Computer free week

Every year around this time, I turn off the computer for a week and try to remember life before I was so dependent on the thing.  I’ll be back in the electronic saddle Monday, June 28.

Until then, please comment on the previous blogs — or send me questions via email — and I’ll respond once I plug in the computer again.

cheers,

Pari

Entertainment question

If you could have any New Mexican type of entertainment at the convention, what you would like: NM music (combo of Mexican, NM, TX), Native American dancers, Cowboy music — poetry?

Pari

Attendees

Have you taken a look at our attendee list yet? It’s fab.

I can’t tell you how happy I am with the mix of readers and writers who’ve committed to coming to my great state. Very, very cool.

New Mexico awaits you all . . .

cheers,

Pari

Panels

Lately I’ve been receiving requests from authors for specific panels.  I just want to say that this early in the game, I’m not going to pre-guarantee a panel to anyone other than my Guests of Honor.

I have told certain authors who are offering New Mexico-specific subjects that we’ll find a way to include them because one of my missions in agreeing to chair this convention is to spotlight my home state.

But I can say with certainty that I WILL NOT ever agree to any author-suggested panel prior to that author registering for the convention.

So many others have already committed to come in good faith and trust us to be fair.

I feel strongly about this in part because I’m a writer myself. I’ve been to conventions that I felt played favorites. I very much want to make sure Left Coast Crime Santa Fe offers the best of what conventions can be and avoids as many of the pitfalls as possible.

DON’T forget to give me your comments about the auction in the post below.

thanks,

Pari

Auction

We’ve been looking at auction options for the convention:

only a silent one
a few items at the awards banquet
a live auction outside of the banquet.

What’s your opinion? I’ve heard from a few of you, but would like more input before making a decision.

Again, I’ll leave this up for a few days. Please let other people know so they can voice their opinions. I’ll give extra attention to LCC 2011 attendees.

Thanks,

Pari

Bigger block at Inn at Loretto

I just signed an addendum to the hotel contract with Inn and Spa at Loretto. We should have plenty of rooms there.

cheers,

Pari

Be ready for anything

It’s more than 100 degrees today. And, yes, while it’s a “dry heat,” it’s still hotter than Hades. The only things that make dry heat bearable is that perspiration and shade actually work here in New Mexico.

The reason I’m writing about this today is that in a desert — and the high desert — the weather is guaranteed to be one thing:  unpredictable. When winter comes round next year and you’re packing your bags for Santa Fe . . .

Don’t assume it’ll be warm.
Don’t assume it’ll be cold.
DO start watching regional weather reports about a week before your trip.

That’s it for today. I think I’ll go have another iced tea . . .

cheers,

Pari

Back in the saddle

Well, I fell off posting here but I’m back now!

. . . and I just checked our attendees’ list.  Wow! Take a look. It’s impressive both for the number of people who plan to come to Santa Fe AND the quality of those folks. Great fans, wonderful writers.

I can’t wait.

On the hotel front, I got a call from the sales rep at our second hotel saying we might need to increase the block there. We’re watching it. The Inn at Loretto has plenty of room, so I’m not worried.

However, I’d still recommend that you call La Fonda first. We’ve had a few cancellations and that means OPEN rooms for the taking.

cheers,

Pari

Who is an author?

Once my mailbox had been emptied, I started getting emails from writers who want me to:

1. guarantee they’ll be put on a panel

2. guarantee they’ll be considered an author to be put on a panel.

So let me address this issue right now. I know this won’t be the only time I need to do it, but  . . .

Here’s the truth: We are obliged as an LCC convention to honor our bylaws.

The way I interpret the author qualifications gives us discretion. People who’ve been qualified at other recent LCCs (since the bylaws took effect) would qualify for ours. That only makes sense.

There’s one word we’ll pay close attention to. I’ve highlighted it in the text below:
“Only authors who have contributed financially to the publication of ***all*** of their books either through self-publishing or through a vanity or subsidy press are not eligible unless they have been shortlisted for a major mystery award (the Edgar, the Anthony, the Agatha, the Dilys, the Barry, the Hammett, the Macavity, the Lefty, the Nero Wolfe, the CWA Dagger, the Shamus, the Arthur Ellis, and the Bruce Alexander Awards).”

If you’ve  contributed to some but not others, that’s not ALL.

AND

Our 2010 basic attitude isn’t exclusionary. For our committee, the program is the important thing — providing interesting panels and solo talks — we’re not looking to make enemies here. We’re also not going to throw out the bylaws –  to include every person who claims to be a writer but doesn’t have any kind of track record (NEW authors, don’t get in a tizzy, please. ). Let’s use our logic here; would you go to a brain surgeon without knowing that her claim could be checked in some way?

The guidelines DO count . . . but there’s a lot of squiggle room. We can make discretionary decisions. And we will. Someone might be considered “an expert” and not, necessarily an “author.”

I don’t know. I’m just saying . . .

Here’s the baseline:

We CAN’T guarantee panels to anyone except our Guests of Honor.

However

1. The writers who register sooner than later have a better chance of getting on a panel than those who wait until the last minute.

2. The writers who tell us their strengths and why their experience, expertise would add to panels — that make their cases — will have a better chance than those who automatically assume we know about them.

3. We’ll do  EVERYTHING we can to accommodate as many — writers/authors/whatever we want to call ourselves nowadays  — that do make sense within the context of the program.

I hope I’ve answered your questions.

If discussion ensues, please let’s be civil. I’m trying to be honest with all of you and would hope you’d show me the same respect. Remember, everyone working on this convention is doing it for free.

thank you,
Pari

Glitch #1

If you tried to contact me right after we sent information out about the trips, you would’ve gotten a “mailbox full” message — or something close.

I wondered why I wasn’t getting any email . . .

Well, the problem has been fixed. So please try again.

I’d love to know what you think of those trips.

Thanks,

Pari