Mystery Melange

Left Coast Crime 2015 announced the nominees in four categories that will be handed out at the 25th annual LCC convention in Portland in mid-March, including The Lefty for best humorous mystery novel, a tradition since 1996. Others this year include the Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award, The Rose, for the best mystery novel set in the LCC region, and The Rosebud, for the best first mystery novel set anywhere in the world.

If you're in London on February 5, you'll have an opportunity to attend The Guardian Book Club event featuring Booker winning novelist John Banville discussing Raymond Chandler’s iconic private detective, Philip Marlowe.

The latest Mystery Writers of America University heads to Boston on Valentine's Day, only this event is the first ever "2.0 Version," a new format designed for people who've already completed the original MWAU program or anyone wanting a bigger challenge. Jess Lourey will teach a class on the special problems of writing genre fiction; Louis Bayard has tips on handling backstory and multiple timelines; Julie Hyzy bring ideas for creating unforgettable supporting characters; and Allison Gaylin has the secret to creating suspense. In the afternoon, editors, agents, and authors will lead small-group critiques. For more information, check out the MWA website. Registration is limited to the first 100 people who register.  

More sad news to report, with the passing of the prolific Scottish mystery writer Gerald Hammond. Paul Bishop has a remembrance of the author best known for his two mystery series characters: Gunsmith Keith Calder, and Three Oaks dog kennel owner John Cunningham.

The folks behind the Killer Nashville conference are set to launch a new monthly international online magazine in February, which is described as a "magazine by writers as a voice for writers."

Publishers Weekly reported on "The Hottest (and Coldest) Book Categories of 2014," taken from a survey of print books at outlets that report to Nielsen BookScan. Although Mystery/Detective and Suspense/Thrillers had small decreases (4%, 9%), they were still among the top bestselling categories in adult print fiction.

Criminal Elements makes note of the early 20th-century actor who saved Sherlock Holmes, and no, it's not Basil Rathbone.

The new edition of Crime Review this week includes 16 reviews and Simon Kernick in the Countdown interview hot seat.

The latest crime poem at the 5-2 is "The Great Steak Heist at Trenton High" by Nancy Scott.

Need something to keep you warm and entertained during winter weather? Bookriot has a variety of "books and tea inspired swag that will make your heart go all soft and fuzzy."

In the Q&A roundup this week, Omnimystery News welcomes cozy mystery author Dianne Harman, procedural writer Valeria Wenderoth, and former police officer/author BJ Bourg; Lee Matthew Goldberg takes Paul D. Brazill's "Short, Sharp Interview" challenge to discuss his debut novel Slow Down, just published by New Pulp Press; Zoe Sharp and Antti Tuomainen both stopped by Crime Watch for a 9mm Interview; Lisa Gardner explained to the Huffington Post how she got started writing at such a young age; Swedish crime writer Hakan Nesser spoke bout why why he is not a political writer and why turning to the real life crime in Sweden for ideas is futile; and Craig Johnson was roped in by The Mystery People.