Friday 19 February 2010

Agatha!!!!

Steady, light snow, some blowing, temps minus 5

Came back from dinner last night through practically a snow storm. Fortunately we're so familiar with the roads there was no anxiety at all...and it's only about a 20 minute drive. Had a wonderful, fun dinner with Kirk and Walter, Jack and Jane - and about a million other people in the restaurant. Cheap eats night. Very fun...and loads of birthdays celebrated - including Donna, who works for Lise in the summer and helps do our gardens. Lise and Delmar were there to help her celebrate....wonderful to see them. And our neighbor Pina was at another table.

Watched on pins and needles as Evan Lysacek won Olympic Gold in figure skating. Wow.

But I have to tell you...my HUGE news yesterday was that THE BRUTAL TELLING has been nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Traditional Mystery. Yiipppppeeee! So excited. Sadly the others in my category are very strong. Damn. Here's the list for Best Novel and Best First....


Best Novel

Swan for the Money, Donna Andrews, St. Martin’s Minotaur
Bookplate Special, Lorna Barrett, Berkley Prime Crime
Royal Flush, Rhys Bowen, Berkley Prime Crime
A Brutal Telling, Louise Penny, Minotaur Books
Air Time, Hank Phillippi Ryan, MIRA

Best First Novel

For Better For Murder, Lisa Bork, Midnight Ink
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Alan Bradley, Delacorte Press
Posed for Murder, Meredith Cole, St. Martin’s Minotaur
The Cold Light of Mourning, Elizabeth Duncan, St. Martin’s Press
In the Shadow of Gotham, Stefanie Pintoff, Minotaur Books


Congratulations to all the nominees. It is VERY exciting. The Agatha's are given out at the Saturday night banquet at Malice Domestic - a mystery readers and writer's conference in Washington at the beginning of May.

It's fun because emails to and from the other nominees have been flying - congratulating each other. Feels so good to be part of community where people are genuinely pleased for the other. We each, of course, want to win...but we'd also be happy for whoever does. Great feeling.

speak to you tomorrow!

10 comments:

Marjorie said...

Whoopie! Another nomination. Good for you, Louise. You know I love your work (and I like what I have read so far by Rhys as well). If it helps to bring more readers to you, that is what is most important. Bask in the glow!

--Marjorie from Connecticut

Bev Stephans said...

Dear Louise,

May the best person win....and of course that's you! I'm really rooting for "The Brutal Telling" because it's such a good book.

Enjoy the Olympics.

Bev

Jeanine said...

Congratulations! So well deserved!

Brenda Buchanan said...

Hooray for the Agatha nomination! It's a great field, as you say, which means you are among the best of the best. But we already knew that.

The Brutal Telling is a wonderful book -- you deserve this, Louise. Congratulations!

Best,

Brenda in Maine

lil Gluckstern said...

Congratulations on the Agatha nomination. It's hard to pick, but you deserve this for your meticulous writing, Can't wait to hear, but I am looking forward to "Bury Your Dead." As a marker of the cycle, sounds interesting in addition to good.

DonnaK said...

Dear Louise,

Good, people are coming to their senses..I knew it! I knew it! Yup..the island curse worked...yippee.
Congratulations..I won't jinx it by saying I know you'll win...ha
Donna K

Anonymous said...

Oh dear..I fear that my last note was not very nice..because, we all know that you don't need an island curse to win..your writing does it...!
Donna K

Dana said...

We know what you mean, Donna. Inside I would like to say that, in my opinion, Louise and esp. The Brutal Telling, stand head and shoulders above the other nominees. However, being an adopted Canadian, I will wish everyone luck and praise the Agathas for recognizing Louise, and keep my fingers crossed until the anouncement in May.
Congratulations, Louise!!
Dana

Shelagh said...

Yea Louise! Great job. Certainly you deserve it, and we are all rooting for you. I, too, am anxiously awaiting "Bury Your Dead".

I recently read Giles Blunt's biography on his website (since he will be with you Aug.7 at Stratford). Very funny man - can't wait to hear/see you both in August.

Hugs, Shelagh

Louise Penny Author said...

Hi all,

I can't stay long - need to join the family - but I wanted to make sure you knew I was reading all your comments - and appreciating them. Your support really means so much. We've been through a lot together.

Thank you for this!