ODDS AND ENDS

ODDS AND ENDS

The Mystery Writers of America have announced the nominees for the 2008 Edgar Awards to be presented at the 62^nd Annual Edgar Awards banquet on Thursday, May 1, 2008, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City .

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and Kate's Mystery Books, Kate Mattes, owner, will be jointly honored with the Raven Award. Bill Pronzini will be named Grand Master.

BEST NOVEL

Benjamin Black (John Banville) CHRISTINE FALLS
Ken Bruen PRIEST
Michael Chabon THE YIDDISH POLICEMEN'S UNION
Reed Farrel Coleman SOUL PATCH
John Hart DOWN RIVER

BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR

Gordon Campbell MISSING WITNESS
Tana French IN THE WOODS
Christopher Goffard SNITCH JACKET
Craig McDonald HEAD GAMES
Derek Nikitas PYRES

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

Megan Abbott QUEENPIN
David Corbett BLOOD OF PARADISE
Vicki Hendricks CRUEL POETRY
Russell Hill ROBBIE'S WIFE
Kevin Wignall WHO IS CONRAD HIRST?

BEST SHORT STORY

Mark Ammons “The Catch” STILL WATERS
Stuart M. Kaminsky "Blue Note" CHICAGO BLUES
Laura Lippman "Hardly Knew Her" DEAD MAN’S HAND
Susan Straight "The Golden Gopher" LOS ANGELES NOIR
Daniel Woodrell "Uncle" A HELL OF A WOMAN

THE SIMON & SCHUSTER - MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD

Sarah Andrews IN COLD PURSUIT
Sandi Ault WILD INDIGO
Karen Harper INFERNO
Judith Kelman THE FIRST STONE
Barbara Seranella DEADMAN’S SWITCH

The complete list of nominees is online at http://www.theedgars.com/nominees.html#top.

CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION 2008 CARTIER DIAMOND DAGGER WINNER

The Crime Writers' Association has awarded its Cartier Diamond Dagger for 2008 to the best-selling American novelist, Sue Grafton.

The presentation of the award, made for sustained excellence in the genre of crime writing, will be made by M. Arnaud Bamberger of Cartier and will take place at a champagne reception at the Gore Hotel, Kensington, London SW7 on May 7th 2008.

BRANAGH AS WALLANDER

Kenneth Branagh will star in adaptations of three Henning Mankell novels, SIDETRACKED, FIREWALL and ONE STEP BEHIND, as Swedish cop Kurt Wallander, for the BBC. Filming begins in the Spring with air dates to be announced.

CONVENTION COVERAGE

LEFT COAST CRIME 2008
MURDER ON THE ROCK!

It’s not to early to plan for Left Coast Crime 2008 to be held March 6-9 in Denver, Colorado, at the Adams Mark Hotel. Honorees have been announced and they are:

Guest of Honor: Stephen White
Toastmaster: Elaine Viets
Fan Guest of Honor: Michael Masliah
Celebrity Chef: Joanne Pence

For further information click here to go to their web site: http://www.leftcoastcrime.org/2008/

If you're really into planning ahead there's Left Coast Crime 2009 in Hawaii and 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

MAYHEM IN THE MIDLANDS

The 19th edition of Mayhem in the Midlands, sponsored by the Omaha Public Library, will take place at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska, from May 22nd to 25th, 2008. The Guest of Honor will be Alex Kava. Toastmaster will be Jeff Abbott. For further details and registration information go to
Mayhem In The Midlands

THRILLERFEST 2008

New York City will be the scene for the 2008 ThrillerFest convention to be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel from July 9 to July 12, 2008. Sandra Brown will be receiving the ThrillerMaster Award which will be presented by 2007 ThrillMaster Award winner James Patterson. Spotlight Authors are Eric Van Lustbader, Dr. Kathy Reichs, and Brad Thor. For further details visit their web site:
ThrillerFest

BOUCHERCON 2008

The 39th Annual Bouchercon Convention will be held in Baltimore, Maryland, from October 9-12, 2008 at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel. This year's Honorees are:

Lawrence Block for Distinguished Contribution to the Genre
Laura Lippman, American Guest of Honor
John Harvey, International Guest of Honor
Mark Billingham, Toastmaster
Robert Rosenwald and Barbara Peters, Lifetime Achievement Award
Thalia Proctor, Fan Guest of Honor

For detailed information and registration please go to Bouchercon 2008.

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