With Tom Rob Smith's Child 44 now out of the running, Louise Doherty, one of the judges of this year's Man Booker Prize has launched an outspoken attack on male academics who sit on literary judging panels, ahead of the award ceremony tonight. Read more. Indian writer Aravinda Adiga, a literary debutant, has beaten fancied rivals to be named favourite by British bookies for the Man Booker Prize 2008.
The world's largest book fair opens to the public in Frankfurt on Wednesday under the cloud of a world financial meltdown that its celebrity invitation list of writers and politicians cannot dispel.
I've now had the chance to load up the slide show of photos to the ITV3 Crime & Thriller Drama Awards. All taken by Ali "Snapper" Karim.
Ayo has promised to send in her final report along with photos as soon as the jet lag has passed. I've just got off the phone to her and she had nothing but glowing praise for the organisers and the whole event. I could her her little brain cells calculating as to whether or not she can make Bouchercon 2010.
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Bouchercon Report #5
Ayo's daily report from Bouchercon 2008:
The best thing about Bouchercon is the fact that such unusual things happen. Like Friday for example! On Friday morning one of the first panels in the morning was called "Would I lie to you?". The panel consisted of Laura Lippman, John Connolly, Chris Mooney, Mark Billingham and Karin Slaughter. The premise was that the audience had to decided whether or not what the panelists were saying were lies or not. If you manged to work out what they were saying was a lie then they had to donate some money I believe $10.00, if you were wrong then you had to pay $2.00. That was funny enough and hearing some of the "lies" was hilarious. Would you have believed that John Connolly once danced around on a stage wearing green tights? I would not have believed it if I had not heard it for myself. For me however, the best bit was seeing Laura Lippman being challenged to do 50 push-ups in a minute and doing them to much applause! The response was overwhelming.
A couple of the other great panels that took place on Friday included Whistle while you Work: The Influence of music on/in writing. The panel featured Clea Simon, don Bruna. Thomas B Cavangh, John Harvey and Roz Southey, The Killing Moon: Noir for the New Century featuring Megan Abbott and Eddie Muller. Aside from the panels the tradition of hosting a basketball game also continued. This year it took place at Merritt's Downtown Athletic Club.
Every year a business meeting also takes place to discuss various issues and anybody that is registered to attend Bouchercon is also eligible to attend the meeting and participate. The two important decisions that were decided at the meeting this year was were Bouchercon in 2010 and 2011 are due to take place. Rae Helmsworth with her bid for San Francisco beat the bid that was put in for Tempe, Arizona. So in 2010 Bouchercon is going to take place in San Francisco. McKenna Jordan from Murder by the Book in Houston and David Thompson from Busted Flush Press (along with the help of Jon Jordan of CrimeSpree magazine) put together the only bid for 2011. It was voted on and in 2011 Bouchercon will be taking place in St Louis.
The Private Writer's Association also held the Shamus Awards on Friday and two of the big winners were Reed Farrell Coleman with Soul Patch which won Best Novel and Sean Chercover whose debut novel Big City Bad Blood won Best First Novel. Sean is certainly having a good time at Bouchercon this year. It was the third award that he has won so far and we still have the Anthony Awards to be given out!
A live auction also took place and some of the items that were being bid on included a drink with the International Guest of Honour John Harvey, being named a character in Zoe Sharp's book - this item went for $500 and also being a character in Laurie R King's new book. This item went for large some of $1,500.00.
The bar of course has been constantly heaving and knowing what crime fiction authors and readers are like the organisers arranged that the bars would stay open every evening until 2:00am.
There is still lots more to do and if i have a moment I am going to try and get to Lexington Market. I must try the Crab Cakes before I leave.
Ali Karim, Michelle Gagnon and Jason Starr at Lee Childs' party sent in by Timothy Maleeny
The best thing about Bouchercon is the fact that such unusual things happen. Like Friday for example! On Friday morning one of the first panels in the morning was called "Would I lie to you?". The panel consisted of Laura Lippman, John Connolly, Chris Mooney, Mark Billingham and Karin Slaughter. The premise was that the audience had to decided whether or not what the panelists were saying were lies or not. If you manged to work out what they were saying was a lie then they had to donate some money I believe $10.00, if you were wrong then you had to pay $2.00. That was funny enough and hearing some of the "lies" was hilarious. Would you have believed that John Connolly once danced around on a stage wearing green tights? I would not have believed it if I had not heard it for myself. For me however, the best bit was seeing Laura Lippman being challenged to do 50 push-ups in a minute and doing them to much applause! The response was overwhelming.
A couple of the other great panels that took place on Friday included Whistle while you Work: The Influence of music on/in writing. The panel featured Clea Simon, don Bruna. Thomas B Cavangh, John Harvey and Roz Southey, The Killing Moon: Noir for the New Century featuring Megan Abbott and Eddie Muller. Aside from the panels the tradition of hosting a basketball game also continued. This year it took place at Merritt's Downtown Athletic Club.
Every year a business meeting also takes place to discuss various issues and anybody that is registered to attend Bouchercon is also eligible to attend the meeting and participate. The two important decisions that were decided at the meeting this year was were Bouchercon in 2010 and 2011 are due to take place. Rae Helmsworth with her bid for San Francisco beat the bid that was put in for Tempe, Arizona. So in 2010 Bouchercon is going to take place in San Francisco. McKenna Jordan from Murder by the Book in Houston and David Thompson from Busted Flush Press (along with the help of Jon Jordan of CrimeSpree magazine) put together the only bid for 2011. It was voted on and in 2011 Bouchercon will be taking place in St Louis.
The Private Writer's Association also held the Shamus Awards on Friday and two of the big winners were Reed Farrell Coleman with Soul Patch which won Best Novel and Sean Chercover whose debut novel Big City Bad Blood won Best First Novel. Sean is certainly having a good time at Bouchercon this year. It was the third award that he has won so far and we still have the Anthony Awards to be given out!
A live auction also took place and some of the items that were being bid on included a drink with the International Guest of Honour John Harvey, being named a character in Zoe Sharp's book - this item went for $500 and also being a character in Laurie R King's new book. This item went for large some of $1,500.00.
The bar of course has been constantly heaving and knowing what crime fiction authors and readers are like the organisers arranged that the bars would stay open every evening until 2:00am.
There is still lots more to do and if i have a moment I am going to try and get to Lexington Market. I must try the Crab Cakes before I leave.
Ali Karim, Michelle Gagnon and Jason Starr at Lee Childs' party sent in by Timothy MaleenyFriday, 10 October 2008
Bouchercon 2008 Report#4
Ruth & Jennifer JordanI am constantly been told that there is an extra buzz about Bouchercon this year and I can believe it. The book bags have been over whelming welcomed! I mean what can you say when for example one of the books in the bag is the collection of Laura Lippman's short stories Hardly Knew Her (which has only just been published) and John Harvey's Frank Elder books are also being given away. The bar has been packed from first thing in the morning till late at night. The hospitality suite has been open since this morning and is for the use of everyone not solely the authors and people moderating panels.
Peter Robinson
This evening they held the opening ceremony. To say that the room was packed is putting it mildly. It was standing room only. The awards that were being given out were the CrimeSpree Awards, The Macavity Awards and The Barry Awards.
The winners of the Macavity Award were:-
Best Mystery Short Story - Please watch Your Step by Rhys Bowen (The Strand Magazine)
Best Mystery Non-Fiction - The Essential Mystery Lists: For Readers, Collectors and Librarians by Roger Sobin (Poisoned Pen Press)
Best First Novel - In the Woods by Tana French (Hodder Stoughton/Viking)
Best Mystery Novel - What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman (Morrow)
Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery - Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
Best Mystery Short Story - Please watch Your Step by Rhys Bowen (The Strand Magazine)
Best Mystery Non-Fiction - The Essential Mystery Lists: For Readers, Collectors and Librarians by Roger Sobin (Poisoned Pen Press)
Best First Novel - In the Woods by Tana French (Hodder Stoughton/Viking)
Best Mystery Novel - What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman (Morrow)
Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery - Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
All the winners bar Ariana Franklin were on hand to accept their awards. Since I know and recently interviewed Ariana Franklin for Shots I proudly accepted the award on her behalf. The Macavity Awards were presented by Janet Rudolph the editor of Mystery Journal International and are voted on by members of Mystery Readers International.
The winners of the Barry Awards were -
Best Novel (Published in the US in 2007) - What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman (Morrow)
Best First Novel (Published in the US in 2007) - In the Woods by Tana French (Viking)
Best British Crime Novel (Published in the UK in 2007 but not necessarily written by a British Writer or set in the UK) - Damnation Falls by Edward Wright (Orion)
Best Paperback Original - Queenpin by Megan Abbott (Simon and Schuster)
Best Thriller - The Watchman by Robert Crais (Simon and Schuster)
Best Short Story Award - The Problem of the Summer Snowman by Edward D Hoch. (EQMM) This was the second year in a row that Ed Hoch has won this award and a rather sad win as well. Ed Hoch sadly passed away in January 2008 and he was known for his short stories.
Best Novel (Published in the US in 2007) - What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman (Morrow)
Best First Novel (Published in the US in 2007) - In the Woods by Tana French (Viking)
Best British Crime Novel (Published in the UK in 2007 but not necessarily written by a British Writer or set in the UK) - Damnation Falls by Edward Wright (Orion)
Best Paperback Original - Queenpin by Megan Abbott (Simon and Schuster)
Best Thriller - The Watchman by Robert Crais (Simon and Schuster)
Best Short Story Award - The Problem of the Summer Snowman by Edward D Hoch. (EQMM) This was the second year in a row that Ed Hoch has won this award and a rather sad win as well. Ed Hoch sadly passed away in January 2008 and he was known for his short stories.
The CrimeSpree Awards were also given to the following -
Favourite book of 2007 - The Unquiet by John Connolly (Atria)
Favourite ongoing Series - Inspector Banks by Peter Robinson (Morrow)
Favourite First Novel - Big City, Bad Blood by Sean Chercover (Morrow)
Favourite Anthology - Expletive Deleted by Jennifer Jordan (Bleak House Press)
favourite Comic Book Writer - Brian Azzarello
The Anthony Awards are due to be given out on Sunday at a Brunch.
Ali Karim & Roger Jon ElloryThursday, 9 October 2008
More from Baltimore Bouchercon
JOHN HARVEY & THALIA PROCTORAll the panels have music titles which is really good and they do make for interesting conversations. So far some of the panels this morning have included Bouchercon 101 which covered everything you ever wanted to know about attending or hosting a Bouchercon, The Dot Gets the Com: e-zines the new anthologies, Walk on the Wilde Side. One of the most well attended panels in the morning was of course Like a Hurricane: Three Guys Talking. The three guys in question were Lee Child, Ace Atkins and William Kent Krueger. Fellow Shots mag contributor Ali Karim also had a panel which he was moderating this morning entitled I Can't stand up for Falling Down: Booze, hootch & Firewater and its place in crime fiction.
This afternoon the panels have ranged from one on young adults called This one is for the Children: keeping one Step ahead of some serious YA readers., Thank the Lord for the NightTime:Why is the Supernatural so Damm Fun and my own panel London Calling: The Dark Places we Go. My panelists were Val McDermid, Mo Hayder, Ann Cleeves and Natasha Cooper. It was an excellent panel with standing room only in the room to my delight. It was a shame that it was only an hour long because there were certainly a lot more questions that could have been asked.
Later on this evening there is going to be the Opening Ceremonies where there is going to be the presentation of the Barry, Macavity and CrimeSpree Awards!
Watch this space for the results!
THE BRITS HAVE ARRIVED!Anne Cleeves, Martin Edwards and Martyn Waites
Ayo's Baltimore Beat
Bouchercon has certainly started! The hotel has slowly started to fill up and various authors and participants have started to arrive. The authors that have been seen including the delightful Laura Lippman who is the American guest of honor, Lee Child, Adrian Magson, Natasha Cooper, Jason Starr, Martyn Waites, Mark Billingham who is Toastmaster for the whole of the Convention. International guest of Honour John Harvey, Barbara Peters and Robert Rosenwald who are due to receive a lifetime achievement award, Zoe Sharp and numerous other authors, Fans have come from far and wide including Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Last evening there was a small dinner to which a number of people (including myself) had been invited, This gathering had included all the guests of honour and was primarily held to say thank you to a number of the volunteers. The dinner party was held in the elegant Enoch Pratt Library. Prior to the dinner we were given a guided tour of the H L Mencken room and his papers. Henry Louis Mencken was a renowned Baltimore journalist and critic who had a long and friendly relationship with the Enoch Pratt Free Library.
The conference has well and truly got on its way and while the panels do not start until today it is nice to see a huge number of people gathering in the bar and discussing which panels they are planning on attending.
I am not sure that the hotel have realised what hit them!
Last evening there was a small dinner to which a number of people (including myself) had been invited, This gathering had included all the guests of honour and was primarily held to say thank you to a number of the volunteers. The dinner party was held in the elegant Enoch Pratt Library. Prior to the dinner we were given a guided tour of the H L Mencken room and his papers. Henry Louis Mencken was a renowned Baltimore journalist and critic who had a long and friendly relationship with the Enoch Pratt Free Library.
The conference has well and truly got on its way and while the panels do not start until today it is nice to see a huge number of people gathering in the bar and discussing which panels they are planning on attending.
I am not sure that the hotel have realised what hit them!
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Bouchercon 2008
Here's a first for the Shots Blog. We have Ayo Onatade in Baltimore, USA attending Bouchercon 2008 and she will be sending in a report as it happens.
For all of you who might not know the following are keynote guests:
Guests of Honour:Lawrence Block, Distinguished Contribution to the Genre
Laura Lippman, American Guest of Honour
John Harvey, International Guest of Honour
Mark Billingham, Toastmaster
Robert Rosenwald & Barbara Peters, Lifetime Achievement Award
Thalia Proctor, Fan Guest of Honour
The Prologue
"Bouchercon is less than six hours away and after the last two days I have a renewed respect for organisers of conferences. Over the last two days I have helped move over 500 boxes of books, label over 1,000 envelopes with participants names, helped stuff over 1500 catalogues and move over 1500 completed and full book bags. This year the co-organisers have surpassed themselves with the number of books that participants will receive in their bags. I would be very much surprised if anyone starts to complain as they will have no justification.
Slowly but surely people have started to turn up. From the UK point of view Martin Edwards and Ann Cleeves have already arrived. Ann has been in the states for sometime where she has been doing library events. So far the weather has been brilliant and the buzz about the hotel has been slowly building up. No doubt by 6:00pm (local time) the hotel will be full of Bouchercon attendees. What a sight it will be!"
"Bouchercon is less than six hours away and after the last two days I have a renewed respect for organisers of conferences. Over the last two days I have helped move over 500 boxes of books, label over 1,000 envelopes with participants names, helped stuff over 1500 catalogues and move over 1500 completed and full book bags. This year the co-organisers have surpassed themselves with the number of books that participants will receive in their bags. I would be very much surprised if anyone starts to complain as they will have no justification.
Slowly but surely people have started to turn up. From the UK point of view Martin Edwards and Ann Cleeves have already arrived. Ann has been in the states for sometime where she has been doing library events. So far the weather has been brilliant and the buzz about the hotel has been slowly building up. No doubt by 6:00pm (local time) the hotel will be full of Bouchercon attendees. What a sight it will be!"
Sunday, 5 October 2008
ITV3 CRIME DRAMA AWARDS - winners and report
SBourne, Ian Rankin, Colin Dexter & The Wire
Celebrate Wins at Inaugural Awards
Executive producer Amanda Ross spoke about how excited she was that ITV3 and Cactus TV was able to present this new award and believed it would grow from strength to strength. The event was hosted by actor, Alan Davis, himself no stranger to the crime and thriller genre. The winners were presented with their awards by a selection of star names, led by Dame Helen Mirren, Robson Green and Ricky Gervais. The ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards will be broadcast on Monday 6th October at 2200 on ITV3.
Before sitting down for the event I spoke to Roger Jon Ellory about his new book A Simple Act of Violence which had just been published. It’s a big doorstep of a book that dented my floor when it landed. Mind you it was in company with another big ‘un Dennis Lehane’s The Given Day. When I mentioned to Roger about the length of the book he said that we got the cut down version. “Why so long?” I asked in all innocence. “I just can’t shut up,” came his honest reply. He was in the company of his editor, Jon Wood, and the gorgeous supermodel Marie Helvin. She could still give some of the current supermodels a run for their money. As a young man, I remember her photoshoots for David Bailey – and yes, that is an admission.
The pinnacle of the star studded event was the announcement of the ITV3 Writer’s Award for Classic TV Drama, voted for in an entirely free vote by viewers of the channel. Morse author, Colin Dexter, was announced at the winner by Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren.
Criminal Justice scooped the award for TV Crime Drama of the Year – beating Ashes to Ashes, He Kills Coppers, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Spooks and Wire in the Blood.
The final season of massively acclaimed
Best Actress winner Hermione Norris, who won for her role as Ros Myers in Spooks, had seen off a varied selection of her peers - Kelly Reilly (He Kills Coppers), Jill Scott (The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency), Amanda Redman (New Tricks) and Keeley Hawes (Ashes to Ashes)
Miranda Raison & Raza Jaffrey (Spooks)The best actor award was won by Rupert Penry-Jones, for his role as Adam Carter in Spooks. Runners up in the Best Actor category were - Philip Glenister (Ashes to Ashes), James Nesbitt (Midnight Man & Murphy’s Law), Dominic West (The Wire) and Ben Whishaw (Criminal Justice). He was unable to attend the event as he is currently filming a version of John Buchan’s 39 Steps in Scotland for transmission this Christmas the BBC..
At the ceremony, as well as the winners of the awards above the first three entries into the The International Crime Writing Hall of Fame were announced – three authors who throughout their illustrious careers have represented the pinnacle of the crime thriller genre. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dame Agatha Christie and PD James were all inducted into the Hall of Fame. A visibly moved PD James collected her accolade from award presenter Alan Davies, and paid tribute to her many peers at the event.Rebus author Ian Rankin’s last novel about the Scottish detective, Exit Music, gained him the coveted Author of the Year title. Beating competition from acclaimed authors Peter James (Not Dead Enough, Pan), Robert Harris (The Ghost, Hutchinson) and Lee Child (Bad Luck and Trouble, Bantam). Ian sent a recorded message as he was unable to attend due to current book tour.
Stieg Larsson was posthumously awarded the International Author of the Year title. His father, Erland Larsson, collecting the award on his behalf paid tribute to his son in a moving speech about his pride for his son’s work and life. Larsson’s debut novel, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, had seen off competition from Jeffery Deaver (The Sleeping Doll, Hodder & Stoughton), Karin Slaughter (Skin Privilege, Arrow) and PJ Tracy (Snow Blind, Penguin)
With the awards and dinner out of the way, it was time to chat with old friends and meet new ones. On the way back from the bathroom I spotted Ali Karim speaking to Jeff Deaver and Mark Smith (CEO of Quercus Publishers). I congratulated Mark on Larsson’s win, and thought it would bring the author an even wider
After chatting with Lee Child, Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, I met up again with Michael Robotham. We last met at Thriller Fest New York 2007 and got on really well. In my opinion Shatter is Michael’s best novel to date and we spoke about his new novella - a fast paced thriller entitled Bombproof, which will be out in the
A surreal part of my evening was bumping into the dazzling Keeley Hawes and a group of her friends trying to take a photograph with her iPhone. I volunteered my services and snapped them in their "happy" and "unhappy" looks - and thank goodness for auto focus. And that's one photo you'll never get to see!
My night ended in early morning and thanks to Snapper Karim you’ll be able to see a selection of photos over on the website. I have a feeling that the exposure given by ITV3 will be of great benefit to everyone involved in crime & thrillers, and to me, that can’t be a bad thing.
ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards Season & Crime Thriller Awards are commissioned by Claire Zolkwer, Commissioning Editor, Entertainment on behalf of Emma Tennant, Controller of ITV3 and CITV. The Executive Producer is Amanda Ross and the series is Produced by Gareth Jones.
ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards will be screened on 6th October, 10pm. ITV3
Click here to see the Red Carpet Gallery
Thursday, 2 October 2008
2008 Ellis Peters Historical Award - Shortlist announced
Hot off the press from the British Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) comes the shortlist for 2008 Ellis Peters Historical Award.
Here are all the shortlist contenders:
• The Death Maze, by Ariana Franklin (Bantam Press)
• A Quiet Flame, by Philip Kerr (Quercus)
• Death on a Branch Line, by Andrew Martin (Faber and Faber)
• Revelation, by C.J. Sansom (Macmillan)
• Bleeding Heart Square, by Andrew Taylor (Michael Joseph)
• Stratton’s War, by Laura Wilson (Orion)
Now your guess is as good as mine in predicting the winner as the list is very strong. Could Ariana pull off a double, or will Laura win by a neck? As I say, a very hard call to make and good luck to the judges on picking the winner.This year’s Ellis Peters winner will be announced on October 27 and SHOTS will be there to cover it.
Here are all the shortlist contenders:
• The Death Maze, by Ariana Franklin (Bantam Press)
• A Quiet Flame, by Philip Kerr (Quercus)
• Death on a Branch Line, by Andrew Martin (Faber and Faber)
• Revelation, by C.J. Sansom (Macmillan)
• Bleeding Heart Square, by Andrew Taylor (Michael Joseph)
• Stratton’s War, by Laura Wilson (Orion)
Now your guess is as good as mine in predicting the winner as the list is very strong. Could Ariana pull off a double, or will Laura win by a neck? As I say, a very hard call to make and good luck to the judges on picking the winner.This year’s Ellis Peters winner will be announced on October 27 and SHOTS will be there to cover it.
Stella Rimington - Dead Line Launch
Stella Rimington signs for fan boy Ali Karim
Stella Rimington is the former Director General of the Secret Service (MI5 to me and you), and speaking to her she said she was happy to have been the first ever woman to hold the post and also the fact that it helped Dame Judy Dench to become the first ever female head of the service in the James Bond books after the departure of M.
The author was very gracious as I bombarded her with questions, not only about the book but on the genre as a whole. Although a couple of my queries were deflected, she was very honest.
Those attending the launch including Ali Karim, Ayo Onatade, Chris Simmonds and Barry Forshaw (could there ever be a launch without them?) Also journalists Jeremy Jehu, John Duggdale, Natasha Cooper and Jake Kerridge; as well as the support from Anthony Cheetham, Lucy Ramsey, Ron Beard and Mark Smith of Quercus (and apologies to those who I have missed out).
Dead Line is the forth Liz Carlyle in the series.
The Synopsis:
MI5 Itelligence office Liz Carlyle is summoned to a meeting with her boss Charles Wetherby, head of the Service's Counter-Espionage branch. His counterparty over at MI6 has received alarming intelligence from a high-placed Syrian source. A Middle East peace conference is planned to take place at Gleneagles in Scotland and several heads of state will attend. The Syrians have learned that two individuals are mounting an operation to disrupt the peace conference in a way designed to be spectacular, laying the blame at Syria's door. The source claims that Syrian Intelligence will act against the pair, presumably by killing them.
No one knows who they are or what they are planning to do. Are they working together? Who is controlling them? Or is the whole story a carefully laid trail of misinformation? It's Liz's job to find out. But as she discovers, the threat is far greater than she or anyone else could have imagined. The future of the whole of the Middle East is at stake and the conference is drawing ever closer.
Friday, 26 September 2008
Crime Parties
The launch of a new Dick Francis novel has always been a glittering affair usually held at the Savoy Hotel. Sadly, that venue is no longer available but Claridges in Brook Street, London was a rather splendid substitute. The luxurious hotel provided the launch pad for Silks, written in collaboration with his son, Felix and published by Michael Joseph.
Excellent canapés and champagne flowed as many paid homage to the great author on a very rare public appearance. Dick Francis took to the stage and showed everyone that he was still a man to be reckoned with, his wit as sharp as a knife. And didn't bat an eyelid when Felix plonked a jockey's cap on his head. Felix then took over and explained a little about the Francis Franchise.
Afterwards Dick and Felix spent some time signing books for the attendees (which I was told they hadn't done for the trade). Silks is an excellent read and the collaboration continues a tradition started by Dick, and I can see Felix taking up the reins for the next book with the ease of Desert Orchid crossing the finishing line.
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Stav Sherez shows off his new book
Despite the present doom and gloom in the financial world, it was good to see that Faber & Faber UK publishers were in the party mood. They had invited their authors and a group of crime reviewers to what, I think, was the first Crime Party held in the penthouse of their London building.
There was a good turn out with the usual reprobates turning up: Ayo Onatade, Ali Karim, Mike Ripley, Barry Forshaw, Natasha Cooper, Margaret Murphy, Chris Simmons, Cathi Unsworth, Adrian Muller and Philip Gooden (OK not all of those are reprobates). Each having the chance to meet with Nicola Upson, Stav Sherez, Adam Creed, Jason Goodwin, Andrew Martin, Roger Morris and Tobias Jones.
Each author was called upon to say a few words about their main protagonist by editor, Angus Cargill. After which they were let loose to mingle, drink and feed on the rather fine selection of cheeses. Angus is particularly excited about Faber’s expanding crime list and flicking through their catalogue, it does appear that there are some cracking books coming up.
Thanks to Snapper Karim for the photo. The other photos will be loaded up over at the Shots Website next week.
There was a good turn out with the usual reprobates turning up: Ayo Onatade, Ali Karim, Mike Ripley, Barry Forshaw, Natasha Cooper, Margaret Murphy, Chris Simmons, Cathi Unsworth, Adrian Muller and Philip Gooden (OK not all of those are reprobates). Each having the chance to meet with Nicola Upson, Stav Sherez, Adam Creed, Jason Goodwin, Andrew Martin, Roger Morris and Tobias Jones.
Each author was called upon to say a few words about their main protagonist by editor, Angus Cargill. After which they were let loose to mingle, drink and feed on the rather fine selection of cheeses. Angus is particularly excited about Faber’s expanding crime list and flicking through their catalogue, it does appear that there are some cracking books coming up.
Thanks to Snapper Karim for the photo. The other photos will be loaded up over at the Shots Website next week.
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
This smacks of Sour Grapes
No sooner than the nominations for the Man Booker are announced, someone has to get the first strike in. Enter Jamie Byng of Cannongate Books. Writing in the online forum on the Man Booker Prize's website, Byng stated: "I cannot respect a judging committee that decides to pick a book like Child 44, a fairly well-written and well-paced thriller that is no more than that, over novels as exceptional as Helen Garner's The Spare Room or Ross Raisin's God's Own Country."
In the Independent, Boyd Tonkin wonders why James Kelman's Kieron Smith, Boy was left off the list, but mainly praises the titles that made it. "Some less predictable contenders merit a cheer," he adds, and of Child 44, he says: "With his Stalin-era investigator in Child 44, Tom Rob Smith achieves what has so far eluded the Rankins and Jameses: a penultimate-round Booker run for an upscale detective novel."
Just as with any competition, you can't please all the people all of the time.
In the Independent, Boyd Tonkin wonders why James Kelman's Kieron Smith, Boy was left off the list, but mainly praises the titles that made it. "Some less predictable contenders merit a cheer," he adds, and of Child 44, he says: "With his Stalin-era investigator in Child 44, Tom Rob Smith achieves what has so far eluded the Rankins and Jameses: a penultimate-round Booker run for an upscale detective novel."
Just as with any competition, you can't please all the people all of the time.
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Tom Rob Smith nominated for Man Booker Prize
Tom Rob Smith's Child 44 has today been announced on this year's Man Booker longlist. SHOTS was amongst the first to bring the book to reader's attention when Ali Karim interviewed him. So we just love it when someone we have championed comes through. Look at the authors we have been first to feature: Nick Stone, Roger Jon Ellory and Simon Kernick.
News is out for the line up to Crime Scene 2008. Look out for, amongst others, Dame Stella Rimington (ex MI5 head) and Natasha Cooper who is fast becoming the toast-mistress dominatrix.
News is out for the line up to Crime Scene 2008. Look out for, amongst others, Dame Stella Rimington (ex MI5 head) and Natasha Cooper who is fast becoming the toast-mistress dominatrix.
Friday, 18 July 2008
News in from Harrogate - Stef Penny WINS
Debut Novelist Is A Winner In Harrogate
Posted at 8:00AM Friday 18 Jul 2008
A debut novelist who has taken the literary world by storm has won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award.
The Tenderness of Wolves (Quercus), by Stef Penney, was chosen by the Theakston panel of judges against competition from 12 other best-selling top authors including Alexander McCall Smith, Peter Robinson and Mark Billingham.
Story in The Yorkshire Post
Posted at 8:00AM Friday 18 Jul 2008
A debut novelist who has taken the literary world by storm has won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award.
The Tenderness of Wolves (Quercus), by Stef Penney, was chosen by the Theakston panel of judges against competition from 12 other best-selling top authors including Alexander McCall Smith, Peter Robinson and Mark Billingham.
Story in The Yorkshire Post
Thursday, 17 July 2008
ALL FUN AND GAMES AT HEFFERS 18th BODIES IN THE BOOKSTORE
OK, what's the odds on it being another sweltering night in Cambridge after a day of cloud and drizzle? I tell you I wouldn't give you evens. But it is a well-known fact that each and every year I attend Bodies in the Bookstore run by Richard Reynolds for Heffers, it is so damned hot. So much so, we are thinking of renaming it Sweaty Bodies in the Bookstore.
But we still managed to have fun. Take Tom Cain for instance. He found his long lost sister, Chelsea. Who just happened to be there promoting her second book at the same time as he was promoting his second book. What a fantastic co-incidence!
And then he meets up with Charles Cumming promoting Typhoon but by this time he becomes a little shy and retiring.
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And whilst I'm writing this most crime fans are on their way to the Harrogate Crime festival. Now I couldn't make it this year, something about being banned for singing dirty lyrics to Chim Chiminee (if you believe a certain A.Karim Esq). But the latter will be there with his trusty camera, laptop at the ready to write the report. So keep 'em peeled for that.
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Speaking to Maxim Jakubowski of Muder One bookstore fame, he tells me that he had just finalised the programme for this years Crime Scene. The literary events are to be held at the Waterstones' Flagship in Piccadilly this September. But he has promised to give me full details later.
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But we still managed to have fun. Take Tom Cain for instance. He found his long lost sister, Chelsea. Who just happened to be there promoting her second book at the same time as he was promoting his second book. What a fantastic co-incidence!
And then he meets up with Charles Cumming promoting Typhoon but by this time he becomes a little shy and retiring.************
And whilst I'm writing this most crime fans are on their way to the Harrogate Crime festival. Now I couldn't make it this year, something about being banned for singing dirty lyrics to Chim Chiminee (if you believe a certain A.Karim Esq). But the latter will be there with his trusty camera, laptop at the ready to write the report. So keep 'em peeled for that.
********************
Speaking to Maxim Jakubowski of Muder One bookstore fame, he tells me that he had just finalised the programme for this years Crime Scene. The literary events are to be held at the Waterstones' Flagship in Piccadilly this September. But he has promised to give me full details later.
*******************
And competitions running at the SHOTS Ezine site are: 10 signed copies of the UK debut THE LAST EXILE by EV Seymour
and this will blow you away.... BLACK STAR CRIME is offering one lucky winner an Apple iPod Touch 8g worth £199.00, plus a Black Star Crime Goodie Bag. 10 Runners up will recieve a Black Star Goodie bag with copies of all first 5 titles in the series, and an exclusive Black Star Crime polo shirt! Pretty fantastic, eh? You will need to check on the site as from next week to enter that one.
Who is this BLACK STAR CRIME outfit, I hear you ask? It's a thrilling new series of short, addictive crime fiction novels. With five titles out every two months ranging from thrillers to mysteries, and each book only costs £3.99.
And over at the website:
Not only does Mike Ripley write his regular column, Getting Away With Murder, he is the subject of an appreciation to celebrate 20 years of the Angel series (and the Great Train Robbers didn't even get that).
The Last Straight Face by Bruce Kennedy and Eric Allison is an uncompromising look at the UK's criminal underworld. They both explain 11 Things You Didn't Know.....
Patrick Lennon, author of the Tom Fletcher series writes on his latest novel, Steel Witches
Ayo Onatade has been busy interviewing Don Winslow, Ariana Franklin and Karen Rose
Amy Myers gets the low down from The Mulgray Twins and Will Randall
Ali Karim gets to chat with Bill Vidal
And spy novelist, Charles Cumming explains what it took to write TYPHOON.
Read the first chapter of P.D.Martin's The Murder Club
Read an exclusive article by EV Seymour, debut author of the fantastic THE LAST EXILE
Friday, 11 July 2008
IS THIS A DAGGER I SEE BEFORE ME?
I was amongst the 100 people attending the 2008 CWA Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award dinner last night. It turned into an evening full of surprises and emotional speeches. Yes, Frances Fyfield?
And the runners and riders are:
Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award: Blood from Stone, by Frances Fyfield (Little, Brown)
Also nominated: The Tin Roof Blowdown, by James Lee Burke (Orion); The Coroner’s Lunch, by Colin Cotterill (Quercus); Night Work, by Steve Hamilton (Orion); What the Dead Know, by Laura Lippman (Orion); and A Vengeful Longing, by R.N. Morris (Faber & Faber)
Duncan Lawrie International Dagger: Lorraine Connection, by Dominique Manotti, translated by Amanda Hopkinson and Ros Schwartz (EuroCrime, Arcadia Books)
Also nominated: The Patience of the Spider, by Andrea Camilleri, translated by Stephen Sartarelli (Picador, Macmillan); The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson, translated by Reg Keeland (MacLehose Press, Quercus); A Deal with the Devil, by Martin Suter, translated by Peter Millar (EuroCrime, Arcadia Books); and This Night’s Foul Work, by Fred Vargas, translated by Sîan Reynolds (Harvill Secker, Random House)
CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger: Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith (Simon & Schuster)
Highly recommended: The Echelon Vendetta, by David Stone (Penguin)
Also nominated: Ritual, by Mo Hayder (Transworld); I See You (aka The Crime Writer), by Gregg Hurwitz (Little, Brown); and Shatter, by Michael Robotham (Sphere/Little, Brown)
CWA Gold Dagger for Non-fiction: Nationality: Wog--The Hounding of David Oluwale, by Kester Aspden (Jonathan Cape, Random House)
Also nominated: The Art of Political Murder: Who Killed Bishop Gerardi, by Francisco Goldman (Atlantic Books); Violation, by David Rose (HarperPress); The Lost Boy, by Duncan Staff (Bantam Press); The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher, or The Murder at Road Hill House, by Kate Summerscale (Bloomsbury); and Into the Darkness, by Peter Zimonjic (Vintage Books, Random House)
CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger: The Bethlehem Murders (American title: The Collaborator of Bethlehem), by Matt (Beynon) Rees (Atlantic Books)
Also nominated: The Night of the Mi’raj (American title: Finding Nouf), by Zoë Ferraris (Little, Brown); Die with Me, by Elena Forbes (Quercus); Absolution, by Caro Ramsay (Michael Joseph, Penguin); and Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith (Simon & Schuster)
CWA Dagger in the Library (awarded each year to “the author of crime fiction whose work is currently giving the greatest enjoyment to library users”): Craig Russell
Highly commended: C.J. Sansom
Also nominated: Elizabeth Corley, Andrew Martin, Denise Mina, and Chris Simms
CWA Short Story Dagger: “The Bookbinder’s Apprentice,” by Martin Edwards (from The Mammoth Book of Best British Mysteries, edited by Maxim Jakubowkski; Constable Robinson)
Highly commended: “Glazed,” by Danuta Reah (from Getting Even: Revenge Stories, edited by Mitzi Szereto; Serpent’s Tail)
Also nominated: “Provenance,” by Robert Barnard (from The Mammoth Book of Best British Mysteries); “One Dollar Jackpot,” by Michael Connelly (from Dead Man’s Hand, edited by Otto Penzler; Quercus); and “One True Love,” by Laura Lippman (from Best American Mystery Stories 2007, edited by Otto Penzler and Carl Hiaasen; Quercus)
CWA Debut Dagger (for unpublished work): Western Fringes, by Amer Anwar (UK)
Highly commended: Blacklands, by Belinda Bauer (UK)
Also nominated: Desert Storm, by Russell Colman (Canada); The Eclipse of Lilith, by Peter Dewar (UK); Nite Lite, by Bill Harrison (Canada); The Stench of Lilies, by Alison Marlow (UK); The Book of Souls, by James Oswald (UK); Wearing the Spider, by Susan Schaab (USA); Devils and Disciples, by Ian Simpson (UK); and All the Wrong People, by P.J. Watson (USA)
And the runners and riders are:
Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award: Blood from Stone, by Frances Fyfield (Little, Brown)
Also nominated: The Tin Roof Blowdown, by James Lee Burke (Orion); The Coroner’s Lunch, by Colin Cotterill (Quercus); Night Work, by Steve Hamilton (Orion); What the Dead Know, by Laura Lippman (Orion); and A Vengeful Longing, by R.N. Morris (Faber & Faber)
Duncan Lawrie International Dagger: Lorraine Connection, by Dominique Manotti, translated by Amanda Hopkinson and Ros Schwartz (EuroCrime, Arcadia Books)
Also nominated: The Patience of the Spider, by Andrea Camilleri, translated by Stephen Sartarelli (Picador, Macmillan); The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson, translated by Reg Keeland (MacLehose Press, Quercus); A Deal with the Devil, by Martin Suter, translated by Peter Millar (EuroCrime, Arcadia Books); and This Night’s Foul Work, by Fred Vargas, translated by Sîan Reynolds (Harvill Secker, Random House)
CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger: Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith (Simon & Schuster)
Highly recommended: The Echelon Vendetta, by David Stone (Penguin)
Also nominated: Ritual, by Mo Hayder (Transworld); I See You (aka The Crime Writer), by Gregg Hurwitz (Little, Brown); and Shatter, by Michael Robotham (Sphere/Little, Brown)
CWA Gold Dagger for Non-fiction: Nationality: Wog--The Hounding of David Oluwale, by Kester Aspden (Jonathan Cape, Random House)
Also nominated: The Art of Political Murder: Who Killed Bishop Gerardi, by Francisco Goldman (Atlantic Books); Violation, by David Rose (HarperPress); The Lost Boy, by Duncan Staff (Bantam Press); The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher, or The Murder at Road Hill House, by Kate Summerscale (Bloomsbury); and Into the Darkness, by Peter Zimonjic (Vintage Books, Random House)
CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger: The Bethlehem Murders (American title: The Collaborator of Bethlehem), by Matt (Beynon) Rees (Atlantic Books)
Also nominated: The Night of the Mi’raj (American title: Finding Nouf), by Zoë Ferraris (Little, Brown); Die with Me, by Elena Forbes (Quercus); Absolution, by Caro Ramsay (Michael Joseph, Penguin); and Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith (Simon & Schuster)
CWA Dagger in the Library (awarded each year to “the author of crime fiction whose work is currently giving the greatest enjoyment to library users”): Craig Russell
Highly commended: C.J. Sansom
Also nominated: Elizabeth Corley, Andrew Martin, Denise Mina, and Chris Simms
CWA Short Story Dagger: “The Bookbinder’s Apprentice,” by Martin Edwards (from The Mammoth Book of Best British Mysteries, edited by Maxim Jakubowkski; Constable Robinson)
Highly commended: “Glazed,” by Danuta Reah (from Getting Even: Revenge Stories, edited by Mitzi Szereto; Serpent’s Tail)
Also nominated: “Provenance,” by Robert Barnard (from The Mammoth Book of Best British Mysteries); “One Dollar Jackpot,” by Michael Connelly (from Dead Man’s Hand, edited by Otto Penzler; Quercus); and “One True Love,” by Laura Lippman (from Best American Mystery Stories 2007, edited by Otto Penzler and Carl Hiaasen; Quercus)
CWA Debut Dagger (for unpublished work): Western Fringes, by Amer Anwar (UK)
Highly commended: Blacklands, by Belinda Bauer (UK)
Also nominated: Desert Storm, by Russell Colman (Canada); The Eclipse of Lilith, by Peter Dewar (UK); Nite Lite, by Bill Harrison (Canada); The Stench of Lilies, by Alison Marlow (UK); The Book of Souls, by James Oswald (UK); Wearing the Spider, by Susan Schaab (USA); Devils and Disciples, by Ian Simpson (UK); and All the Wrong People, by P.J. Watson (USA)
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