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!