Trouble in Tucson Newsletter
February 10, 2023
The Panels Are Here!
We are thrilled to announce that we have posted the Hopefully Nearly Final Panel Schedule: https://leftcoastcrime.org/2023/Panels.html. It’s always a challenge to find places for everyone who requests panel appearances, and the available panel slots are limited. Our ultimate goal is to make sure the LCC audience is entertained and informed. Some panelists have yet to confirm, so do check back over the next week or so to view additions and changes.
Trouble in Tucson Events
At Left Coast Crime 2023 we are offering our usual four opportunities outside the normal panel and book signings for authors and readers to interact.
Author Speed-Dating
Author Speed-Dating will take place Thursday, March 16, from 9:00–11:00 AM, before the panel programming begins, and is a fun way for authors to connect to a new set of readers. The time frame and setup allows 40 authors to circulate in pairs and 144 fans to relax and enjoy the 2-minute pitches. Les and Leslie Blatt will be our Speed-Dating Hosts.
Authors: If you are interested in Speed-Dating, please email Lucinda. If you have a partner in mind, proved the name and email and we will do our best to pair you up. First-time Speed-Daters will be placed first.
Fans: First come, first seated!
Meet the New Authors Breakfast, sponsored by Sisters in Crime
Authors who have a first mystery, crime, thriller, or suspense novel published in 2022 are eligible to present at the Meet the New Authors Breakfast, Friday, March 17th, hosted by Mike Befeler and assisted by Les and Leslie Blatt.
New Authors: If you haven't already heard from Mike Befeler, please email him at mikebef@aol.com with your title and publication date.
Fans: All LCC registrants are welcome.
Author-Hosted Tables
Partner with another author to host a table at the Lefty Awards Banquet on Saturday, March 18. Convention attendees will sign up to sit with you at dinner. Table favors and decorations optional.
Author-Hosts: Email Lucinda with BOTH of your names and email addresses. You will receive a return email with more information.
Fans: When you register, look for the Author-Hosted Table signup sheets near Registration, first come, first served.
Author-Reader Connections
One of the best things about Left Coast Crime is the chance to get to know your fellow readers and writers. But sometimes, during the excitement and flurry of activities, it’s not always easy to find time to meet your favorite writer. Author-Reader Connections provide an easy forum for readers and authors to enjoy some time together in a small group. These Author-Reader Connections are free, and in some cases may include some special benefits from the authors.
Authors: Email <connections@leftcoastcrime.org> for all the information about setting up a Connection.
Fans: Only registered attendees can sign up to attend Connections. You may sign up for a maximum of two Connections, and no more than one per author. Author-Reader Connections will be posted beginning soon, with new Connections added until the week before the convention. View and sign up for Author-Reader Connections on our Connections page: https://leftcoastcrime.org/2023/Connections.html
Trouble in Tucson Needs You!
As an all-volunteer organization, LCC can’t run conventions without volunteers like you! There are plenty of volunteer opportunities for everyone. To volunteer for any of the opportunities listed below, please email <volunteer4lcc@gmail.com> with the Volunteer Job(s) you would like along with some times you are available.
Registration
Sign up for a two-hour shift helping Registrar Stan Ulrich and Registration Captain Dotty Morefield manage the registration table. We need both experienced Registration volunteers and those who have never done this fun job of welcoming convention registrants and handing out the envelopes and book bags. We need volunteers for two-hour shifts on Wednesday (3:00–5:00 PM), Thursday (8:30 AM – 5:00 PM), Friday (8:30 AM – 4:00 PM), Saturday (8:30 AM – 4:00 PM), Sunday (8:30–10:30 AM). If you would like to volunteer for Registration, please note some time blocks you would be available.
Volunteer Table
Sign up for a two-hour shift helping Volunteer Coordinator Lucinda Surber distribute and collect Panel Room Packets and fill in for any volunteers who don’t show up. We need volunteers for two-hour shifts on Thursday (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM), Friday (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM), Saturday (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM), Sunday (8:30–10:30 AM). If you would like to help out at the Volunteer Table, please specify some time blocks you would be available.
Panel Room Timekeeper/Monitor
Sign up for a shift managing a panel room. We need 70 volunteers for this fun and important job! Responsibilities include picking up the Panel Packet and arranging the panelist name tents before the panel, holding up signs so the Panel Moderator knows how much time is left before the end of the panel, and escorting the panelists to the signing space after the panel. Written instructions will be provided. If you are interested, please look over the Panel Schedule and email <volunteer4lcc@gmail.com> with a list of some panels you would like to help with. Please include a maximum number of panels if you are sending several possibilities.
Hotel Reservations
The LCC convention room rate expires at 5:00 PM Mountain Standard Time on Monday, February 13. Don’t delay if you haven’t made your reservation! You can make your reservation online: https://tinyurl.com/LCCTucson. Or you can call the hotel at 888-370-0980 and use the Convention Group Code LCC314
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. The LCC 2023 recipient is Make Way for Books, an early literacy nonprofit that provides proven programs, services, and resources to more than 18,000 young children, parents, and educators throughout southern Arizona each year. All proceeds from our auctions go to Make Way for Books. 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, March 15 from 3:00-5:00 PM, on Thursday morning while setting up the Silent Auction Room, and on Friday morning as well.
Sponsorship at Left Coast Crime
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 Room. Other options include sponsoring one of our Guests of Honor or supporting Left Coast Crime by sponsoring products such as the convention book bag or name badge holder.
Our thanks to Sisters in Crime for sponsoring the Meet-the-New Authors Breakfast on Thursday morning. Authors who have a first mystery, crime, thriller, or suspense novel published in 2022 will to present at the breakfast hosted by Mike Befeler and assisted by Les and Leslie Blatt.
Our thanks to Kensington Books for sponsoring Saturday in the Hospitality Room. The schedule of the Kensington authors who will appear in the Hospitality Room on Saturday to sign books and meet fans can be found here.
Books for Book Bags
We are happy to accept crime fiction and non-fiction books for distribution to all attendees in our book bags. There is no charge, but you will need to ship the books to arrive by March 8, 2023. We accept any quantity of books, but prefer not to have more than 200 copies of a single title; multiple titles are recommended if you would like to place a book in every bag. In order to make book distribution work for both the participants (who will love receiving your books) and the booksellers (who will plan to bring different books to sell), we ask that you provide the title(s) and number of books you would like to donate.
Please email Lucinda Surber if you are interested in learning more about our sponsorship opportunities or donating books for our book bags.
Tucson Side Trips
Destination & Conference Services will be offering five tours for Left Coast Crime attendees and their guests. All tours are four hours long and include round-trip transportation from El Conquistador Tucson, admission fees, taxes, service gratuities, and bottled water. All five tours will be offered the following days and times. There is a 12-person minimum for each tour. If tours do not meet the minimum enrollment they will be cancelled and registrants will be offered another tour or a refund.
Dates & Times
◉ Tuesday, March 14, 2023: 1:00–4:00 PM
◉ Wednesday, March 15, 2023: 1:00–4:00 PM
◉ Thursday March 16, 2023: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Tour Options
◉ Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: $119
◉ Sabino Canyon: $99
◉ Biosphere 2: $199
◉ San Xavier del Bac Mission and downtown historical tour: $79
◉ Pima Air & Space Museum: $119
Please download the flyer with all the details about the tours. Information for making your reservation is on the final page.
News Flash: Left Coast Crime 2024 in Seattle, Washington
When: April 11–14, 2024
Where: Hyatt Regency Bellevue
Room Rate: $169 for April 9–14, plus two nights before and after (subject to availability).
More information about the convention and information about registration will be announced soon.
