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Panelist Qualifications

Left Coast Crime welcomes all authors, aspiring authors, industry professionals, readers, and mystery fans of every stripe. Our purpose is to host an event where readers, authors, critics, librarians, publishers, and other fans can gather in convivial surroundings to pursue their mutual interests.

Left Coast Crime cannot guarantee a panel assignment to anyone. There are a limited number of panel slots, and our Panel Committee has a challenging job deciding how to fill them. Please register by December 31, 2019 to be considered for a panel. Few panel spots will be left beginning in January 2020.

Traditionally published authors, and those who have been nominated for established mystery awards, will be given priority panel placement. Ideally, authors must have had at least one mystery novel, or one nonfiction mystery book, or three mystery short stories traditionally published before March 12, 2020.

“Traditionally published authors” are authors who do not pay any costs associated with the publication of their books, and authors who are published by a company that publishes at least three authors other than the publisher, members of the publisher’s family, or staff of the publishing company, does not guarantee publication of all submissions, and provides editorial support to its authors.

“Established mystery awards” include the Agatha, Anthony, Arthur Ellis, Barry, Dagger, Dilys, Edgar, Hammett, Lefty, Macavity, Nero, and Shamus Awards.

Industry professionals (such as publishers and publicists), librarians, bloggers, reviewers, and other fans will also be considered for panel placement, typically as moderators, or on special-themed panels.

Whether or not an author has a panel assignment, any author (traditionally or non-traditionally published) can choose to participate in opportunities to connect with readers outside the regular panel schedule: Author Speed-Dating, Meet the New Authors Breakfast, Author-Reader Connections, Banquet Table Host, etc. Information about signing up for these events will appear in newsletters leading up to the convention.

Note to Potential Panelists: Panels are scheduled from noon Thursday through noon Sunday. Authors attending the full convention have a much greater chance of receiving a panel assignment. If you are unable to attend certain days, please let us know prior to the priority panel placement deadline of December 31, 2019. It is helpful for scheduling if you are as specific as possible as to your wants/needs for panels on the registration form. If you are unable or unwilling to accept your panel assignment, please know that replacement panel placement is on a first-come first-served basis, and is dependent upon other author cancellations for a panel cohesive with your experience.