That Anthony Award Time of Year

It’s here! That most frustrating of mail. That glorious letter comes complete with return envelope. The Anthony ballot has arrived in my mail box. I will now spend the next three weeks circling around the damn thing. Pad of paper close at hand to jot down my nominees and second guess myself.  Have I read enough critical works to come up with five nominees?  Have I written down this title because it’s been on all the short lists? Am I writing down that name because the book didn’t get enough attention? Will my nominees even make a difference?

The Bouchercon community is broad. People who love very different aspects of the community become one. The range of nominees can be vast. This is the award with the broadest sense of excellence amongst all the awards. When the final nominees are declared the people on that list know that they are loved by readers, well read readers. Think about this. Do people who don’t read give up their time and their money to attend a book convention?

It’s an honor, this preparation I go through to submit my final fives. I’m thrilled to have a chance to participate in the awarding of one of mystery’s most important awards. Some years the end result is very different than my list and some years quite alike. I am always thrilled for the authors.  The Anthony Award short list is first and foremost, Mystery 101. Any reader who wants to dabble within crime fiction and hasn’t can always go to this list, read these books and get a true sense of the best of the best from that year. It will formulate their opinion of our beloved genre; dictate whether or not they choose to return. It’s an awesome responsibility.

I am asking everyone who receives a ballot to participate this year.  100% response has been a goal of the committee for a long, long time. I’m looking forward to seeing whose names will appear. Are you? Make it happen for your favorite books. Fill in the ballot.

Repeating and expounding… in a brand new world… Please continue reading this blog…

The Anthony Award ballots have been mailed out to all the people eligible to nominate the final contenders. Who nominates the nominees? Everyone who attended either Bouchercon San Francisco or is already registered for Bouchercon St. Louis. If you fall into either one of those categories, you are a voice. What if you fall into both categories? You have one voice.

A ballot is available through the internet. Did you forget to update Bouchercon when you moved? It’s there for you convenience. Do you prefer to do paperwork at a key board? We’ve hooked you up. However, if you have an active home address you will receive a ballot in the mail. Yeah, that stuff that used to come in envelopes. Most folks have received theirs. If you don’t have it within 10 days let us know.

So there are two voting options. That doesn’t suggest that you should vote twice. We are not Chicago. 

Okay, that’s housekeeping sorted.  Well mostly.

A glorious thing has happened in the last five years. The internet Mystery/Crime Fiction community has become vast. We are all hooked into one another and chances are if you don’t know someone you are a friend of a friend on facebook, you follow someone who follows someone else and retweets on Twitter.  We are now all able to remind one another of: favorite reads, our books, our clients books and our house’s books. This is great. What would be even better? Make sure your suggestions are eligible. Make sure that folks realize that only Bouchercon members can vote. Make sure that people don’t waste their opportunity to take part in Mystery’s biggest populist award by using their ballot for just that one nominee in just that one category.  Because that, that breaks our heart a little.

Ruth Jordan

Bouchercon 2009

Bouchercon, that magical place. This year was so fabulous and as Judy and I kept on proclaiming WE ARE NOT IN CHARGE!!.... which really is a lovely feeling.... much more so when you see the number of attendees grow over the one that was your child by two hundred people even though it is a city much harder to get to for most and a suffering economy. And Indy was magic because of the organization of Jim, Mike, Moni, Meg, Lynn and as SJ said at Saturday awards "I'll not name names because there are so many I'll forget." They pulled off a beaut with a ton of effort. Being in the Midwest they were also able to acquire more space and tried some new things this year. A Crafts Room? (amazing success) YA programming? 500 school children met mystery writers on Thursday and Friday. Continuous Conversation? Brilliant.
There was more. The programming was marvelous. The GOH interviews not to be missed. Everywhere the eye could see there were new friends and old and I managed to take in a playoff game from the same pov as my very first Bouchercon.

I've been in this community for ten years now, urged to attend my first by none other than Robert Crais back on the old hard-boiled AOL board. It was in Milwaukee and he didn't attend but perhaps my largest thank you to anyone in the mystery world is owed to him (and I owe a lot of thanks to a lot of people). Because there is nothing quite like Bouchercon in the world if you're a mystery fan and without his gentle nudging I may never have discovered the live world of Crime-Fiction. I really look forward to seeing him at the next two Bouchercons (interviewing Lee Child in San Francisco) and as Male American GOH in St. Louis. In fact, I hope to raise a glass.

It is at Bouchercon where everyone who works, reads, writes Mysteries comes together and reenergizes one another with their shared fandom.

This year I got to go school girl on Katherine Hall Page and high five Scott Phillips. I spent a bit of time with Charlaine Harris and giggled and got to congratulate Dana Cameron for winning an award in the lower 48. (are you sitting?) I spent quiet time with Ali Karim. Lauren Henderson and I caught enough up that it will be at least a weekend until I miss her desperately again. I was able to to see my friend Nathan Singer and did not expect that at all.

My Ram family was there to represent and I suspect next year will be largest contingency ever. In fact I'm counting on it (I am not in Charge).

We had a great luncheon with Hector from Minotaur where Crimespree shared the scoop with what's new and fabulous coming from their house. Little, Brown had a terrific party for everyone in their house and I was introduced to many of the editorial and publicity staff I did not know. Sadly I never did make it to Reagan Arthur in the crush. I still remember bombarding her like a whoo girl at an earlier B-Con when I found they were bringing Denise Mina's books to the states (hmmmm.... maybe she was hiding behind Jonathan King and Harlan Coben for a reason). And Harpers, what can I say, their staff has always been great to Crimespree, and walking around the room at Mo's on Friday I realized that almost all of their writers are family to me now.
Why, because we all get giddy at the idea of a good plot, the chance to put a mystery in another reader's hand that we know they'll enjoy.

Oh no, I'm not done yet Ben and Alison where there and so was Echelon's Karen Syed. Soho had such a presence, bringing in a ton of their writers and I finally met Justin face to face. I did miss Leighton Gage but saw his lovely bride several times.

Jeremy Lynch being there with both Jill and his mom was wonderful for me and dear friends Penny, Denny, Cristy and Timm. We have Jaxson now too. What could be better?

The Midwest MWA family was there in full force and here I'll forget names so I'm just going to say we were all proud to see Julie Hyzy get through two award speeches without passing out.

And the folks re-energizing Crime Fiction through their work as agents amazes me. I could wear buttons saying "I love Janet" and "I love David Hale Smith". I'd do it for Mr. Able too but he's just too classy. It would be crude.

Seeing them as excited as myself makes me know that there will always be this genre I love.

Deborah and Loren? You amaze me. Gayle, what can I say? You took a waif under your wings those many years ago in Vegas. And I cannot believe I wasn't at the Shamus to see Reed do a two-fer and Bob get his lifetime achievement award. Marthayn is pretty damned good at keeping a secret.

I acquired new family too, and somehow found time to interact with the folks I have known I'd adore but never really spoken with, it's truly all a blur. The difference between last year's and this? I will remember this blur. Vividly. From the amazing Christa Faust to the dynamic Heather Graham, the spectacular David Morrell to the up and comers Jamie Freveletti and Matt Hilton It was so good to see you all.

Ten years ago when I walked into the Ramada Inn in Milwaukee I had no idea what I was walking into. If this was your first Bouchercon I hope you have that same feeling tonight. And if you've never been I urge you to take a look at the site for Bouchercon by the Bay.

Jon and I won the Special Service Award and I have to say a little about that. Thank you very much. We are touched. We are gratified. Everyone in this community helps us do what we do everyday. Whether you subscribe to our Magazine or contribute it, whether you support your local mystery community or buy books (and I don't care, they can be print, audio, or electronic). Do you use your local library regularly? Have you suggested a mystery to a friend or relative in the past year? Did you buy a child a book? Did you write a book for me to read or make sure I got one you know I'd enjoy? I thank you then for your special service to us.
There is however a great and vast group of people who do more for this community than you can possibly imagine. Our fellow nominees both last year and this, the people who are running the websites that keep us all informed. Our fellow Magazine Publishers and the folks hanging on by their thumbs to the independent book stores. Mystery News is leaving us and that is not good. Lynn and Chris , along with George Easter, Janet Rudolph and Kate and Brian encouraged us in the endeavor of Crimespree more than anyone else in this community and have made our involvement explode. What they gave to us, we wish to give to you, or try. Mainly, Mystery gave us each other so we should be awarding you every year and we cannot afford 1700 plaques let alone the glorious award we received Saturday evening. So thank you

I have I final antidote. In Milwaukee, you will all remember a Chocolate Party. It was organized by John Cunningham formerly of St. Martin's Minotaur. In Washington D.C. John and I almost broke the floor together jumping up and down when Val McDermid's PLACE OF EXECUTION won the award. Eight years later he works for DC Comics as a senior VP and I have found a husband, started a magazine, put on a Bouchercon with the help of my Co-Chair Judy Bobalik and many others. On Saturday night, in the Bouchercon Bar we leaned against the wall in the very back of the bar , just taking it all in and grinned, "It's always great, isn't it?" came out of our mouths at the same time.
So thank you Mr. & Mrs. Moffatt for deciding to celebrate your friend Anthony Boucher 40 years ago. You are and have created the greatest community in the world.

Love is indeed an endless mystery!

(wedding photos were requested)

The Great Psychobilly Blog Road Trip of 2008: Day 5, Part 2

One of our favorite humans on the planet, Anthony Neil Smith has been driving around the country and defacing books, usually with his signature, and usually only in books he wrote. This travelling death squad (death to mediocrity!) is pulling into Milwaukee and Neil has hacked his way into Crimespree Central and left this for you:

Last stop: Seth Harwood’s Crib

So far, the total we've spent in gasoline equals pretty much all the advances of my first three novels. And we're not finished yet.

A cry for help out of Milwaukee. The problem? A general sense of malaise. The solution? Joining our road trip.

But as a large number of crime fiction writers have learned, a stop at the Jordans in Milwaukee means getting the royal treatment. And so it is again--a blessing for all of us dirty, overstimulated, sleep-deprived, hallucinating trigger-happy travelers. Can we all please stay the night?

And boy, what a night. The walls lined with crime novels, the food is tasty, the conversations are heated, and the DVDs are full of extras. Yes, one truth about the editors of the required-reading Crimespree Magazineis that they treat us writers better than we deserve.

From the first minute you meet Jon, Ruth, and Jennifer, you realize they know more about your work than you do. Their enthusiasm and respect for the genre bowls you over, too. My friends since at least 2002, we've traveled the same roads for a long time now--Bouchercons, Mayhems, signings, taco shacks. Through them I've met more writers than I would have imagined when I started in this gig. And I'm sure many others can say the same. It's why we all flock to Crimespree--it's become a almost like a club newsletter so we can catch up with our friends. It's a brilliant idea: let's publish a magazine that actually builds a stronger community around crime fiction. Quite an achievement. I wish them more and more success and growth.

And we can't forget that Ruth is an up-and-coming author herself, winning lots of attention for her story "Little Blue Pill" in the great Expletive Deletedanthology (edited by Jen, and I'm in it, too). And we can see why: "He yanked off my sweater. The buttons of my blouse flew across the room. Don turned me around and pulled up my skirt. Rammed me from behind, pushing my head into the chair's armrest. I felt fear. Glorious fear." I'm sure she did! That last bit stabs at you, right? Nicely done.

Makes you afraid of Jen's forthcoming sequel to Ex Del: Sloppy Seconds (Or Uncaged, as they're calling it now. Damn. My guess: corporate pressure). She's a woman who knows how to coax some dirty out of otherwise mild-mannered authors.

The next morning, we're waiting in the Hummer-sine as they lock up the shop. Here they come: Jen's in the bad-ass leather boots while carrying a book of Henry Rollins Essays. Jon's face is hidden in a haze of dramatic cigarette smoke, Harley Davidson jacket warning enough for all of us. And Ruth, she just takes one look at the awful crew we're hauling, cocks her eyebrow, and says, "Bunch of pussy lightweights if you ask me. Maybe I'll show you a thing or two about road trippin'."

They've been nice to my books, too. Big fans of all three, saying wonderful (and unfortunately untrue) things about me in the pages of Crimespree. And they even let me and the boys have a cover, for god's sake. They wouldn't do that unless they really believed the work was good, right (unless they're cruel people who want to set me up for failure)? I'm just going to trust them when they say Yellow Medicine kicks a lot of ass. Well worth the investment of twenty-six or fifteen bucks (depends on if you like Hard or SOFTcover) at Barnes & Noble on Psychobilly Monday (May 12), or the cool and hip indie store of your choice, like Milwaukee's Mystery One, where you can often find the Jordans hanging out.

Onward, this time to Maine, where we hack our way through the underbrush of the forests to seek out the cabin of Patrick Shawn Bagley. We've heard that as long as we keep our hands up and take slow steps up to the door, we should be okay.

Driving time: A quick one. 'Bout twelve minutes (give or take a day).

Tune for the leg: "This Ol’Wheel" by Shooter Jennings (not psychobilly, but definitely high-tech hillbilly)

Bouchercon

A new Update on the Bouchercon Baltimore Blog. Notes on Alaska today.


There will be regular updates now at least weekly heading into Baltimore's time in the spotlight. Keep checking it!



Bouchercon Baltimore Blog

The Crimespree Bouchercon Party 2007

Hello Everyone,
E-mail invites have gone out but just in case Crimespree missed you or your E-mail doesn't care for invitations sent out en masse here it is. We've scheduled the event so that everyone can attend the Bouchercon Guest of Honor event at eight p.m.
Speaking of Guests of Honor, we will be giving out the annual Crimespree Awards at the party and we're pleased to say that all but one of our award winners will be in attendance. This years award winners are

Best Book of 2006
Sean Doolittle - THE CLEANUP

Best Ken Bruen Book of the Year
Ken Bruen-AMERICAN SKIN

Best Continuing Series
Lee Child-Jack Reacher Series

Crimespree Contributor of the Year- Anthony Rainone

& with a drum roll

THE JACK REACHER AWARD WINNER
CHARLAINE HARRIS
when Crimespree created the Reacher Award it's intent was to honor an author who seemed to proportionately give back to the community more and more even as their sales increased. Whether Ms. Harris is giving advice to a new writer, encouraging a first time author, catching up with folks she's known for the twenty years she's been in this business, signing an autograph, or through the books themselves enriching the life of a single reader there is no doubt she gives back many times every day. We are happy to add Charlaine's name to the two who have gone before (Lee Child & Michael Connelly). In mystery there are many special people and Charlaine Harris is and individual who teaches the rest of us through her actions and words every day.

Open the invite in a seperate window or tab to see it full size.