coming soon — a short story being published in an anthology which will be launched at Left Coast Crime 2020 called Crossing Borders.

She has a PhD in English Literature (studying the time of Shakespeare) and still gives frequent talks on literature and history around the city. She has also been a volunteer steam locomotive engineer for a 1907 Baldwin for about 17 years, driving the train with her husband twice a month at a local park in the North County. This might explain why her mystery novel is set in a train museum.

With her husband, she sells used books as a side line, particularly children’s series books like Nancy Drew. Her home is covered in books and artwork from books. She is proudly owned by a very smart cat named Whistler who knows about 15 tricks, including shaking hands and waving hello.

Maryelizabeth Yturralde

Maryelizabeth Yturralde is a co-founder of local independent genre bookstore Mysterious Galaxy. In late 1992 she and her two partners recognized a need for a genre store in San Diego and saw it as a way to share their passion for books, bookselling, and a love of reading with their community. She also shares the magic of books through South Bay Los Angeles bookstore Creating Conversations, selling books and hosting events throughout Southern California.

Maryelizabeth has a geeky love of science fiction/fantasy as well as mystery and suspense, and can often be found at Comic-Con and other festivals and conventions even when not attending as a bookseller.

With a passion for the Indie book scene, Maryelizabeth keeps busy working to support the value of reading, learning and sharing books in our communities. She serves on the board of the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association, and participated in launching the first Bookstore Romance Day in 2019. She lives in San Diego with husband Mark and their adorable dog Puddin’, reading, working on the computer and living and breathing books.

LCC 2020’s Charity: The Juvenile Court Book Club

Juvenile Court Book Club brings volunteers into San Diego’s juvenile detention centers for monthly book club meetings and tutoring. They work with these at-risk teens to develop their reading skills and encourage a love of reading that will help them as they pursue their education and enter the working world. They also coordinate author visits, book signings, visiting performers, speakers, film screenings, and field trips. The books the students read serve as a springboard for discussions of real-life challenges and experiences, and the teens bring great insight to every discussion.

Their trained volunteer tutors work with students one-on-one at the Girls’ Rehabilitation Facility, helping with all academic subjects, including English/Language Arts, reading comprehension, grammar and vocabulary, basic math, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, GED exam preparation, and California High School Exit Exam preparation.

JCBC was founded in 1996 by Judge Maria Arroyo (Ret.), San Diego County Superior Court Juvenile Court Referee, with support and encouragement from San Diego Superior Court Judge James Milliken (Ret.).

Money raised at LCC through the auctions and the Quilt will go to the Juvenile Court Book Club to help them purchase new books to give to these at-risk teens.

September 15: Committee/Volunteer Meeting

For those of you who are local, we are having an informational meeting at our Marriott hotel to let you know about volunteer opportunities at LCC 2020, particularly needed committee roles. We are looking for a volunteer coordinator, print master, auction chair, and hospitality chair. We will also discuss smaller volunteer roles that people can take on between now and March of 2020. More information about Volunteer Roles

If you are interested but can’t make it, please email Kim Keeline and she’ll keep you informed. If you are interested and able to make it to this meeting, here are the details:

Lobby of the Marriott Mission Valley (back near the bar)
8757 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, California 92108
September 15, 3:00 PM to approximately 4:00 PM

San Diego

It’s another sunny day in San Diego. Here’s our beautiful setting for our conference. Make sure to book your room at the Marriott Mission Valley soon and plan to spend extra days in America’s Finest City. It will be so much fun it’s criminal! Questions about hotel registration? Email Registrar Kathy Krevat.
Hotel Information | San Diego Information

Team 2020
Lisa Brackmann
Kim Keeline
Maryelizabeth Yturralde

Sponsorship

Left Coast Crime encourages organizations to sponsor a variety of events such as the Opening Reception, the Awards Banquet, the Friday “Meet the New Authors” breakfast, the Saturday breakfast, and the hospitality suite. Other options include sponsoring one of our Guests of Honor or supporting Left Coast Crime by sponsoring items such as the convention book bag. Please email Lucinda Surber if you are interested in learning more about our sponsorship opportunities.

Advertising

Attention Authors! Please encourage your publisher to advertise in the Left Coast Crime Program Book. There are sizes and prices for every budget. Don’t be left out! The deadline for reserving ad space is February 1, 2020. Details and Ad Form

Note: LCC 2020 San Diego Newsletters are also sent to LCC 2019 Vancouver registrants through the Lefty nomination period ending in January 2020. If you are not sure whether you are registered for LCC 202o, check the San Diego Attendee page! Questions about registration? Email Registrar Kathy Krevat.

Left Coast Crime 2021: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Registration is Now Open!
When: April 8–11, 2021
Where: Hyatt Regency Albuquerque
Guest of Honor: Mick Herron
Guest of Honor: Catriona McPherson
Fan Guest of Honor: Kristopher Zgorski
Toastmaster: Kellye Garrett
Ghost of Honor: Tony Hillerman
Visit the LCC 2021 website for more details and to register.