June 2007 Left Coast Crime 2008 Volume 1, Issue 1

Denver, March 6-9, 2008

LCC 2008 Quick Updates

· Elaine Viets WILL be in attendance!

· Registration now at 106, including 37 authors! The View from a Mile High

Registration: $165 Full, Welcome to the first edition him? Suzanne has all the our Top Ten list. And native $115 Light, $55 Associate of the Left Coast Crime – delicious answers below. D.A. Davenport gives us the www.leftcoastcrime.org/2008 Murder on the Rocks local scoop in our Things to Newsletter! Every month Next, read a Q&A with our when your DEAD Hotel: Adam’s Mark Denver we’ll bring you the latest Guest of Honor Stephen feature. Each month, she’ll $139 single/double $14 9 + news on LCC Denver, White. How much of bring you features on www.adamsmark.com/denver along with interviews of character Alan Gregory is hotels, restaurants, and attending authors and fans, really Stephen himself and places of local interest so

overviews of Denver why does he like Boulder, you can plan well in Colorado as his prime amenities and attractions, advance of your trip to the and whatever else we feel setting? See his answers on Mile High City. Check out you need to know about page three. her advice this month on LCC 2008. page four. Want to know more about This month, check out co- Denver? A combination of So there it is - your first chair Suzanne Proulx’s colorful old west and insight into LCC 2008! We article on Alferd Packer... contemporary new west, hope you’re as excited as Who is Alferd and why is our you’ll discover some we are, because we think LCC banquet named after surprises about the city in you’re in for a rockin’ good time! Lori Lacefield

Individual Highlights Alferd Packer – the original Hannibal the Cannibal View from a Mile High 1 Who is Alfred Packer and Advised by Chief The facts: In the fall of 1873, why is this year’s LCC that the winter would be Alferd Packer Banquet 1 a party of men left Salt Banquet named after him? even worse than what Lake City heading for the Q&A with LCC GOH Suzanne Proulx introduces they’d previously gold fields in the mountains Stephen White 3 us to Colorado’s Folk Villain. encountered and they of Colorado. They started should turn back, ten of the out in high spirits, thinking of Denver Top Ten 4 You have your folk heroes— party members took that the riches to come. But actual people whose very excellent advice. The Things to do in Denver they encountered barren deeds have become other ten decided to forge when your DEAD 4 wastes and snowy legend, like Daniel Boone on with their original plan. mountains, and were and Johnny Appleseed. Chief Ouray gave them Conference Contacts 4 about to turn back in And then you have your provisions and suggested despair when they came folk villains—and in this they follow the Gunnison upon an Indian camp. The category, Colorado has River, which would take Indians took them to the the dubious honor of them to the Los Pinos chief, and they were fed claiming Alferd (or Alfred) Agency. Four of them did, and sheltered until they Packer, one of the only but Packer talked the other had recovered from their citizens of the US ever six into striking off, heading adventure thus far. convicted of cannibalism. for the (cont. p2)

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Alferd Packer, cont.

Headwaters of the Rio the Agency, described as pointed to Packer having Grande, where rich mines “wild-looking” and bloated murdered and eaten his were said to have been of face but otherwise in companions, and he later discovered. good condition. He said his confessed to it. In fact he five companions had confessed to several In February of 1874, two of deserted him when he different versions. In one the four men who had became ill. However, he version one of his followed the Gunnison was well supplied with companions had shot the arrived, on the verge of money, and bought many others while Packer was starvation, at the Los Pinos rounds of drink, during gathering firewood, and Agency, the other two which his story slipped a bit, attempted to kill Packer having perished of to the point where those when he returned to camp exposure and starvation. listening to him began to – so it was self defense. The group led by Packer suspect that he had, in fact, killed his companions No one assumed Packer was assumed to have been lost. and taken their cash. was innocent, particularly when he tried to assault a Then, in March of 1874, Even worse, the member of the party he Packer also appeared at investigation clearly was leading to find the

The Myth: During the trial, the judge supposedly said: “Damn you, Alferd Packer! There were seven Demmycrats in Hinsdale County and you et five of them!

bodies of the men. In June, guilty, with the death For some reason, Packer when the snow had penalty attached. He caught on as a legend in thawed somewhat, an immediately appealed and popular culture. His case was artist discovered the was granted a new trial. This written up in Celebrated remains of Packer’s party, time the verdict was guilty which indicated the truth of but the sentence was eight Criminal Cases of North America , by Thomas S. Duke Packer’s confession – at years for each offense, for a (1910), and inserted as a direct least where he said he’d total of 40 years. He was quote from there into Dashiell eaten them. He was pardoned in January of Hammett’s The Thin Man (1929). charged with five murders, 1901, and moved to a Tastes like wrote a folk song but escaped. ranch in Deer Creek, about him, “ The Ballad of Colorado (where he was Alferd Packer ” (1964), with the Nine years later, in March said to have become a refrain “They called him a chicken! of 1883, authorities caught vegetarian), and died in murderer, a cannibal, a thief; up with him in Laramie 1907. It just doesn’t pay to eat County, Wyoming, where The Myth: Convicted of anything but Government- he was said to be involved cannibalism. inspected beef.” In 1968 with a gang of outlaws. He The Truth: Convicted of students at the University of was brought back to murder, reversed on a Colorado named the grill in the Colorado, tried, and found technicality; reconvicted of student union the Alferd G. manslaughter.

The Truth: The actual sentencing statement read: “Close your ears to the blandishments of hope. Listen not to the flattering promises of life, but prepare for the dread certainty of death”

Packer Memorial Grill, with (of the motto “Have a friend for fame). His legend has also lunch!” The cafeteria in the been the subject, over the U.S. Department of years, of various mock trials, Agriculture was also briefly continuing investigations, named the Alfred Packer CSI-style tests, and a Memorial Grill (the plaque pardon (in 1981). proving it resides at the bar of the National Press Club). In short, he’s the kind of folk Packer has also inspired a villain mystery fans can 1999 movie, Ravenous, and really sink their teeth into. Cannibal: The Musical by Suzanne Proulx

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Q&A with LCC Guest of Honor Stephen White

Q: Your character, Alan Gregory, is a clinical psychologist have for their behavior. The other is that being a like yourself. Does the similarity end there? How much of psychotherapist exposed me to dialogue in its purest Stephen White is reflected in Alan Gregory? form. For eight to ten hours a day over a period of fifteen years I had the privilege of sitting and listening to A: The similarities don’t exactly end there but there’s no a wide variety of people just talk. I can’t imagine a need to exaggerate them, either. I lived in Boulder on a nd better training ground for writing dialogue. off for fifteen years; Alan still lives there. Although neither of us is a model of mental health, his neuroses are different than mine. And he has advantages that I never had as a psychologist. First, he has the benefit of all my years of experience. And second, I get to think about his lines as long as I’d like. Real patients never have that luxury.

Q: In what ways does your writing benefit from your training in psychology?

A: There are two benefits of my previous experience as a psychologist that I consider invaluable to my life as a writer. The first is that my work gave me a chance to observe and study the infinite varieties of motivation that human beings

books are dear to me for Q: What makes Boulder a examine them from many A: I would estimate that some specific reason. prime location for your different directions. about half my mail involves Privileged Information novels? Although I don’t intend to readers’ reaction to Lauren because it was the first, make political or social having MS. The Higher Authority because it A: Boulder is as important statements with my work, overwhelming sentiment I to me as the fictional was such a departure for the exploration of hear is one of gratitude, village is to Jim Carrey in me at that stage of my controversial topics usually wither for the fact of the career, Critical Conditions The Truman Show. Boulder involves the precipitation of portrayal of the illness, the is scenic, it’s witty, it’s because of the challenge polarizing conflicts reality of the portrayal of its intelligent, it’s malleable, of writing characters from between characters. From effect on Lauren’s life, or for an adolescent point of it’s stubborn, it’s idealistic, polarization inevitably the nature of the portrayal it’s naïve. It’s a town I view. comes point of view. – that I present her as a could never make up, Thrillers are good stories vibrant, interesting, sexual and if I did, I’m not sure Q: In your novels you’ve that take readers for a ride. being despite her illness. anyone would believe taken on issues of I like to learn something People who have MS and me. managed health care, the along the way as I’m people who work with MS Mormon Church, the cult of writing, and I like to offer patients have been Q: Which of your books is celebrity. Is it your intention readers an opportunity to especially supportive. your favorite and why? to make a social or political learn something along the statement in each novel? way if they are interested in Q: What kind of books do A: The simplest answer to doing so. I like to think each you like to read? this question is that my A: Writing a book is a book is about something. favorite book is the one laborious, lengthy process. I A: My reading is eclectic. I that I am currently writing. feel strongly that if I, as the Q: Alan Gregory’s wife read a relatively equal mix The reason is simple: I like writer, don’t stay interested Lauren is living with Multiple of fiction and non-fiction to think that I’m getting in the work, neither will any Sclerosis. What feedback and find that research better at this process and reader. So I pick topics that have you received from reading takes up more and that each book reflects fascinate me or trouble me fans, people with MS, and more of my time. The my maturation as a writer. or captivate me, topics health care workers, about longer I write crime fiction, But it is also true to say that will stay interesting your portrayal? however, the less of it I tend that each of the earlier even as I proceed to to read.

Left Coast Crime 2008 4 4 TYPE TITLE HERE Top Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Denver

Denver brews more beer than There are 200 named mountain any other American City. peaks visible from Denver.

Denver boasts the Largest Art Denver really is exactly a mile Museum between the East high. A single step on the Capitol and West Coasts. Building is 5,280 feet above sea level. Denver averages 300+ days of sunshine per year! In Denver’s rarified air, golf balls, baseballs, and footballs go 10% Denver has the largest urban further. So do cocktails. bike trail system in the nation – more than 850 miles worth With less water vapor in the air, the sky really is bluer in Colorado. The Denver Performing Arts Complex is the second largest Geographically, Denver is in the nation – second only to classified as a high plains desert. NY’s Lincoln Center. Yes, really. So drink lots of water! Things to do in Denver when you’re DEAD (dehydrated, emaciated, and in need of diversion)

restaurants and eateries, shops, Hello, and welcome to the and a movie theater. And to get Rockies! I may be a bit you there, if you don’t want to prejudiced since I live here, but walk, is a free shuttle bus that this is a great setting for LCC travels the entire mall, w ell into 2008. I toured the public areas of the night. The Adam’s Mark Hotel on Saturday and that place is going Remember, bring clothing to to knock your socks off. The keep you warm. Layers are the lobby takes your breath away as way to go and one really warm you enter. Excellent restaurant coat with gloves, just in case. and a large, lovely bar. The One minute our March days are hotel is located on the south side lovely, but the next second a of the open-air 16th street mall cloud cover could begin and it that stretches at least 10 to 12 will drop between 10 and 20 blocks long which is bracketed degrees and it’s snowing like a by Barnes and Noble, 1 block maniac. Ya never know! Photos courtesy of Denver Chamber of Commerce away, and the LODO branch of the world-famous Tattered Cover I am looking forward to being Bookstore, perfect for this crew of your tour guide for the next nine Book-a-holics. Branching off from months. I’ll be talking about high there down Blake St. and Wazee altitude and hotels that cater to St., and running the length of the your doggies next, for those of us Mall as well, are amazing who can’t bear to leave Asta nightclubs and cigar bars, pubs, behind! See you, D.A. Davenport

Left Coast Crime 2008 LCC 2008 Co-Chairs:

Christine Goff [email protected] Suzanne Proulx [email protected]