It Really Is an Honor To be Nominated

When I left for Bouchercon, I was a Macavity short story nominee for “Keeping Watch Over His Flock,” (published in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe, edited by Charlaine Harris and myself) and an Anthony short story nominee for “Skull and Cross-Examinations” (published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine). When I flew home, it was without either award.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. Of course I am. But after each award ceremony I smiled and applauded. That’s part of award etiquette. I hugged the winners, too, because they’re both really nice and good writers to boot. And when people offered their condolences, I smiled and said, “It’s an honor just to be nominated.”

You know what? It’s absolutely true. It is an honor to be nominated. Just look at the people I was up against. For the Macavity, it was:

• Sean Chercover for ”A Sleep Not Unlike Death” (published in Hardcore Hardboiled)
• Laura Lippman for “Scratch a Woman” (published in Hardly Knew Her)
• Tom Piccirilli for “Between the Dark and the Daylight” (published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
• Dana Cameron for “The Night Things Changed” (published in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe). She won, by the way.

For the Anthony, it was:

• Dana Cameron for “The Night Things Changed” (published in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe).
• Sean Chercover for ”A Sleep Not Unlike Death” (published in Hardcore Hardboiled). He won this one.
• Jane Cleland for “Killing Time” (published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
• Laura Lippman for “Scratch a Woman” (published in Hardly Knew Her)
• Kristine Kathryn Rusch for “The Secret Lives of Cats” (published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)

I am honestly proud to have been in the same categories as these writers. I am delighted that people nominated me, and voted for me. Even though I didn’t win and didn’t have the opportunity to say so in public, I am grateful to the editors who published those stories (Charlaine Harris, Ginjer Buchanan, and Janet Hutchings); my agent Joan Brandt; my readers Charlaine Harris and Dana Cameron; and most of all my husband Steve, my first reader.

I offer my heartiest congratulations to Dana for winning the Macavity and to Sean for winning the Anthony, and I commend the other nominees.

I really am deeply and sincerely honored.

Everybody’s a Fan at Bouchercon

In 1985, a supergroup of musicians called USA for Africa got together to record the song “We Are the World,” which was sold to raise humanitarian aid for Africa.  And by supergroup, I mean people like Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Willie Nelson, Kim Carnes, Cyndi Lauper, and Bruce Springsteen.

That’s what Bouchercon is like for mystery writers.

This year’s Bouchercon was held in Indianapolis this past weekend. The hotel was a great choice, the outside venues fun and easy to get to, and the area was saturated with good restaurants. The panels were great fun, and how can you argue with honorees like Michael Connelly, S.J. Rozan, Wendelin Van Draanen, Al Hubin, and Kathryn Kennison? The convention committee did a terrific job.

Of course, the way I approach Bouchercon is not the same as that of the average fan. I spoke on a panel, went for drinks with an editor, went to my publisher’s cocktail party, ate lunch with two other editors, signed books, attended award ceremonies for the Macavity and the Anthony, recorded a podcast, met with a book packager, and discussed a forthcoming anthology. The other writers were just colleagues, so of course I didn’t take any particular notice of them.

And if you believe that, I’ve got some swampland in Florida up on eBay…

My gosh, do you know was there?  If the honorees weren’t impressive enough, there was C.J. Box, JoAnna Carl, Carolyn Hart, Lee Child, Charlaine Harris, Harlan Coben, Max Allan Collins, Heather Graham, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Loren Estleman, Dana Cameron, Peter Lovesey, Mary Saums… And that’s just a start. Do you seriously think I could wander through a hotel filled with talented writers like that without wanting to pinch myself? I was in heaven.

The fact is, I was a mystery fan long before I was a mystery writer. And one of the best parts about being a pro is the endless opportunities it provides for being a fan, for meeting these people at conventions and cocktail parties and panels. So you can bet that I brought home a load of autographed books, just like any other fan.

Come to think of it, I understand the musicians of USA for Africa signed autographs for one another, too…

Faire to Middling Historical

This weekend, my family and I–and my daughter’s friend Amanda–spent the day at King Richard’s Faire, a long established renaissance faire in nearby Carver, MA. It was a gorgeous New England fall day, and we saw amazing sights, including:

King Richard Himself, With Members of His Court

Jousting

Pirate Percussionists

The Tortuga Twins Storytelling Troupe (with an audience volunteer)

The Renaissance Vampire Musical “Bite Me”

You may be picking up on the fact that King Richard’s Faire is not strictly historically accurate. I understand that this is true of many renfaires. I like Neil Gaiman’s description from the comic book Sandman. Hob, an actual survivor of the renaissance, visits a modern faire and says, “It’s just someone’s idea of the English middle ages crossed with bloody Disneyland.”

I can’t argue with that. It’s not history. But we weren’t there for history–we were there for fun, and we had plenty of that. Besides, I suspect some history snuck in when I’m not looking anyway. I did get to see a knight actually walking and riding in armor, heard the sound of swords hitting, realized the amount of space it takes for a woman in that kind of gown, maybe learned a little bit of authentic vocabulary mixed in with the Monty Python accents. I didn’t mind a little bonus of learning as long as it was entertaining.

There’s a lesson there for writers of fiction. No, I’m not suggesting that we fill our work with historical inaccuracies, or even modern inaccuracies. Nor should we throw in vampires and pirates just because they’re popular–though I admit to doing stories with both. My point is that if you entertain the reader, you can sneak in a lot of facts without anybody minding. There’s a fair amount of TV trivia tucked into my own Curse of the Kissing Cousins, though it’s by no means a history of television. Okay, it’s not a grand epiphany, but didn’t I already tell you that I don’t go to renfaires to learn anything?

So to King Richard’s Faire, I offer a resounding Huzzah!

Death of a Cover

Or rather, the revision of a cover. Though we thought we were decided on the previously posted cover for the upcoming anthology Death’s Excellent Vacation, edited by Charlaine Harris and myself, upon further reflection we weren’t. After discussion, we realized the previous cover–though perfectly charming–was a bit subtle with the paranormal aspect and might discourage male book buyers. So the cat lady–or perhaps wolf lady, because she’s been called both–will be staying home, and the Grim Reaper will be going on vacation in her place.

It’s still the same stellar lineup of authors, and that’s the best part!

What a Vacation Should Look Like

Just got a picture of the cover for Death’s Excellent Vacation today, which is coming out in August of 2010. Charlaine and I had a great time with this, and we’re constantly amazed by the creativity of our contributors.

Speaking of 2010 releases, the trade paperback of Wolfsbane and Mistletoe is scheduled of November of 2010, just in time to fill any stockings that might need a helping paw.

Laura Fleming Rides Again!

The books in my Laura Fleming series have been out of print for some time now, which is not a happy thing for an author. But she’s coming back, in a big way. Well, in large print anyway. On October 16, 2009, Kennebec Large Print will be releasing a large print edition of Mad as the Dickens. I loved the cover Kensington originally did for this book, but I love this new one, too.

Mad as the Dickens is my Christmas in Byerly book. With Christmas approaching, Laura planned to curl up in her Boston apartment with her English professor husband, Richard, to await the birth of their first child. But when her cousin Vasti asks Richard to direct A Christmas Carol, Laura heads back home for some unpleasant surprises. First, running a play turns mild-mannered Richard into a backstage tyrant. Next, Seth Murdstone, the play’s Scrooge, is a washout as an actor. Worst of all–grimmer than the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come–Seth is brutally murdered.

Library Journal said, “Lots of small-town bickering, family gossip, and not a few private agendas make for an entertaining Southern mystery, the seventh in the series. For all collections.”

Seeing a book come back into print is a great Christmas present for any author, even if it’s only October.

Death’s Excellent Vacation

As summer draws to a close, it seems only appropriate to share a few details about the August 2010 release of Death’s Excellent Vacation, the latest anthology edited by Charlaine Harris and myself. This time, we asked our cadre of contributors to play travel agent for supernatural denizens and send them on fictional vacations.

I don’t have the cover yet–given Ace’s track record, it’s going to be awesome–but I do have the list of contributors.

• Charlaine Harris
• Toni L.P. Kelner
• Jeff Abbott
• L.A. Banks
• Jeaniene Frost
• Christoper Golden
• Chris Grabenstein
• Katie MacAlister
• A. Lee Martinez
• Sharan Newman
• Lilith Saintcrow
• Sarah Smith
• Daniel Stashower

I may be biased, but I think they came up with some terrific stories. So as you pack away the sandals and bathing suits, you’ve got something to look forward to.

Ahoy! Pirates sighted on the horizon!

Avast me hearties! There be a new pirate mystery on the horizon!

Or, in less piratical terms, my story “The Pirate’s Debt” appears in the August issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, which I just received today. To add to the pleasure, my name is on the cover!

“The Pirate’s Debt” is the sequel to my Anthony-nominated story “Skull and Cross-Examinations,” which is currently posted on the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine site.

Any new publication is cause for celebration and to hoist a tankard of rum! Of course, to Blood-eye Val, any excuse is good enough!

Kissing Cousins a Mystery Lovers Bookshop Bestseller!

I’m a happy camper today–a happy bestselling camper. Curse of the Kissing Cousins is #10 on the May paperback bestseller list for the amazing Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, PA! I was at the story for their annual Mystery Festival the first Tuesday in May, and had a such a good time. This is just icing on the cake. Many thanks to the fine people of Oakmont!

The May list isn’t on the Mystery Lovers web site yet, so in the meantime, I’ll put it here:

Hardcover

1. Look Again by Lisa Scottoline (St. Martin’s)
2. Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson (HarperCollins)
3. Scarecrow by Michael Connelly (Little Brown)
4. Killer Cuts by Elaine Viets (Obsidian)
5. The Way Home by George Pelecanos (Little Brown)
6. In the Shadow of Gotham by Stefanie Pintoff (Minotaur)
7. Murder on Waverly Place by Victoria Thompson (Berkley)
8. The Big Dirt Nap by Rosemary Harris (Minotaur)
9. Killer Keepsakes by Jane K. Cleland (Minotaur)
10. Posed for Murder by Meredith S. Cole (Minotaur)

 

Trade Paperback

1. Death of a Cozy Writer by G.M. Malliet (Midnight Ink)
2. Paper, Scissors, Death by Joanna Campbell Slan (Midnight Ink)
3. Would-Be Witch by Kimberly Frost (Berkley)
4. Dead Man Dancing by Marcia Talley (Severn House)
5. The War Against Miss Winter by Katherine Miller Haines (Harper)
6. The Forever Man by C. William Davis III
7. Death and the Lit Chick by G.M. Malliet (Midnight Ink)
8. The Turnaround by George Pelecanos (Back Bay Books)
9. Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer (Dial Press)
10. Gold Digger by Vicki Delany (Rendezvous Press) TIED WITH In the Shadow of the Glacier by Vicki Delany (Poisoned Pen Press)

 

Mass Market Paperback

1. Clubbed to Death by Elaine Viets (Obsidian)
2. Hounding the Pavement by Judi McCoy (Signet)
3. The Cat, the Quilt and the Corpse by Leann Sweeney (Obsidian)
4. The Map Thief by Heather Terrell (Ballantine)
5. Still Life by Louise Penny (St. Martin’s)
6. The Clockwork Teddy by John J. Lamb (Berkley)
7. Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett (Berkley)
8. Pushing Up Daisies by Rosemary Harris (Minotaur) TIED WITH Some Like It Hot-Buttered by Jeffrey Cohen (Berkley)
9. Deadly Appraisal by Jane K. Cleland (Minotaur) TIED WITH Death Loves a Messy Desk by Mary Jane Maffini (Berkley)
10. Curse of the Kissing Cousins by Toni L.P. Kelner (Berkley)

All in the Family

As I continue to revel in the Anthony nomination for my pirate mystery “Skull and Cross-Examinations,” and eagerly await the release of “The Pirate’s Debt,” the second in the series (due out in the August issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine), I’ve received several notes asking me how a dignified author like myself would know so much about the vicious Brethren of the Coast. And I’ve decided it’s time to come clean about myself. The fact is, piracy runs in my blood. I am descended from a long line of seafaring scoundrels, and more than a few of my ancestors would be proud to see me writing about piratical things. In fact, during a recent investigation into my family history I discovered a stack of yellowed photos of some of these scalawags.

Take a look at my several-times-great-grandmother, Evil Leigh:

What was it that made her smile? I’d rather not say–it’s more gruesome than any murder I’ve ever written about. Here’s a shot of the Crimson Captain, who weighed anchor in Evil Leigh’s home port a time or two, if you know what I mean:

Most fearsome of all was the result of their temporary alliance, Blood-eye Val, who never met a tankard of grog she didn’t like. Drunk or sober, she could buckle swashes with the best of ‘em.

So next time you’re wondering why it is an author chooses a particular setting, just remember that you may not really want to know.

 

Historical Note
You may be thinking that photography wasn’t exactly common in that era, and you’re right. Obviously the cameras were stolen.