Has it been two years since Left Coast Crime, one of the most marvelous crime fiction conferences, was halted on its first day as COVID-19 began its sweep across the country? Amazingly, yes, but this weekend, well, we’re trying again – this time as Southwest Sleuths, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

I’ll be at this wonderful con through the weekend, taking part in the Thursday morning “Author Speed Dating” and, on Friday, serving on two panels: “Weaving Political & Social Themes into Mysteries” at 10:15, with moderator Nina Simon and fellow panelists Alistair Kimble and Terry Shames, and, at 2:45, “Writing Characters Who Aren’t Like Me” with John Copenhaver, Craig Robertson, and Matt Witten, moderated by the wonderful critic/blogger Kristopher Zigorski.


I’ll also be volunteering at registration and just generally catching up with everyone. Will you be there? If so, please say hi!