The Florida Book Awards, coordinated by the Florida State University Libraries, announced winners for "the nation’s most comprehensive state book awards program," established in 2006 to celebrate the best of Florida literature. Winning authors from across the state will be honored at the annual awards banquet Thursday, April 20. The Popular Fiction category included three crime themed titles, the Gold Winner, Jenna Kernan, for The Ex-Wives (Bookouture); the Silver Winner, Tamatha Cain for Song of the Chimney Sweep (Orange Blossom Publishing); and the Bronze Winner, Lucy Burdette, aka Roberta Isleib, for A Dish to Die For (Crooked Lane Books).
Another Dallas Noir At The Bar is coming to The Wild Detectives on Sunday, April 23. Those currently scheduled to read from their crime novels and stories include Trang Vu, Jim Nesbitt, Kathleen Kent, Harry Hunsicker, Sean C. Wright Neeley, Rod Davis, Tim Bryant, Opalina Salas, Kevin R. Tipple, and Scott Montgomery. Admission is free and there will be door prizes, too.
The Friends of The Ferguson Library and the Mystery Writers of America/NY chapter present CrimeCONN 2023, Connecticut’s one-day mystery writers' and lovers' conference, on May 6. This year, authors and crime experts will take stock of the the future of crime writing in this hybrid event, presented in person and via Zoom. Authors scheduled to participate include Reed Farrel Coleman, Vinnie O’Neil, Russ Colchamiro, Elizabeth Crowens, John Valeri, Kelley Ragland, Sarah Weinman, Dan Conaway, Kristin Sevick, Charles Salzberg, Mally Becker, Alex Segura, Gary Earl Ross, Rob Hart, Deborah Goodrich Royce, and Keynote Speaker, Joseph Finder.
Mystery Readers Journal has extended the deadline for its call for articles on Hobbies & Crafts in Mysteries to May 1, 2023. They're looking for articles (500-1,000 words), reviews (50-250 words), and author essays (500-1,000 words) about mysteries that focus on various aspects of crafts and hobbies. For more information, head on over to the Mystery Fanfare blog.
This week's crime poem at the 5-2 weekly is "Two Wrongs Making a Right" by Eric D. Goodman.
In the Q&A roundup, the New Zealand Herald spoke with Don Winslow, best-selling author of City of Dreams, about retiring from fiction writing for political activism; Indie Crime Scene chatted with Joshua Cohan, author of Past Imperfect, featuring private investigator Benjamin Gold; and Writers Who Kill interviewed Cordelia Rook about her Island Cozy mystery series.
Unfortunately, by mid day on Thursday the planned Noir at the Bar Dallas at The Wild Detectives was cancelled due to three readers being absent with serious medical issues and the weather forecast for storms Sunday. No new date has been set yet by organizer Johnny Wesner.
Posted by: Kevin Ralton Tipple | April 21, 2023 at 01:27 PM
Thanks for the update, Kevin - that's such a bummer for all involved. I sure hope everyone feels better soon, and that the weather isn't as stormy as forecast after all. Fingers crossed, best wishes, and I hope to see the event rescheduled soon!
Posted by: BV Lawson | April 21, 2023 at 01:29 PM