Bosch on the Bayou at Bouchercon 2021

To keep our spirits up during this surreal period of COVID-19 confinement - one must plan for when we can next see our friends, colleagues and fellow advocates of the Crime and Mystery Fiction Genre.

Sadly, many 2020 crime, mystery and thriller fiction events have been cancelled in the wake of this RNA-Virus - such as Bouchercon 2020 [Sacramento, USA], Theakstons’ Crime Writing Festival 2020 [Harrogate, UK], Crimefest 2020 [Bristol, England] to name a few. 

We’re waiting to see if Adam Hamdy, David Headley and Liz Curle’s Capital Crime 2020 [London, England] will occur, as it is after the summer and we pray that we will have the COVID-19 situation under control by then.

Thriller writer KJ Howe, with ITW’s technical bloke Jeff Ayers, and the team behind International Thriller Writers Inc, have come up with a good plan, following the cancellation of New York’s Thrillerfest 2020 [due to fears of COVID-19] – so the ITW gang have a planned Virtual event, details HERE

We got word from the Bouchercon Board of Directors, that it’s all steam ahead for Bouchercon 2021 [New Orleans, USA]; and that the work of Michael Connelly is to be celebrated as he will receive the lifetime achievement award for his writing.

We are delighted that former journalist Michael Connelly and his novels, stories [many featuring that singular creation Harry Bosch] and film / TV is to be celebrated during Bouchercon 2021.

In 2018, the Crime Writers Association recognised a lifetime achievement award in London, when he was presented with the CWA Diamond Dagger.

We recorded the 2018 event, with CWA Chair Martin Edwards' introduction, and Mike Connelly’s acceptance speech –

For many readers (myself included), Michael Connelly is one of the greatest living crime writers working today, and for many - his creation Harry Bosch of the LAPD is one of fiction’s greatest detectives. And now Amazon Prime’s BOSCH series reaches its sixth season, with Titus Welliver playing the eponymous Investigator. All seasons of Bosch are available to stream online at Amazon Prime.  

Reports from Jeff Peirce’s The Rap Sheet on our visits to the Hollywood set of Season One can be accessed HERE while our location visit for Season Two at Venice Beach [Los Angeles] can be accessed HERE

Literary commentator / critic, horticulturist and sports presenter Michael Carlson published an excellent feature for Shots Magazine THE ABSTRACT ART OF BOSCH, which can be accessed HERE

And if you are readying yourself to watch Bosch Season Six, remember part of the narrative arc comes from Michael Connelly’s THE OVERLOOK. It was originally a story serialised in the New York Times, but eventually found itself as a novel – I spoke with Michael at the time about this lean and extraordinary post-911 narrative [one that features Larry Gandle as Bosch’s Boss] – it is archived HERE  

Joining Michael Connelly, as Guests of Bouchercon 2021, are :-

Steve Berry – Thriller Guest of Honour

Craig Johnson – American Guest of Honour

Charles and Caroline Todd – Historical Guests of Honour

Jo Nesbo – International Guest of Honour

Alafair Burke – Toast Mistress

Jonathan Maberry – Kid’s Bouchercon Guest of Honour

And for some reason, I’m also excited to attend.

Much thanks must go to the Dynamic Duo, of best-selling thriller writer Heather Graham and the extraordinary Connie Perry [and their team], for chairing the event, and returning us back to New Orleans after the extraordinary event in 2016.

Here’s archive video of the opening ceremonies -

And Jeff Pierce at the Rap Sheet has commentary and pictures HERE and remember 2021’s Bouchercon is a return trip for Mike Connelly to New Orleans, as he was interviewed by Harlan Coben – Archived video HERE

So as the crime, mystery and thriller clan gather, after so long, I’d start planning for Bouchercon 2021: Blood on the Bayou

More information HERE

Hope to see you at the biggest celebration of Crime and Mystery Fiction, Bouchercon 2021 and I’d register as soon as possible as registrations are coming in thick and fast.

AND STAY WELL / TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND READ BOOKS TO ESCAPE

2019 Pinckley Prizes for Crime Fiction

Megan Abbott and Sarah St. Vincent are the recipients of the 2019 Pinckley Prizes for Crime Fiction. The prizes will be presented October 10, 2019, at Louisiana Humanities Center, 938 Lafayette St., in New Orleans. This event is open to the public.

The prizes honours two women writers. Winners receive both a financial award of $2,500 and a trip to New Orleans to accept their prize.

The Pinckley Prize for Distinguished Body of Work honours an established woman writer who has created a significant body of work in crime fiction. The winner is nominated and selected by a jury of WNBA-NO members.

The Pinckley Prize for Debut Novel honours a woman writer with a first-time published novel in adult crime fiction. The winner is selected from the submissions by a three-judge panel.

The Pinckley Prizes partner with the Women’s National Book Association of New Orleans, of which Diana Pinckley was a founding member.  More information about the Pinckley Prize can be found here and information about the winners here.

2018 Pinckley Prizes

Ellen Hart and Marcie Rendon are the recipients of the 2018 Pinckley Prizes for Crime Fiction, named to honour the memory of Diana Pinckley.

The prizes will be presented on 6 October 2018 at The George and Joyce Wein New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Center, 1225 N. Rampart St., New Orleans.

The Pinckley Prizes partner with the Women’s National Book Association of New Orleans, of which Diana Pinckley was a founding member.  More information about the Pinckley Prize can be found here and information about the winners here.

Louise Penny wins the 2017 Pinckley Prize

Congratulations to Louise Penny who has won the 2017 Pinckley Prize for Distinguished Body of Work. The Pinckley Prize for Distinguished Body of Work honors an established woman writer who has created a significant body of work in crime fiction. The winner is nominated and selected by a jury of WNBA-NO members.

Trudy Nan Boyce has won the Pinckley Prize for Debut Novel for Out of the Blues (Putnam). The Pinckley Prize for Debut Novel honors a woman writer with a first-time published novel in adult crime fiction. The winner is selected from the submissions by a three-judge panel.

Each author will be given a $2,500 cash award and a trip to New Orleans to accept their award at the September 8 ceremony at the Academy of the Sacred Heart/Nims Fine Arts Center in New Orleans.

The Pinckley Prize was established in 2011 by the Women’s National Book Association of New Orleans, Louisiana.