Sunday 27 March 2011

Bury Your Dead won the Dilys Award!

A perfect day!

Just heard that Bury Your Dead did win the Dilys!!! It was announced last night in Santa Fe. The magnificent Barbara Peters (she of Poisoned Pen Press and her bookstore in Scottsdale, AZ) accepted for me.

The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association (who give out the Dilys) asked each of the nominees who weren't there for a speech, in case we won. Here is the one I sent - and presumably, Barbara read -


I wish I could be here to look you in the eyes so you'd know how deeply grateful and overjoyed I am. But the truth is, I'd probably just blubber and jump for joy and make almost no sense. Barbara, would you mind jumping around a bit, for me? In a dignified sort of way, of course.

Thank you to the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association for the Dilys Award. Thank you for what it represents. Handselling. Not downloading. But actually pressing a paper and ink book into a customer's hand. Knowing the name of the book, knowing the name of the author. Knowing the name of the customer.

Now there's an art worth celebrating. Bookselling. What a very beautiful gift that is.

Thank you for this amazing award. Especially given the fabulous books and writers who were also nominated. Bribery does pay off. Tell your children.

Thank you too, to the most wonderful editors in the world, Hope Dellon and Dan Mallory. And to Minotaur Books, who have seen that a small mystery with very little blood and no sex, set in Canada can have something to say. What a terrific publisher they are!

I think the Dilys is especially precious to me because BURY YOUR DEAD is the sixth book in the Gamache series. I'm always afraid of falling into a routine, or getting lost as so many other magnificent crime novels are published. I have a lot of fears. Of not being good enough, of not writing the books you deserve to read. Of staggering when I should be leaping. But now, when I'm afraid, I can look at this marvelous award you've given me, and feel maybe I can do it.

BURY YOUR DEAD is, in many ways, about second chances. I've been given a second chance in life, and I am beyond happy to be taking it in your company. I will never forget Barbara's experience here tonight. Damn, I wish I was with you!

I also want to thank the gorgeous Barbara Peters and say that she is drunk at this very moment and will almost certainly be arrested before the night is out. She is also a very lovely woman, and a great friend.

Merci, tout le monde.


I'd have paid good money to hear Barbara say those words!

I'm so incredibly happy. As you know, Bury Your Dead was a difficult book to write - not so much because of the complexity of the interwoven story lines, but because of the emotional toll - on characters I love, and therefore on me. To win, then, such a meaningful award really goes to my heart.

As does all your happiness for me. you are so generous and kind. Thank you!

One more???

Oh, why not - Yippppppeeeeee!

And, the magnificent Lesa Holstine, over at Lesa's Book Critiques was at Left Coast Crime, where the awards were given out. In her blog today she lists the winners of the other awards....a great list to add to your TBR stack! Here's an excerpt from her blog -

The Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery Novel went to J. Michael Orenduff for The Pot Thief Who Studied Einstein.

The Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award for best historical mystery novel, events pre-1950, went to Jacqueline Winspear for The Mapping of Love and Death.

The Hillerman Sky Award for the mystery that best captures the landscape of the Southwest went to Margaret Coel for The Spider's Web.

And, since I was sitting next to him at dinner, it's a pleasure to say that the Watson for mystery novel with best sidekick went to Craig Johnson for Junkyard Dogs.


Thanks for posting Lesa - hope you don't mind my lifting it!

Congratulations to all the winners and all the nominees.

Now - it's back to the monastery for me!

33 comments:

Mason Canyon said...

Congratulations Louise. A well deserved honor.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Beth said...

Good morning--and what a good morning it is! Congratulations! I am so happy for you, and for Bury Your Dead, about which I feel tender and somewhat protective Hooray for them for recognizing your beautiful book.

Lesa said...

Good morning, Louise! I'm honored that the Dilys Award winner (and every other deserved award winner) lifted that listing. Congratulations. I was rooting for you. And, yes, Barbara read your speech, beginning with the French, which gave many of us the clue as to who won before she announced it. And, she even included the part about being drunk, and said she planned to go back to the table and work on it. Hugs, and congratulations, my friend!

Snap said...

YeeHaw!!!!!! (Texan for congratulations!)

glenys said...

Yippee! Double Yippee! Congratulations, Louise, and enjoy basking in well deserved glory. Then please get on with the next book. We're waiting.......(no pressure!)

Barbara said...

I'm so happy for you. It's well deserved. I don't know why all writers (myself included) always think we will be unmasked as frauds, but let me say you are the real thing, Louise.

Colombine said...

Yes! Yes! Yes! c'est tout simplement merveilleux! Quelle récompense ce doit être pour un auteur... J'aimerais tellement pouvoir lire en anglais... je l'attendrai en français et pendant ce temps, je lirai les 5 autres cet été. Nous sommes très fiers de vous chère Louise. Profitez bien de cette journée exceptionnelle avec Michael.

Nikki B said...

YAHOO!! and congratulations!! and Louise, no worries on falling into a routine--in fact it was so not routine I hardly got any sleep while reading it ;)

Cheryl Bower said...

Louise, that's because BURY YOUR DEAD was a "dilly" of a read!
;-)

jamie camp said...

Just read of all your great news on Twitter! Congratulations! Wonderful work widely appreciated. It's a good thing!

Sue Mom of Two said...

Congrats! Definitely WELL deserved!

Jeanine Cronin said...

Congratulations, Louise! I knew you would win and I am so very happy for you. Can't wait to read your next, and then the one you are presently writing. Each book just gets better and better. You are truly a word magician!

Love to Michael and Trudy.

Linda said...

Well done again, Louise! You have created characters that will live on forever because they are so well-defined, and TRUE! Have no fear.
Loved your acceptance speech!

Lynne Perednia said...

Congratulations and thank you so much for your books. You write about the concerns of falling into a routine but the Three Pines/Gamache books are the opposite. They keep getting more meaningful and therefore more rewarding. How lovely to see others think as highly of your books!

darlene said...

This is such validation for all the work you do in creating a world we all love, peopled with characters we all follow as if they were part of our family. Congratulations!

kjthomson said...

Louise, congratulations!

Marni said...

Wonderful and well-deserved, Louise. You and Gamache keep getting better and better, and it's great that you are getting this recognition. Another jewel in your crown~can Michael stand it?!

LynneB said...

Louise, I am so happy (once again) for you!
Beaucoup congratulations. Well deserved.

Lisa said...

Adding my congratulations - I was so hoping that you would win. So well-deserved.

Jodi said...

Yppeee!

And your, er Barbara's speech is hilarious.

lil Gluckstern said...

I'm so happy for you, and I loved your acceptance speech. And a hurrah for all the booksellers who are hanging in there. Tis a strange time for paper, but Bury Your Dead wad truly wonderful, moving and triumphant. How poignant-second chances.

Jan J. said...

I'm so happy for you - you need never doubt your worthiness and ability - you are just a great writer! And this award is proof I have good taste in literature LOL! Congratulations - great speech!

Cherry P. Jamison said...

About a year ago, I stumbled on a little book called "Still Life" on Audible, downloaded it and immediately fell in love with the universe of Three Pines. At the time, I thought that I had discovered a little known treasure and felt quite privileged. However, it is a good thing I didn't have to draw the world's attention to Louise all by myself. I don't think I could have done an adequate job in time for this year's Dilys.

WAY TO GO LOUISE! I know Santa Fe enjoyed your acceptance speech.

Candice said...

Congratulations! I loved the book, so, as far as I'm concerned, the right book won! Looking forward to the next one.

Candice

Chris said...

Well deserved--congratulations! It's a winner in many, many respects!

martha said...

I am adding my voice to so many others, hoping you will know how much we all care for you.

I am delighted about the news! I have been giving the book as a gift to many friends.

May this be the beginning of many more well deserved awards. Your characters will be very happy.

Linda Gray said...

Many congratulations! And as everyone has said, so well-deserved. Love your books and hope you never get tired of these wonderful characters you've created, and never want to stop writing their stories. (We readers are greedy little devils.) And it's inspiring that the depth of emotion you felt for your characters' difficulties paid off in such beautiful prose. (Helps with my own emotional struggles with what my characters are going through in my WIP right now--thanks!)

plaisanter said...

Hooray!!
So well-deserved an award, I'm very happy!!

Mary-Martha said...

Please let me add one more heartfelt congratulations to the many for receiving the Dilys. It was only a few months ago that I stumbled across your books and since then Three Pines and your wonderful family of characters have become very special to me. I have introduced you to the members of my book club and all of my best friends. I'm sure that very soon you will have many more friends falling in love with your books.
Best wishes for many more successes.

Mary-Ellen said...

congratulations! Delighted for you, the book is great and you deserve credit for it.

Unknown said...

Congratulations! Your books are such a pleasure to read. I am eagerly awaiting the next one.

GregZilla said...

The Award is very attractive too! I envy your mantle!

Maureen said...

Hi Louise, I have just finished the Louise Penny collection and am sorry to have done so.... I hated to say good bye to the characters I have come to know so well. Except for the murders, you could be describing so many of the small villages scattered here in the Townships; with bits and pieces of us all rolled into so many distinctive characters.

Writing Bury Your Dead must have used up a great deal of emotional energy... as the reader I had tears streaming down my face on many occasions.

Get some good rest, and enjoy this very special piece of the world, as it Springs back to life.

Looking forward to the next one...
Maureen