The Unconvention: February 27, 2021
 Because of the pandemic, the 2021 Left Coast Crime convention has been rescheduled for 2022. Everything else may have changed but the Lefty Awards continue!
On February 27, 2021, The Unconvention will host four online panels to introduce the 2021 Lefty Nominees and their books.
The Lefty Award Nominee Webinar is free, but advance registration is required. (Left Coast Crime is charged for each registration.)
REGISTRATION LINK
Schedule for the Day
Introduction: Left Coast Crime and the Lefty Awards (15 minutes)
8:30 AM PT, 9:30 MT, 10:30 CT, 11:30 ET
Nominees for the Lefty Award for Best Debut Novel (60 minutes)
8:45 AM PT, 9:45 MT, 10:45 CT, 11:45 ET
Nominees for the Lefty Award for Best Novel (60 minutes)
10:00 AM PT, 11:00 MT, Noon CT, 1:00 PM ET
Nominees for the Lefty Award for Best Historical Novel (60 minutes)
11:15 AM PT, 12:15 PM MT, 1:15 CT, 2:15 ET
Nominees for the Lefty Award for Best Humorous Novel (60 minutes)
12:30 PM PT, 1:30 MT, 2:30 CT, 3:30 ET
Support Local Bookshops by shopping online at Bookshop.org: Lefty Nominated Books
The 2021 Lefty Award Nominees have been selected by registrants for the last in-person convention in San Diego and the next one scheduled for Albuquerque in April 2022. The awards will be voted on virtually and presented April 10, 2021. Here are the nominees:
| Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel |
| ° |
Ellen Byron, Murder in the Bayou Boneyard (Crooked Lane Books) |
| ° |
Jennifer J. Chow, Mimi Lee Gets a Clue (Berkley Prime Crime) |
| ° |
Carl Hiaasen, Squeeze Me (Alfred A. Knopf) |
| ° |
Cynthia Kuhn, The Study of Secrets (Henery Press) |
| ° |
J. Michael Orenduff, The Pot Thief Who Studied the Woman at Otowi Crossing (Aakenbaaken & Kent) |
| ° |
Sung J. Woo, Skin Deep (Agora Books) |
Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel
(Bruce Alexander Memorial) for books covering events before 1970 |
| ° |
Susanna Calkins, The Fate of a Flapper (Minotaur Books) |
| ° |
Dianne Freeman, A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder (Kensington Books) |
| ° |
Laurie R. King, Riviera Gold (Bantam Books) |
| ° |
Catriona McPherson, The Turning Tide (Quercus) |
| ° |
Ann Parker, Mortal Music (Poisoned Pen Press) |
| ° |
James W. Ziskin, Turn to Stone (Seventh Street Books) |
| Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel |
| ° |
Daisy Bateman, Murder Goes to Market (Seventh Street Books) |
| ° |
Mary Keliikoa, Derailed (Camel Press) |
| ° |
Erica Ruth Neubauer, Murder at the Mena House (Kensington Books) |
| ° |
Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club (Viking) |
| ° |
Halley Sutton, The Lady Upstairs (Putnam) |
| ° |
David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Winter Counts (Ecco) |
| Lefty for Best Mystery Novel |
| ° |
Tracy Clark, What You Don’t See (Kensington Books) |
| ° |
S.A. Cosby, Blacktop Wasteland (Flatiron Books) |
| ° |
Matt Coyle, Blind Vigil (Oceanview Publishing) |
| ° |
Rachel Howzell Hall, And Now She’s Gone (Forge) |
| ° |
Louise Penny, All the Devils Are Here (Minotaur Books) |
To be eligible for the 2021 Lefty Awards, titles must have been published for the first time in the United States or Canada during 2020, in book or ebook format. (If published in other countries before 2020, a book is still eligible if it meets the US or Canadian publication requirement.)
The Left Coast Crime “Lefty” Awards are fan awards chosen by registered members of the Left Coast Crime convention. Nominations for awards to be presented at each annual convention are made by people registered for that convention and also the immediately prior convention. A ballot listing the official nominees is given to each registrant when they check in at the convention, and final voting takes place at the convention. The ballots are tabulated and that year’s Lefty Awards are presented at the Awards Celebration.
 2022 Lefty Awards: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Left Coast Crime 2022 — Southwest Sleuths — will
be presenting four Lefty Awards at the rescheduled convention
in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Registrants of the Left Coast Crime
Conventions in San Diego and Albuquerque will be able to nominate three titles in
each category. The 2022 Lefty awards will be voted
on at the convention and presented at the Awards Banquet
on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque.
The categories are…
| |
◉ |
Best Mystery Novel |
| |
◉ |
Best Debut Mystery Novel |
| |
◉ |
Best Humorous Mystery Novel |
| |
◉ |
Best Historical Mystery Novel (The Bruce Alexander Memorial), covering events before 1970 |
Registrants of the San Diego and Albuquerque Left Coast Crime
Conventions will be able to nominate three titles in
each category. Nominations will be accepted between
January 1 and January 16, 2022, for the four 2022 Lefty Awards.
Nomination forms will be emailed to all eligible LCC registrants by January 1, 2022. Only nominations received by January 16th will be tabulated. The Lefty Award nominees will be announced on January 17, 2022. Final voting will be by paper ballot at the convention in Albuquerque.
To be eligible for the 2022 Lefty Awards, titles must have been published for the first time in the United States or Canada during 2021, in book or ebook format. (If published in other countries before 2021, a book is still eligible if it meets the US or Canadian publication requirement.)
Questions about the Lefty Awards? Email Awards Co-Chairs Lucinda Surber and Stan Ulrich
History of the Left Coast Crime Awards |
