Sorry about posting this so "after the fact"… I kept thinking that I wanted to post the 2009 Anthony Award nominees and winners, who were announced at Bouchercon 2009 last month. Another case of better late than never… Read more on 2009 Anthony Awards Given at Bouchercon 2009……

... the protagonist, are called fluffies. On a 1-10 scale, cozy to noir, my own crime reading probably falls between 7 and 9. But I spent a good part of Bouchercon 2009 annoying people with my suggestions for clever titles, so I have a soft spot for the author of books such as Hail to the Chef and State of the Onion. © Peter Rozovsky ...

At Bouchercon I saw convincing evidence that the paper book was not dead, as hundreds of fans hauled away rolling cases filled with new acquisitions. But there was also much talk of the popularity of e-books, which got a dramatic boost from the Kindle. A completely separate ongoing conversation had to do with the threatened death of the short mystery story. The most vocal proponents of this form ...

I've been thinking a lot lately about advice I've gotten concerning writing. The most recent came at Bouchercon, at the editors and agents panel. Every one of them said the same thing: Write the best book  you can. What does that really mean? The best book? Every book we write feels like the best book, or at least it should, before we start sending it out into the world. We write and ...

... Baker. I can't wait. I've been in (and still am in) deadline hell, so in case you've popped by here, you've noticed I haven't posted since Bouchercon. But I promise that I'll be better in 2010. Truly, truly! In the meantime, here are a couple of updates: Eggsecutive Orders is due out January 5, 2010, but -- here's the cool part -- Michelle Obama and Cristeta Comerford ...

Whitechapel Carnival Films and Television (A UK DVD) About twice a year I order DVDs from the UK. Our buddy ALI KARIM brought some over for me during Bouchercon and I got a few more afterwords. One of the was WHITECHAPEL. Whitechapel stars Rupert Pentry-Jones who fans of Spooks (MI_5) will recognize as Adam Carter. In Whitechapel he plays a copper, DI Chandler, on the rise in the department, ...

... for dollar you'll get more out of attending a local book festival that connects you with readers; or a crime novel convention like Malice Domestic, Left Coast Crime, or Bouchercon (and there are several other good ones that escape my coffee-deprived noggin just now) that connects you with readers (unlike a writers conference that is mostly attended by writers and agents). BEA is not a good ...

... may recognize. Left Coast Crime March 2010 Los Angeles, CA Sleuthfest February 2010 Boca Raton, FL Thrillerfest V July 2010 NY NY Killer Nashville August 2010 Nashville TN Magna Cum Murder October 2010 Muncie IN Bouchercon October 2010 San Francisco, CA And that is just a sample. If you are like me, it means saving money to be able to participate in these events, so you might want to start ...

... first airplane ride was the one I took when I moved to South Dakota, alone and barely 18 years old. It was 27 years before I got on another plane- that time to Monterrey, CA for Bouchercon (The World Mystery Convention). Up until the last four months, I generally went years in between flights. This is my third trip since August. Tomorrow morning, we take off again, from Aberdeen to Minneapolis ...

... to Washington, DC, and am posting late today because the cumulative sleep deficit of the past month caught up with me, and I spent most of today sleeping. I do this to myself, I admit. I came back from Bouchercon to multiple deadlines and external commitments, and even pulled an all-nighter about a month ago. Between the all-nighter, the shift to standard time, the change in the seasons and the ...

... thought you would grow up to be a…. JH: Writer. Always Eggsecutive Orders January 5, 2010 Me: Last thing bought at the mall: JH: A really great dress that I wore at the Berkley party at Bouchercon and plan to wear again this week! Me: Item on your grocery list: JH: Half and Half Me: French fries or Onion Rings: JH: Mmm.... tough one. Depends on where I am. But onion rings are always a ...

... same way. Will you be guest speaker at any mystery conferences this year? I'll be attending Left Coast Crime in L.A, the 3rd Annual Forensic Trends: Psychiatric & Behavioral Issues Conference in Las Vegas, the International Mystery Writers Festival in Owensboro KY, Bouchercon in San Francisco, and the Professional Pierce Brosnan Impersonator Convention in my living room.

... like Mystery Writers of America and Private Eye Writers of America. Indeed, during last month's Bouchercon World Mystery Convention in Indianapolis, his story Panic on Portage Path was a nominee for a 2009 Shamus Award from the Private Eye Writers of America. I lost contact ...

... a little of my gratitude. My warmest and most heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who has contributed to this blog in 2009. Some people have contributed visually - you see their guest posts, their interviews, their ... people. As I grew excited this year for various author events, Bouchercon, Murder and Mayhem, etc., you got excited with me. THANK YOU! You tolerated all my stories and pictures. THANK ...