Novels

About the Author

Reviews

Press Package

Contact
Baron R. Birtcher

Baron's Blog

Bookstores

Book Signings

Photo Gallery

Buy Kona Coffee

Aloha All:

Baron's latest novel, Angels Fall has been nominated for this year's Hawaii 5-0 award given by the Left Coast Crime 2009 convention which is being held at the Waikoloa Hilton this year! If you would like to wish Baron luck personally, you may email him directly at BaronRBirtcher@aol.com!

Baron's books may be purchased on Amazon.com!

This award is the LCC (Left Coast Crime) Award for "Best Law Enforcement/Police Procedural" novel of the year; this year, in deference to the convention being held in Hawaii, called the "Hawaii 5-0" The other two categories are for (a) Best Historical Mystery of the year and (b) Best Humorous Mystery of the year.

I have detailed some information from the Left Coast Crime 2009 conference below including the panels Baron will be participating and moderating should you be interested in attending. For dates and more information, please visit their website:

URL: www.leftcoastcrime.org/2009/

Left Coast Crime is one of the two major Mystery conventions in the country--LCC on the west coast, and Bouchercon on the east. (There are others, but these are the two big ones) These conventions are attended by hundreds of readers who come to meet their favorite authors, and attend various panels and seminars that examine the craft and process of writing, as well as lively discussions about the state of the book business. This is the first year that LCC has been held in Hawaii, and despite the economy and distance, they are expecting 400 + readers (not including authors, booksellers, agents, and other "industry" people, etc.) There is a "book room" wherein books written by the various panelists are offered for sale and signing.

Baron will be participating on four panels, one of which he will be moderating. They are as follows:

A) "Peril in Paradise: Mysteries Set In Hawaii" Pretty self-explanatory. All four panelists are Hawaiian authors.

B) "Does Geography Determine Genre or Content?" A discussion as to how much geography influences the genre and voice of a work of crime fiction. [from the LCC Program]

C) "Black Is Back: Hardboiled and Noir (I will be Moderator)" Recent years have seen a resurgence in the popularity of hardboiled and noir. Is it nostalgia, or a reflection of the times? 'A discussion of the darker side of crime fiction from some of the best purveyors of the art.'[from the LCC Program]

D) "Fifty Ways to Write That Story" Ever wonder what 'DOUBLE ENDEMNITY' would have sounded like if Agatha Christie had written it? You'll find out when moderator/author Gillian Robers devises one single mystery set-up and asks four different writers to capture the scene. [from the LCC Program]

As for the Awards: There are essentially 3 major awards that are given out in the Mystery community. The MWA (Mystery Writers of America) gives out the Edgar Award; Left Coast Crime gives out what are generically referred to as "Lefty's" though they name the award each year with a nod toward the geographical location of that year's convention--thus this year's is the "Hawaii 5-0." Generally, however, most people just refer to them as the Left Coast Crime Awards; and finally, the Shamus Award which is selected by the PWA (Private Eye Writers of America) and given out at the other major convention, Bouchercon. Baron has also been asked to be a judge for this year's Shamus category for Best Paperback Original novel -- (i.e. one what was not released in hardcover.)

- Christina Birtcher