Left Coast Crime 2026 Newsletter

January 5, 2026


Lefty Award Nominees

Our thanks to all who submitted their nomination forms for the best mystery/crime/thriller novels published in 2025. The Lefty Awards will be voted on at the convention and presented at a banquet on Saturday, February 28, at the Hyatt San Francisco.

We are delighted to announce the Lefty nominees.

Lefty Nominees for Best Humorous Mystery Novel

  • Ellen Byron, Solid Gold Murder (Kensington)
  • Jennifer J. Chow, Star-Crossed Egg Tarts (St. Martin's Paperback
  • Elizabeth Crowens, Bye Bye Blackbird (Level Best Books)
  • Catriona McPherson, Scot's Eggs (Severn House)
  • Cindy Sample, All’s Faire in Love and Murder (Cindy Sample Books)

Lefty Nominees for Best Historical Mystery Novel
(Bill Gottfried Memorial) for books covering events before 1970

  • Cara Black, Huguette (Soho Crime)
  • Mariah Fredericks, The Girl in the Green Dress (Minotaur Books)
  • Dianne Freeman, A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder (Kensington)
  • Claire M. Johnson, City Lights (Level Best Books)
  • Laurie R. King, Knave of Diamonds (Bantam)
  • Rob Osler, The Case of the Missing Maid (Kensington)

Lefty Nominees for Best Debut Mystery Novel

  • Adrian Andover, Whiskey Business (Chestnut Avenue Press)
  • Kristen L. Berry, We Don’t Talk About Carol (Bantam)
  • Laurie L. Dove, Mask of the Deer Woman (Berkley)
  • Sue Hincenbergs, The Retirement Plan (William Morrow)
  • Marisa Kashino, Best Offer Wins (Celadon Books)
  • Diane Schaffer, Mortal Zin (Sibylline Press)

Lefty Nominees for Best Mystery Novel
(not in other categories)

  • Lou Berney, Crooks (William Morrow)
  • Claire Booth, Throwing Shadows (Severn House)
  • Tracy Clark, Edge (Thomas & Mercer)
  • Leslie Karst, Waters of Destruction (Severn House)
  • James L'Etoile, River of Lies (Oceanview Publishing)
  • Gigi Pandian, The Library Game (Minotaur Books)
Lefty Award Page


Good-bye to Rocky Mountain High Jinks

Now that the Lefty nomination period is finished, those of you who attended LCC 2025 but are not registered for LCC 2026 will be removed from the San Francisco Schemin’ newsletter distribution list. If you are not sure whether you are registered for LCC 2026, please check the San Francisco Attendee Page
 


What's Next

Our goal is to send the panel invitations out the weekend of January 10th. We hope to have all the changes confirmed and posted by January 19th.

After the Panel Schedule is posted, information will be shared in our next newsletter about how to sign up for other author opportunities like the New Author Breakfast, Speed Dating, Author-Reader Connections, and something new this year that will be explained in the next newsletter. Please save your questions about these opportunities until after they are announced.

As an all volunteer convention, Left Coast Crime can’t function without help from all of you. Watch your newsletters for information about how to sign up to help us make this a successful convention for everyone.
 
 

Book Room Information

Author, Author! specializes in online sales, special events, books for writers, and books for authors. Author, Author! will handle sales in the convention Book Room of traditionally published books — in general, titles returnable at a regular discount through major publishers or distributors — as well as consignment sales.

Traditionally Published Authors
If you would like some of your titles stocked in the convention Book Room, you MUST submit a list of up to THREE titles on this AUTHOR BOOKROOM SURVEY. The DEADLINE to submit the survey is TODAY January 5, 2026. (If Author, Author! cannot obtain your titles, they will let you know and you will need to use the consignment option described below.)

Consignment Sales
Author, Author! will also be handling Consignment Sales for  authors who publish through alternate avenues. Consignment authors must bring or ship their own books to the convention. Please download and fill out this CONSIGNMENT AGREEMENT, and then return by email to Author, Author! by January 12, 2026. (Email & phone number on Consignment Agreement for questions.)
 


Advertising in the Program Book

We have extended the deadline for reserving ad space to January 15, 2026.
And it is now easier than ever to pay for ads — the ad form includes a QR code and link to pay with a credit card — or email us to pay by Venmo or PayPal. Or you can still just mail a check! 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!
Details and Advertising Form


Mobility at Left Coast Crime 2026

by Mysti Berry

If you use a scooter, wheelchair, or other mobility device to get around at Left Coast Crime, you’ll be able to fully participate in the activities at the Hyatt Regency, the convention hotel, as well as visiting many of the attractions and views near the hotel. I spent the day in the area in my electric wheelchair recently, traveling all the way up Market Street from the hotel to Civic Center without any problems.

I’ll explain what I found to be accessible, things to watch out for, and if you are not mobility challenged, a few hints for how to be helpful to those of us who struggle to get around.  Please know that I’ve traveled all over San Francisco, and all over the country in my electric wheelchair—fighting broken curb cuts in Times Square and occasionally wrestling with mobility dead ends. I’m so excited that Left Coast Crime is being held in such an accessible city, my home town! I’d like to share what I know, so you can attend fully prepared to have a great convention and a great visit to our fair City by the Bay.

The Hyatt and the Embarcadero
This venue hosted a Bouchercon in years past, so rest assured it’s large enough for our Left Coast Crime this year. Given the vertical nature of most of the buildings in San Francisco, you might find that it requires a few extra minutes to board an elevator during the busiest times: between panels and just before big events. I’ve attended over a dozen Bouchercon, Left Coast Crime, and ThrillerFest conventions and have never been late for a panel yet. LCC 2026 should be no exception.

The Hyatt Regency has an arrival level, a lobby and bar level, and convention room levels, followed by guest room floors. You’re going to spend some time in the elevators during your conference day, and the elevators, which are lovely and have see-through walls, aren’t large, though there are eight or ten of them. Each car can comfortably fit one or maybe two scooters, or one or two wheelchairs plus a half-dozen or so people without devices. If you add an extra five minutes for heavy-traffic times, you should arrive on your desired floor in plenty of time.

I’ve recently driven my wheelchair all over the Hyatt, and the ground level of all the Embarcadero Center buildings (the Hyatt Regency is in 5 Embarcadero Center), as well as going from the Hyatt Regency to the nearby parks, and all around and through the Ferry Building. I’m happy to report that it is all accessible from mobility devices! 

Rooms in San Francisco run toward the small side, but I’ve never had to request an accessible room for me, my husband, our luggage, and my chair to fit comfortably in the room. Like any hotel, the Hyatt Regency has a fixed number of rooms with accessible showers, but if you aren’t able to get one upon check-in, consider requesting a shower chair. I did this at a Westin Hotel in Hawaii and it worked like a charm! 

Download Mysti's full Mobility article for more information about renting a mobility device, traveling around the city, accessible transportation, and things to do and see in San Francisco.

 


Sponsorship at Left Coast Crime

THANK YOU to Sisters in Crime for sponsoring the Meet-the-New Authors Breakfast! Left Coast Crime is so grateful to Sisters in Crime for their ongoing support of Left Coast Crime.

Left Coast Crime encourages organizations to sponsor a variety of events such as the Opening Reception, the Awards Banquet, 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.

Please email Lucinda Surber if you are interested in learning more about our sponsorship opportunities.


Books for Book Bags

We are happy to accept crime fiction and non-fiction books for distribution to attendees in our book bags. There is no charge, but you will need to ship the books to arrive in San Francisco by February 15, 2026. Please email Lucinda Surber if you are interested in learning more about donating  books for our book bags


San Francisco Schemin’ Souvenirs

Planning ahead for the cool nights in San Francisco? Visit the LCC 2026 store at Cafe Press to order your San Francisco Schemin’ sweatshirt or other souvenir LCC 2026 logo items.
 


Left Coast Crime 2027
The Big Chile Rides Again!

The 37th Left Coast Crime convention will be held April 1–4, 2027, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Special Guests
Lifetime Achievement: Craig Johnson
Guest of Honor: Lee Goldberg
Guest of Honor: Gigi Pandian
Toastmaster: Wendall Thomas

The Convention rate at the Eldorado Hotel is $249 on the convention nights, plus three nights before and after the convention (subject to availability) so you can extend your stay. The hotel’s usual $35 nightly “Amenity Fee” has been reduced to $10 for convention registrants, and is included in the $249 room charge. Amenities include complementary valet parking and wifi, the rooftop outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, and the Spa.

Convention Registration is now open!
The Registration Price is $250 through March 1, 2026, the close of Left Coast Crime #36 in San Francisco. More information and the Registration link can be found on The Big Chile Rides Again! website.