Standard Circle book sculpture by Brian Dettmer
There was a lot of award news during this past week:
- First, congratulations to all the recent Edgar Award winners, including Best Novel, Live by Night by Dennis Lehane; Best First Novel, The Expats by Chris Pavone; Best Paperback Original, The Last Policeman: A Novel by Ben H. Winters; and the Mary Higgins Clark Award, The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan. For all the winners and nominees, check out the Mystery Writers of America website.
- The Agatha Awards handed out at the annual Malice Domestic Convention included Best Novel for The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny and Best First Novel to Lowcountry Boil by Susan M. Boyer. (Hat tip Crimespree Magazine.)
- Spinetingler Magazine also announced its awards last week, including Best Novel: Rising Star/Legends to The Cold Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty; and Best Novel: New Voice to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn; also the 2013 IPPY Awards, recognizing outstanding books from independent authors and publishers announced winners in the Mystery and Suspense categories.
- Booklist announced its ten Best Crime Novels and ten Best Debut Crime Novels (which span publication dates from May 2012 to April 2013).
- The Crimefest Award nominees were announced last weekend, with winners to be presented at the CrimeFest Gala Dinner on June 1. They include the categories Audible Sounds of Crime Award, Goldsboro Last Laugh Award for humorous mysteries, eDunnit Award for digital books, and the H.R.F. Keating Award for best biography or critical book related to crime fiction. (Hat tip to Janet Rudolph.)
- The long-list for the 2013 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award was also announced, with the 18 nominees to be featured in a four-week voting campaign through early June at WHSmith stores and 1,645 library branches. The longlist will be whittled down to a shortlist of six titles to be announced on July 4.
The latest Thuglit Issue, edited by Todd Robinson, is out and available for the Kindle. It includes original stories by Chris Mattix, Justin Porter, Ed Kurtz, Rob W. Hart, Edward Hagelstein, Shannon Barber, Chris Murphy and Brian Leopold.
The May issue of Suspense Magazine includes exclusive interviews with David Morrell, Lisa Scottoline and M.J. Rose, all talking about their latest novel and writing styles. There also looks at new authors Thomas M. Malafarina and Lisa Mannetti; Lisa Gardner's writing toolbox has tips for authors; and Anthony J. Franze interviews Heather Graham for his next installment of his "On Writing" section.
New story up at Shotgun Honey, titled "Hell's Belle - Pell Mell" by Jim Wilsky, and a new story at Beat to a Pulp from Josh Stallings, "The Blow Jobs."
We've lost a great many indie bookstores over the past few years, so it's alway good news to welcome a new addition. Last year, co-owners Jason and Stacey Harris opened Books & Boos of Colchester, Connecticut, to "cater to those of us who enjoy a good book, a good time, and a good scare." They feature mysteries, thrillers, romance, non-fiction and, of course, horror.
Omnimystery News published its monthly list of Firsts on the 1st, introducing readers to new series characters who will make their mysterious American debut in print during May.
The latest "Getting Away with Murder" column by Mike Ripley for Shots eZine is out with news and reviews from across the Pond.
The Q&A roundup this week includes Todd Robinson visiting Grift Magazine to discuss The Hard Bounce, recently published by Tyrus Books; and Kate Atkinson chats with Omnivoracious her lates novel Life After Life and her writing in general.
Good news for book fans: the Association of American Publishers released 2012 sales figures, showing a substantial increase in overall book sale totals, a net gain of 7.4 percent over the previous year. The figures also showed that eBook sales are about are holding steady at about 20-25 percent of the total market.
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