Southwest Sleuths Newsletter
March 31, 2022
The Hotel Metamorphosis
(hopefully we will all maintain our human form)
The Hyatt Regency Albuquerque will transfer all room reservations to The Clyde Hotel on April 1 — no fooling! They assure us that they will “honor your reservations with the committed room types and rates of which you have been guaranteed.” If you have any questions about your hotel reservation, please call the Hyatt at 505-842-1234. Starting April 1, call The Clyde Hotel at 505-302-6930.
In response to our request to provide some sort of food service since the hotel restaurant has not re-opened, The Clyde Hotel will be serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet-style in the Whyte Room (on the ground floor) each day. The Chef will put together different menus for each day to provide variety.
We have requested extended hours and additional staff for the Atrium bar (which may still be called HQue or transformed into The Clyde’s 1922 Bar & Lounge) and the hotel is working to meet our request. We have requested that the Mercantile Café adjacent to the hotel lobby also extend their hours.
Meeting in the Time of Covid
The Left Coast Crime community is finally coming together face-to-face — we’ve all been through shared but unique experiences over the past two years, with more challenges to come. Now we gather voluntarily in Albuquerque, understanding the risks as best we can. This may be the first time many of us have ventured into a convention environment, and this one will necessarily be a bit different. As we all know, the vaccination requirement is not a panacea. We’ll all need to be sensitive to individual preferences for personal space. Seating in panels and interviews will be more scattered than usual. Masks are encouraged, but not required. We’re all in this together, so let’s sing Kumbaya — just no holding hands!
Southwest Sleuths Details
Registration
The Registration Table will be in Atrium on the 2nd floor. Early registration will take place on Wednesday, April 6 from 3:00 – 5:00 PM. Registration will reopen on Thursday, April 7 at 8:30 AM. There will be
TWO check-in areas: the express lane for those who have already pre-checked their vaccination status by emailing a copy of their Covid Vaccine Card, and a separate line for those who need to provide proof of full vaccination in person.
Please wear your Southwest Sleuths Name Badge at all times during the convention. It is your ticket into all LCC panels, interviews, and other events such as the Welcome Reception, breakfasts, and the Lefty Awards Banquet. It also helps us all get to know each other.
New to Left Coast Crime? Stop by the Volunteer Table and Volunteer! It's a great way to make new friends while helping our all-volunteer-run convention.
LCC Panels: Come to the Left Coast Crime 101 panel on Thursday for more tips about enjoying the convention from experienced LCC attendees, and The Future of Conventions: How Should LCC Adapt? on Sunday morning to share your ideas.
Don’t be shy! Introduce yourself to those sitting next to you at a panel, standing in line to get a book signed, browsing in the Book Room, or enjoying a hot beverage in the Hospitality Room. Share your passion for the mystery/thriller genre!
Have questions or need help during the convention? Visit the Registration Table or flag down any of the Southwest Sleuths committee members who are wearing red and/or green chile stickers. We want to help!
Hotel Convention Area
Our Program Book went to press before we learned of the hotel metamorphosis, so whenever you see Hyatt Regency Albuquerque, mentally substitute The Clyde Hotel! (Bonus points for figuring out who Clyde is.)
Author-Reader Connections
It’s not too late to sign up for an Author-Reader Connection on our Connections page.
Only registered attendees can sign up for Connections; your Southwest Sleuths Name Badge will be required to participate. Fans may sign up for a
maximum of two Connections. A few Connections are SOLD OUT, but there are many more to choose from!
https://leftcoastcrime.org/2022/Connections.html
Game Night
We need your help! On Thursday, at 8:30 pm, Toastmaster Kellye Garrett is helping kick off Left Coast Crime festivities with a Game Night featuring contestants Ellen Byron, Marco Carocari, Mia P. Manansala, and Catriona McPherson. Please use the link below to answer the following mystery related questions for our own version of LCC: Family Feud.
Game Night Poll
Albuquerque
Albuquerque is a high desert city, and the combination of altitude and the dry climate takes some getting used to. Remember to keep hydrated and be aware that alcohol packs a potent punch at 5312 feet. Wearing a hat and sunscreen is advisable when outdoors.
The current forecast for Albuquerque is showing clear skies for our convention dates, but spring weather is changeable as we all know, so check your preferred weather app as you pack for outdoor activities. Those of you coming in on Wednesday will get to enjoy our famous Spring WIND — hold on to your hat!
Inside the hotel our advice is always comfortable shoes and LAYERS, since some rooms will no doubt be over-warm and others too chilly. Left Coast Crime is a casual convention, though some do like to dress up a bit for the Lefty Awards Banquet.
The Hyatt Regency Albuquerque (The Clyde Hotel by the time you arrive!) is 4.2 miles from the Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ). Here is the Sunport (
AKA Airport) page with options for getting to the convention hotel:
Ground transportation from the Albuquerque International Sunport
Volunteer Jobs
Thanks so much to everyone who has volunteered to help at the convention. There are a few empty shifts, so please check in at the Volunteer Table in the Atrium if you’d like to help out.
Murderous Vision Interactive Murder Game
Can you solve the case? One of our attendees is found dead early Thursday morning and you must determine whodunnit. Police reports, newspaper articles, social media, and witness statements will all be provided as the days go by. Solve it by Saturday afternoon or the killer might get away. Check out murder victim
Sandy Yeggo's Facebook page for clues to the killer.
Silent Auction Information
Each Left Coast Crime Convention raises money to support a local literacy organization with funds raised through a silent and live auction and the annual Quilt Raffle. This year our recipient is Croak & Dagger’s Great (Little) Library Adventure. Croak & Dagger is the New Mexico chapter of Sisters in Crime and a New Mexico non-profit social organization. The Great (Little) Library Adventure is C&D’s free community-outreach program to libraries identified by the NM Rural Libraries Initiative: the 50+ smallest public and community libraries in the state. All proceeds from our auctions go to the Great (Little) Library Adventure. Anyone — reader, writer, bookseller, librarian, blogger — may donate items to the silent auction. You can either mail your Silent Auction donations to yourself at the hotel or bring them with you. We’ll be accepting donations on Wednesday April 6 from 2:00-4:00 PM, on Thursday morning while setting up the Silent Auction Room, and on Friday morning as well. Details about the location of the Silent Auction Room will be shared closer to the convention. Questions about your donation? Email Auction Co-Chairs Molly Moeglein and Donnell Ann Bell at <
writerdonnellannbell@gmail.com>.
If you would like to mail your donation to yourself at the hotel, use this address:
The Clyde Hotel / Hyatt Regency Albuquerque
Hold for Hotel Guest:
Your Name
330 Tijeras Ave NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Sponsorship at Left Coast Crime
Left Coast Crime Conduct Policy
Left Coast Crime is a fan convention, dedicated to creating a friendly, welcoming, and inclusive atmosphere in which all members of the community can celebrate their love of books. We are dedicated to the safety, security, and enjoyment of all attendees, and as such, the convention should be free of discrimination or harassment based upon an individual’s sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, or any other legally protected characteristics.
All attendees are expected to abide by this policy.
Harassment is behavior that alarms or threatens, or is unwelcome or offensive to the person it is directed at. Examples of harassing behavior include unwanted physical contact, comments or foul language of an offensive or sexual nature, sexual propositions, sexual jokes or remarks, obscene gestures, and displays of pornographic or sexually explicit pictures, drawings, or caricatures, intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, and false accusation of harassment.
Any attendee asked to stop harassing behavior is expected to comply immediately. If you feel that you or another attendee has been harassed or discriminated against on the basis of sex, race, national origin, ethnic background, or any other legally protected characteristic, you should, if you are comfortable doing so, explain the behavior to a member of the Left Coast Crime committee, a member of the hotel staff, or both. All complaints of unlawful harassment will be handled in as discreet and confidential a manner as is possible under the circumstances. If no Left Coast Crime committee member is available, or if you feel it would be dangerous (such as in the case of an immediate physical threat) to inform such person, you should immediately contact the police.
Left Coast Crime 2023
Tucson, Arizona
When: March 16–19, 2023
Where: El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort
Lifetime Achievement: J.A. Jance
Guest of Honor: Glen Erik Hamilton
Guest of Honor: Sujata Massey
Fan Guest of Honor: Dru Ann Love
Toastmaster: Ellen Byron
Ghost of Honor: Winn Bundy
Registration: $250 through April 10, 2022
Online Registration
El Conquistador Tucson spans 50 acres, overlooking Pusch Ridge in one direction and the Santa Catalina Mountains to the other. The resort has a swimming pool, spa, hiking and cycling trails, tennis courts, and a golf course. Our convention rate is $195 for the convention nights, plus three nights before and after the convention (subject to availability) so you can extend your stay in Tucson. The standard daily resort charge has been waived for Left Coast Crime registrants.
More information about the convention