Honolulu Havoc Newsletter: January 16, 2017

Aloha!

Welcome to all our new registrants since the last newsletter. Only 59 more days until Left Coast Crime in Honolulu, Hawaii!

Lefty Award Nominees

Our thanks to all who submitted their nomination forms. The Lefty awards will be voted on at the convention and presented at a banquet on Saturday, March 18, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. We are delighted to announce the Lefty nominees.

Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel. This year’s nominees are:
  • Donna Andrews, Die Like an Eagle (Minotaur Books)
  • Ellen Byron, Body on the Bayou (Crooked Lane Books)
  • Timothy Hallinan, Fields Where They Lay (Soho Crime)
  • Heather Haven, The CEO Came DOA (Wives of Bath Press)
  • Johnny Shaw, Floodgate (Thomas & Mercer)
  • Diane Vallere, A Disguise To Die For (Berkley Prime Crime)
Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel (Bruce Alexander Memorial) for books covering events before 1960. This year’s nominees are:
  • Rhys Bowen, Crowned and Dangerous (Berkley Prime Crime)
  • Susanna Calkins, A Death Along the River Fleet (Minotaur Books)
  • Laurie R. King, The Murder of Mary Russell (Bantam Books)
  • Catriona McPherson, The Reek of Red Herrings (Minotaur Books)
  • Ann Parker, What Gold Buys (Poisoned Pen Press)
Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel. The nominees are:
  • Sarah M. Chen, Cleaning Up Finn (All Due Respect Books)
  • Marla Cooper, Terror in Taffeta (Minotaur Books)
  • Alexia Gordon, Murder in G Major (Henery Press)
  • Nadine Nettmann, Decanting a Murder (Midnight Ink)
  • Renee Patrick, Design for Dying (Forge)
Lefty for Best Mystery Novel (not in other categories). The nominees are:
  • Matt Coyle, Dark Fissures (Oceanview Publishing)
  • Gigi Pandian, Michelangelo’s Ghost (Henery Press)
  • Louise Penny, A Great Reckoning (Minotaur Books)
  • Terry Shames, The Necessary Murder of Nonie Blake (Seventh Street Books)
  • James W. Ziskin, Heart of Stone (Seventh Street Books)
Press Release

Questions about the Lefty Awards? Email Awards Co-Chairs Lucinda Surber & Stan Ulrich

Convention Rate Deadline — February 12

The cut-off date for our convention rate of $209 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is February 12, 2017. Can’t find your hotel code? Email Registrar Stan Ulrich.

Four Opportunities for Authors and Readers

At Left Coast Crime 2017 we are offering four opportunities outside the normal panel and book signings for authors and readers to interact.


Meet the New Authors Breakfast

All authors who have a first mystery, crime, thriller, or suspense novel published between March 1, 2016, and March 19, 2017, are eligible to present at the Meet the New Authors Breakfast, Friday, March 17th, hosted by Mike Befeler and Rochelle Staab.
New Authors: Email Mike Befeler at mikebef@aol.com.
Participants: All LCC registrants are welcome.

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 44 authors to circulate and 160 fans to sit and enjoy the 2-minute pitches. Les and Leslie Blatt will be our Speed-Dating Hosts.
Authors: Email Lucinda Surber if you would like to date 160 new fans! In order to give all authors a chance at something, please choose either Author-Hosted Tables or Author Speed-Dating, but not both.
Participants: First come, first seated!

Author-Hosted Tables

Partner with another author to host a table at the Lefty Awards Banquet on Saturday, Match 18th. Convention attendees will sign up to sit with you at dinner. Table favors optional.
Authors: Partner up with another author to host a table and email Lucinda Surber with both of your names. In order to give all authors a chance at something, please choose either Author-Hosted Tables or Author Speed-Dating but not both.
Participants: When you register, look for the Author-Hosted Table signup sheets near the registration desk.

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. For Left Coast Crime 2015: Crimelandia, Co-Chair Bill Cameron launched Author-Reader Connections to provide an easy forum for readers and authors to enjoy some time together. An Author-Reader Connection might include a snack or a drink, a swim at one of the three hotel pools, or a walk together on or near the hotel grounds. These Author-Reader Connections are free, and in some cases may include some special benefits from the authors.
Authors: Email Chair Gay Gale for a list of local possibilities. Author-Reader Connections is open to all authors even if already signed up for Author Speed Dating or Author-Hosted Tables.
Participants: We will announce some Author-Reader Connections in the next newsletter, along with directions for signing up.

A Reminder About Book Room Operations

“Traditionally Published” Authors
Barnes & Noble will be in the Book Room selling traditionally published books, those returnable through major publishers or distributors like Ingram or Baker and Taylor. Traditionally published authors are asked to submit a list of three titles (including publisher) to Book Liaison Deb Hardy at debhardy13@gmail.com by February 13th. Deb will collate the information and work with B&N to ensure that your books are available. If you strongly believe your potential sales justify more than three titles, please let Deb know. Barnes & Noble will have the final say on adding additional titles.

“Indie-Published” Authors (self and small press)
Dale Johnson of Cross Genre Books will be handling consignment sales for authors published through alternate avenues that are not returnable. Authors will need to bring or ship their own books to the convention. Details about consignment sales are available in the Consignment Form. If you have questions, please Contact Cross Genre Books at crossgenrebooks@gmail.com.

Hawaii News & Tips from Chair Gay Gale


Family Tourism

Oahu is great island for families. Here are a few suggestions.
  1. Pools and Ocean – Free - $$$ - Visit all three pools and the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon on the Hilton Hawaiian Village property for free. The kids will want to go back to the Super Pool because of its slides and other attractions. You can also learn to surf, stand up paddle, snorkel, kayak or paddle an outrigger canoe for a small fee. For more money $$-$$$, encounter dolphins, take a whale watching cruise, sail or submarine ride. Or you can take Bus 22: The Beach Bus to explore other beaches on the island.
  2. Honolulu Zoo – $ - Located in Kapiolani Park about a 20-30 minute walk from HHV. Traditional and native animals plus a petting zoo for the youngsters are available for a nominal entry fee.
  3. Honolulu Aquarium – $ - Also located in Kapiolani Park is a small aquarium specializing in local area sea dwellers.
  4. Kualoa Ranch - $$ Home to the filming of more than 50 movies and TV shows, this property offers guided tours by horseback, ATV, jeep and bus as well as ziplines. About 45 minutes from Waikiki.
  5. Wet’n’Wild Hawaii - $$ - A water park offering more than 25 rides and attraction on west side of Oahu

Unique Tourism Tips for Frequent Hawaii Visitors

  1. Honolulu Museum of Art - $ - With two locations and over 50,000 pieces of Art, this museum is built around a series of gardens and includes special collections from Asia and the Middle East as well as a theater and education center. Gift shop has unique local and art-related items.
  2. Shangri-La - $ - Visit Doris Duke’s estate via shuttle bus from the Honolulu Art Museum. This home was originally Hawaiian themed but redone totally to display Duke’s love of Islamic art. The 2 ½ hour tour is held Wed-Sun and includes a shuttle ride and knowledgeable docent for two groups of 12. Book online through the Honolulu Museum of Art.
  3. Washington Place – by donation – Tour only Thu at 10am – Home of Hawaii’s last monarch Queen Liliuokulani until she was imprisoned for treason in Iolani Palace as well as Hawaii’s Governors from 1922-2002.
  4. Queen Emma Summer Palace $ - See how the royalty lived when they escaped the heat of Honolulu. Portraits of all the Hawaiian Rulers as well as many artifacts grace this lovely property.
  5. Hawaii Plantation Village - $ - Sugar cane brought many people to the islands from all over the world. This village shares the life of field workers through homes restored to represent Europeans, Asians and even Caribbean islanders who earned their living doing the back-breaking work that locals would not do.

Honolulu Havoc Sponsorship Opportunities

Left Coast Crime encourages publishers and organizations to sponsor a variety of events such as the Opening Ceremony, the Awards Banquet, the Saturday Breakfast, and the Hospitality Suite. 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. 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 for distribution in the book bags. There is no charge, but you will need to ship the books to arrive in Honolulu by March 1st. Any quantity is accepted. We 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. If interested, please email Lucinda Surber for shipping details.

Advertise in the Honolulu Havoc Program Book

Attention Authors! 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! The deadline for reserving ad space is February 3, 2017.
http://www.leftcoastcrime.org/2017/Advertising.html

Silent Auction

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. Honolulu Havoc’s auction recipient is Read Aloud America, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that promotes literacy, encourages a love of reading in adults and children, and increases children’s prospects for success in school and life. Founded in Hawaii in 1995, Read Aloud America provides Hawaiian parents with the tools they need to communicate with their children from an early age while fostering a love of books and learning. The Read Aloud program helps bridge the gap for parents who don’t have a family heritage of literacy, encouraging parents to turn off electronic media and strengthen family bonds by reading together.

All proceeds from Left Coast Crime 2017’s auction go to Read Aloud America. Anyone — reader, writer, bookseller, librarian, blogger — may donate an item or two to the silent auction. A few of you are probably working on your auction donations right now — it’s a good excuse not to do actual work! You can either mail your Silent Auction donations to yourself at the hotel or bring them with you. We’ll be setting up the Silent Auction Room on Wednesday and Thursday, but we will accept donations on Friday as well.

Questions? Email Auction Chair Alain (A K) Gunn

Searching for a Roommate?

Would you like to share a room at the convention? Email Gail Baugniet, our Roommate Coordinator, if you have a hotel room to share or if you are searching for a roommate and she will match you up.

Good-bye to Phoenix Registrants

Now that the Lefty nomination period is finished, those of you who attended LCC 2016 in Phoenix and are not registered for LCC 2017 will be removed from this newsletter distribution list. Interested in receiving occasional news about future conventions? Sign up for the Left Coast Crime eNews List.

Not sure if you are registered for LCC 2017? Check the Honolulu List of Attendees. If your name isn’t there, visit the Honolulu Registration Page to register for Left Coast Crime 2017.

Left Coast Crime 2018
Crime on the Comstock

Registration is now open for LCC 2018 — March 22–25, 2018 — in Reno, Nevada, at the Nugget Casino Resort. Located in Reno/Sparks, the legendary Nugget Casino Resort is consistently ranked at the top of Reno resorts and Sparks hotels. The Nugget features a complimentary airport shuttle, eight award-winning restaurants, an indoor atrium pool, a gym, and a famous Casino and Bingo Hall.
• Guests of Honor: Naomi Hirahara & William Kent Krueger
• Toastmaster: Todd Borg
• Ghost of Honor: Mark Twain (McAvoy Layne)

Early Bird Registration: $175 until March 19, 2017 (close of LCC 2017)
Register Online Now!

Our convention rate is about $82 for the convention nights in the newly remodeled West Tower, plus three nights before and after the convention (subject to availability) so you can extend your stay in Nevada. Our convention room rate is fixed at $69 plus a mandatory daily resort fee (currently $12.50), which includes wireless Internet in guest rooms, round-trip shuttle transportation from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Atrium Pool and Fitness Center access, and valet and self-parking in the Nugget’s secure covered parking structure.

Visit the LCC 2018 website for more information about Crime on the Comstock.

Left Coast Crime 2019
Whale of a Crime

Left Coast Crime 2019 will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, March 28–31, 2019. Co-chairs Colleen Glynn and Linda McNab are hard at work planning for the convention. More information will be available later this year.
If you are interested in learning more about hosting or helping with a future Left Coast Crime Convention, please let us know! The LCC Standing Committee would love to help you with your bid and answer all your questions. You will receive all the support you need.