I won an Edgar!
This newsletter is little late, but I have a great excuse. On May 1, I attended The Edgar Awards, which are like the mystery version of the Oscars. The event is hosted by the Mystery Writers of America, and the judges are your peers - other mystery writers.
And my book, Girl Forgotten, won!
I was so surprised and thrilled, and am still walking on air. On stage, I thanked:
My publisher, Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Christy Ottaviano, my editor for 16 years
Wendy Schmalz, my agent for 31 years
And finally famed author James Lee Burke who nearly 30 years ago (before I was published) told me in an interview I did for a small literary magazine: "You're a winner, I can tell." Every morning on my way to my day job, I would rewind the cassette tape and listen to that little snippet. (Jim's daughter Alafair Burke - a mystery writer in her own right - called her dad after the ceremony and then found me so Jim and I could each express our thanks to the other.)
TSA doesn’t care about handcuffs
On my way home, my suitcase got pulled aside for further inspection by the TSA. Not because of the handcuffs in my carry-on (I demonstrated how to get out of them at a meeting with my publisher) but because of the unusual shape and size of the bust of Edgar Allan Poe. They even swabbed him for explosive residue!
Upcoming events
Tuesday June 4, 7 pm
I’ll be launching my new thriller Stay Dead and talking with author Megan Lally (That's Not My Name) at Powells Cedar Hills in Beaverton, Oregon.
Satuday June 8, 2 pm
I”ll be in conversation with the authors of Heiress Takes All at the Barnes & Noble in Hillsboro, Oregon.
"The great ones never lose it!" Congratulations on your award.
WOW! Congrats to you! You definitely deserve the award. Your experience in TSA should somehow show up in a future book. Looking forward to reading Stay Dead!