Anthony and Macavity nominations for “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie”

I’m thrilled to share with Flavia’s fans the news that “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” has been nominated for an Anthony Award and a Macavity Award, both for Best First Novel.

The Anthonys are awarded annually, and presented at the annual Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention.

http://bouchercon2010.blogspot.com/

The Macavity’s are nominated and voted on by Mystery readers International, and are named for Macavity, the Mystery cat, in T.S. Eliot’s “Book of Practical Cats”.

http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/2010/06/macavity-award-nominees-2010.html

Alan

Crimewriters of Canada pick “Sweetness” for an Arthur Ellis!

Flavia fans rejoice!

It was announced last evening, at the annual Arthur Ellis Dinner in Toronto, that “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” has won the 2010 Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel. The Arthur Ellis Awards are given annually by the Crime Writers of Canada.

I couldn’t be more thrilled. A great deal of the credit belongs to Kristin Cochrane and Brad Martin, whose legendary team at Doubleday Canada/Random House have supported Flavia since she was no more than a poisonous little gleam in her author’s eye.

My profound thanks to the Crime Writers of Canada for this most prestigious award.

“Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” wins Agatha Award

I’m happy, honoured and excited to announce that “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” has won the 2009 Agatha Award for Best First Novel.

The Agatha Awards, given annually by Malice Domestic, honor the “traditional mystery.” That is to say, books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie as well as others. For our purposes, the genre is loosely defined as mysteries that:

contain no explicit sex
contain no excessive gore or gratuitous violence

And every bit as gratifying is the fact that fellow Canadian, Louise Penny’s novel, “A Brutal Telling”, has won the Agatha for Best Novel – for an astonishing (and record-setting) third year in a row!
Congratulations, Louise!

If you’re looking for a truly great mystery series, have a look at Louise’s website at:
www.louisepenny.com

Louise’s Armand Gamache books are as good as mystery gets. I recommend them highly.

As if that weren’t enough, Canada’s Elizabeth Duncan was also shortlisted for Best Novel, for her book “The Cold Light of Mourning”. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s at the very top of my list.
Congratulations, Elizabeth! Well done!

Check out Elizabeth’s website at:

http://www.elizabethjduncan.com/

What a great day for Canadian mystery writers! I’m honoured to be in such distinguished company.

“Sweetness” wins Spotted Owl Award

“The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” has been named by the Friends of Mystery as the winner of the 2010 Spotted Owl Award.

The Spotted Owl Award winner is chosen by a volunteer committee of Friends of Mystery members from a list of nominee mysteries, the authors of which must reside in the Pacific Northwest. A total of 72 books were considered for this year’s award.

The 2010 award marks the 15th year of Spotted Owl winners. Previous winners are Kate Wilhelm, Kris (Nelscott) Rusch, and Lowen Clausen, who have each won the award twice. Other winners include Earl Emerson, John Straley, Tom Mitcheltree, L.L. Thrasher, Marcia Simpson, G.M. Ford, Kevin O’Brien, Mike Doogan and Phil Margolin.

Runners up for the 2010 Spotted Owl award were:

Mike Lawson for House Secrets
Robert Dugoni for Wrongful Death
Stan Jones for Village of the Ghost Bears
Chelsea Cain for Evil at Heart
Phillip Margolin for Fugitive
Steve Martini for Guardian of Lies
Aaron Elkins for Skull Duggery
Dana Stabenow for Whisper to the Blood
Clyde Ford for Whiskey Gulf

“Sweetness” shortlisted for Arthur Ellis Award

Flavia’s fans will be delighted to hear that “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” has been
shortlisted by the Crime Writers of Canada for an Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel.

The Arthur Ellis Awards are presented annually at the end of May, and are named for Arthur Ellis, the sobriquet of Canada’s last official hangman.

“Sweetness” wins 2009 Dilys Award

I’m proud to announce that “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” has won the 2009 Dilys Award!

The Dilys is presented annually by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association to the book its members most enjoyed hand-selling during the previous year, and is named for Dilys Winn, who founded America’s first specialty mystery book store.

Fellow Canadian Louise Penny’s “The Brutal Telling” was also one of the deserving nominees – and Louise, bless her, was one of the first to e-mail congratulations.

Now that’s class!

Alan

Flavia makes the Bloomer List!

“The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” has been chosen to appear on the Bloomer List.


This honour is given annually:

“In an effort both to alert readers to society’s opposition toward women’s equality and to highlight progress toward this vital goal, the 2010 Amelia Bloomer Project members selected 54 books notable for feminist content, quality of writing, and appeal to young readers.”


We couldn’t be more proud!



Flavia’s now on YouTube – in German!

The German edition of “The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag” is called “Mord ist Kein Kinderspiel” (roughly, “Death isn’t Child’s Play”).

The book is published in Germany by Blanvalet under the Penhaligon imprint.

Here’s the new book trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhcUJ3827s
Have a look – and don’t forget to rate it!

Flavia on YouTube – in Italian

Yes, Flavia’s now on YouTube in Italian.

The book’s title (published in Italy by Mondadori) is “Flavia de Luce E Il Delitto Nel Campo Dei Cetrioli”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qooNGaDiCg

Have a look! Give it a rating!

Globe & Mail article

Even though Flavia doesn’t make an appearance, her fans might be interested

in this piece that appeared in today’s Globe & Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/after-the-fact/article1494888/
Alan

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