Agatha nomination

heavy rains, then sunny, unseasonably warm - temps plus 8

Can you believe it???! I am over the moon celebrating the nomination. BURY YOUR DEAD has been shortlisted for the Agatha Award for Best Novel in the US! This is such an important award - honouring the Grand Dame of mysteries...and so, it has added meaning. On top of that - it's a reader-driven award...the shortlist comes from readers sending in their suggestions.

The nominees are:

Best Novel:
Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard
Drive Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Truly, Madly by Heather Webber

Best First Novel:
The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Aames
Murder at the PTA by Laura Alden
Maid of Murder by Amanda Flower
Full Mortality by Sasscer Hill
Diamonds for the Dead by Alan Orloff

Best Short Story:
"Swing Shift" by Dana Cameron, Crimes by Moonlight
"Size Matters" by Sheila Connolly, Thin Ice
"Volunteer of the Year" by Barb Goffman, Chesapeake Crimes: They Had it Comin'
"So Much in Common" by Mary Jane Maffini, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine - Sept./Oct. 2010
"The Green Cross" by Liz Zelvin, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine - August 2010

there are two other categories - best non-fiction and best young adult fiction.

Congratulations to everyone!!! I suspect you are as thrilled and excited as I am.

The winner will be announced at this fabulous convention called Malice Domestic. It's held every May in Washington, DC, and is organized by people who love reading crime fiction. One of the many great things about it is its size. It's large enough to draw big name writers, but small enough that you get to run into them in the halls, and at breakfast, and at cocktail parties. You just never know who's in the elevator with you. If you like murder mysteries, consider coming to Malice Domestic. I'll be there. I love Malice Domestic.

On another subject, you might have noticed the weather report. And the lack of tropical photos.

The truth is - we came home from St Lucia early. I know, I know. Yet another piece of evidence for the looney-bin.

We were supposed to be there until this coming Monday - but we left after less than a week - and decided to take our quiet holiday in our Montreal apartment - watching crappy movies, lying on the bed, eating pizza. It was bliss.

The problem was the weather. It is normally sunny and hot in February. It sure was last year. But this year it was unseasonably rainy. Every day. Every night. Torrential rains - and huge winds howling through the slats in the shutters, and the trees. It was just too loud. Like living in a wind tunnel.

I longed for peace. And quiet. And while normally St Lucia would be perfect, this year was different. And I suspect most people would not mind the wind. it really wasn't the rain. It was the sound of the wind. No quiet. Apparently this is extremely unusual.

The villa itself was magical and even better than we dared hope! Absolutely breath-taking. Thrilling. Indeed, we offered it to a friend and his wife and they took it for a week themselves. So we don't feel quite as badly about leaving.

In fact, I think that's one of the great things Michael and I are discovering. If we don't like something, then leave. I actually did check the weather forecast and it was for solid rain for the upcoming week...so that just decided it.

It was a brilliant decision. We were sad it didn't work out - but to cling on to something because we paid, and making ourselves more miserable is something we might have done 20 years ago. maybe even 10. But no more. Life's too short. Cut the loses and find what we do love.

And, ironically, we found it at home. Go figure.

But we decided to keep it quiet so that we could have that peace and quiet. And no guilt about not seeing people. We were, as Michael took to calling it, not in Montreal but in St Lucia adjacent.

Still on vacation until Tuesday, so I don't think you'll hear from me. That's something else I need to respect more - my private time. And I know for sure, from all your comments, that you respect it....more than I do! Thank you for that.

Speak to you next week. Hope whatever you're doing, where ever you are, you're enjoying it!

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!