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| [Top] | For immediate release: 2007 MACAVITY AWARD NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED Mystery Readers International has nominated Author Jane K. Cleland’s debut mystery novel, Consigned to Death, for the 2007 Macavity for Best First Novel. The Macavity Award is named for the "mystery cat" of T.S. Eliot (Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats). Each year the members of Mystery Readers International nominate and vote for their favorite mysteries in five categories: Best Mystery Novel, Best First Novel, Best Nonfiction, Best Short Story, and introduced last year, Sue Feder Historical Mystery (introduced in 2006). 2007 Macavity Best First Novel Nominees are:
This year’s nominees join a procession of fine writers, including Michael Connelly, S.J. Rozan, Sujata Massey, and Sharyn McCrumb. The Macavity Awards bestow awards for excellence in several categories. The winners will be announced at Bouchercon 2007 at the Anchorage (Alaska) Hilton Hotel, September 27-30, 2007. Bouchercon is the oldest and largest annual convention of mystery fans, mystery authors, mystery publishers, mystery book dealers, mystery book stores and mystery publishing agents. The Bouchercon mystery convention event is named for late mystery author, mystery editor, mystery critic (and mystery fan), Anthony Boucher. |
| [Top] | For immediate release: CONSIGNED TO DEATH Deadly Ink Conference has announced the fan-generated finalists for their David G. Sasher, Sr. Award for Best Mystery Novel of 2006. The winner will be voted on at the Deadly Ink Conference and announced at the Awards Banquet on June 28, 2007. The annual conference in Parsipanny, NJ, will be held this year June 29-July 1, 2007 at the Sheraton Parsippany. Full details on the conference and awards can be found at www.deadlyink.com/index.html. Deadly Ink also sponsors:
The David: Nominees for The David G. Sasher, Sr. Award for the Best Mystery Novel of 2006: The Ida: Nominees for The Ida Chittum Award for Best Young Adult/Children's Mystery Novel of 2006: To learn more about Deadly Ink, please visit their site. |
| [Top] | For immediate release CONSIGNED TO DEATH The prestigious Agatha Award, awarded annually at the Malice Domestic Convention, nominated Author Jane K. Cleland’s debut mystery novel, Consigned to Death, for the 2007 Best First Novel. Established in 1989, Malice Domestic® is an annual convention in metropolitan Washington, D.C., saluting the traditional mystery--books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The genre is loosely defined as mysteries which contain no explicit sex or excessive gore or violence; and usually (but are not limited to) featuring an amateur detective, a confined setting, and characters who know one another. The Agatha Award is a fan-generated award; Malice Domestic convention registrants and Friends of Malice nominate the finalists. The final vote is by secret ballot by registered convention attendees at the Malice Domestic convention. The Agatha Awards are bestowed at the convention banquet. AGATHA AWARD NOMINEES XIX -- Best First Novel
Winner:
Other Agatha award categories are: Best Novel, Best Short Story, Best Non-Fiction, Best Children’s/Young Adult. This and past year’s nominees and winners, as well as additional information regarding the award and convention are listed on the Malice Domestic web site. |
| [Top] | For immediate release 2007 NERO AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED The "Nero" is an annual award presented to an author for literary excellence in the mystery genre. The award is presented at the Black Orchid Banquet, which is traditionally held on the first Saturday in December in New York City. This year, the three finalists are:
This year's nominees join a procession of fine writers including Tess Gerritsen, Lee Child, Walter Moseley, Linda Fairstein, former U.S. Senator Fred Harris, Dennis Lehane, and Laurie B. King, all of whom have been honored with the prestigious "Nero." The first "Nero" was awarded 25 years ago (1979) to author Lawrence Block for The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling. Rex Stout (1886-1975) was the author of over seventy novels and stories featuring the brilliant, irascible, and corpulent private detective Nero Wolfe, a lover of food, beer, and orchids. Stout was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America in 1959 and his Nero Wolfe stories continue to be popular throughout the world. Founded in 1978, The Wolfe Pack celebrates all things Nero Wolfe. For example, the society publishes a semi-annual Gazette and sponsors a variety of activities with Wolfeian themes including a regular book discussion group and tours of locations mentioned in the corpus. The group has been holding its annual Black Orchid Banquet for more than twenty-five years. To learn more, visit www.nerowolfe.org , or send mail to NeroAwardChair@nerowolfe.org. |
| [Top] | For immediate release: Art Stolen by the Nazis Is Returned Author Jane K. Cleland will be delivering a presentation relating to art stolen by the Nazis and efforts by Jews—often foiled by so-called friendly governments—to recover their possessions. [April 23, 2007, 6:30 p.m., Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Avenue at 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, 212.340.0833, www.nypl.org]. “According to the Commission for Looted Art in Europe, nearly one-fifth of all the art treasures in the world and one-third of all art in private collections across Europe were stolen from Jews and non-Jews alike during World War II,” Cleland explains. “And thousands of objects have yet to be returned to the victims or their heirs.” Finding Stolen Art: Two Detectives Take on the Nazis is an inter-generational program which explains how governments and organizations have conspired to keep the pilfered art in their possession—and how persistent, dedicated detectives have worked to track it down and get it back. This presentation at the Mid-Manhattan Library is part of Jane’s book tour for the second Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery, Deadly Appraisal, an Antiques Roadshow for mystery fans. Malice Domestic has nominated Jane’s debut novel, Consigned to Death, the first in the traditional murder mystery series, for an Agatha Award, as the Best First Novel in the tradition of Agatha Christie! In Consigned to Death, Josie uses her knowledge of art and antiques to solve the murder—in the process, she uncovers a diabolical plot involving treasures stolen by the Nazis. [St. Martin’s Minotaur] For more information, please consult www.janecleland.net.
Contact information: |
| [Top] | For immediate release: The Wolfe Pack NEW YORK, NY—Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and The Wolfe Pack, the official Nero Wolfe society, will sponsor a new annual writing prize, the Black Orchid Novella Award, the two organizations have announced. The contest will offer a prize of $1,000 and publication in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. The first Black Orchid Novella Award will be announced at The Wolfe Pack’s annual Winter Banquet in December 2007. The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2007. The contest will honor an unpublished work of mystery fiction written in the tradition of the Nero Wolfe mystery stories: this tradition emphasizes the deductive skills of the story’s sleuth and eschews overt sex and violence. The contest will not consider stories that use characters from Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe stories, which are protected by copyright. Entries must be 15,000 to 20,000 words in length. Submissions will be screened by members of The Wolfe Pack, and the winner will be selected by Linda Landrigan, editor of Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Rex Stout (1886-1975) was the author of over seventy novels and stories featuring the brilliant, irascible, and corpulent private detective Nero Wolfe, a lover of food, beer, and orchids. Stout was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America in 1959 and his Nero Wolfe stories continue to be popular throughout the world. "The novella, between a short story and a novel in length, is an unusual and somewhat uncommon form," notes Landrigan. "But it’s a form that Stout used regularly for his Nero Wolfe tales. It is appropriate, therefore, that an award honoring the Wolfe tradition should focus on the novella form." "The Wolfe Pack already sponsors awards honoring published works and lifetime achievement," notes Jane K. Cleland, the group’s chair, "but we wanted to develop a program that would encourage the creation of new work—especially in the novella form—and possibly inspire young or unpublished writers. We are thrilled that Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine has joined us in this effort." Founded in 1978, The Wolfe Pack celebrates all things Nero Wolfe. For example, the society publishes a semi-annual Gazette and sponsors a variety of activities with Wolfeian themes including a regular book discussion group and tours of locations mentioned in the opus. The group has been holding its annual Winter Banquet for more than twenty-five years. Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine is one of the oldest and most influential magazines of short mystery and crime fiction in the world. The magazine is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary in 2006. Further information about the Black Orchid Novella Award can be found at The Wolfe Pack’s web site, http://www.nerowolfe.org. Contact information: |
| [Top] | For immediate release: Share Your Antiques Stories With To launch her first novel, Consigned to Death, described as an Antiques Roadshow for mystery fans, Jane K. Cleland has announced a free, reader-written, uncensored opportunity for people to explain what their antiques and collectibles mean to them. The easy-to-use form is available through Jane’s website, www.janecleland.net. "For many people, an antique or collectible represents more than just the thing itself. For some people, it’s part of their legacy. For others, it’s a way of remembering a much-loved grandparent or a romantic moment," Cleland explained. "We offer a forum for people to express their views—and be taken seriously." Cleland got the idea from her Consigned to Death protagonist, Josie Prescott. "Josie is an antiques appraiser. Appraisers value items based on what the object is worth in the marketplace—they don’t consider an object’s sentimental value. This forum invites people to express that part—the sentimental value. What does your grandmother’s quilt mean to you? What’s your best find? Your biggest disappointment? Contact information: |
| [Top] | [discontinued January, 2007; see the You Be the Judge quiz.] Free "Instant" Antiques Appraisals To launch her first novel, Consigned to Death, described as an Antiques Roadshow for mystery fans, Jane K. Cleland and Leslie Hindman have announced a free antiques on-line appraisal service that will be available through Jane’s website, www.janecleland.net, starting on March 1, 2006. "Send us photographs and a description of your antique or collectible with whatever history you know about it, and a professional appraiser from the world-renowned auction house, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers [www.lesliehindman.com], will give you an idea of the item’s value—quickly—and for free!" Cleland explained. Cleland got the idea from her Consigned to Death protagonist, Josie Prescott. "Josie is an appraiser whose firm runs auctions and tag sales. In the book, Josie initiates Prescott’s Instant Appraisals, so offering an on-line version is a natural extension of the book—and it’s a lot of fun!" Contact information: |
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