Monday, April 23, 2012

Edgars abroad

This week is Edgar week in New York, with the Mystery Writers of America to announce the winners of their annual awards Thursday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York.

I'll be there and, while the phenomenon of Detectives Beyond Borders dressed for dinner is worth noting, the real story is the international flavor of the short lists, including four of the five best-novel contenders. The non-American nominees include:

Gone by Mo Hayder (Britain), The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino (Japan), 1222 by Anne Holt (Norway), and Field Gray by Philip Kerr (Britain), for best novel and Death of the Mantis by Michael Stanley (South Africa) and Vienna Twilight by Frank Tallis (Britain) for best paperback original.
Congratulations to all the nominees, and I'll see you at dinner. (Browse the complete list of nominees at the MWA Web site.)

© Peter Rozovsky 2012

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15 Comments:

Anonymous solo said...

Good luck with the suit thing, Peter.

Out of curiosity, which individuals nominate books for an Edgar award, and which individuals will choose the winners? Or put more simply, who are the judges this year?

April 23, 2012  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Thanks. The suit performed well in its debut on the road, but this will be the big test: New York.

I don't know who the judges are or how the voting works; I'm not a member of MWA. (I may join, though. It could be a good way to make contacts and find people to hang out with.)

April 23, 2012  
Anonymous solo said...

I'm not as tolerant of awards as you are, Peter.

Before I take any awards seriously, I expect a couple of basic points to be adhered to.

Reputable award systems ask for nominations, whether from writers, agents or publishers. Only asshole chancers will dish out awards to those who have not asked to be considered for one of their 'awards'.

The other basic requirement for an awards system is transparency. If the awards are by reputable people, they will announce who the judges are.

Anything less than this is for the birds.

April 23, 2012  
Blogger Uriah Robinson said...

Peter I hope we get a photo of you in the suit. ;-)

April 23, 2012  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Solo, the CWA in the UK announces the judges for Daggers awards. I'm not sure whether the Mystery Writers of America does; I haven't asked.

I don't take awards all that seriously. Some good books have been honored, along with a superb book here and there.

April 23, 2012  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Solo, here’s what the MWA website says about the judging process for the Edgars.

April 23, 2012  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Norman/Uriah: A photo of me in the suit from last week's David Goodis event exists somewhere. Also, I'm coning to Crimefest next month, and the suit and it newly acquired light-gray twin ought still to be wearable by then.

April 23, 2012  
Blogger seana graham said...

Sounds like a huge amount of fun, and I'm guessing that the suit is not the most important thing among the mystery crowd.

April 24, 2012  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Well, for want of a suit, an opportunity to network is lost ...

April 24, 2012  
Blogger seana graham said...

In California, some guy would show up in a Hawaiian shirt and I bet his networking opportunities would not shrink by one iota.

April 24, 2012  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

I believe it. I told you about the guy who attended a symphony concert barefoot.

April 24, 2012  
Blogger seana graham said...

Yes, you did. And I was probably not as surprised by it as you were.

April 24, 2012  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Well, I'm not sure I was surprised as much as I appreciated the novelty, if that makes sense. But I won't go barefoot at the Edgars and would liklely not do do even if the event were in California.

April 24, 2012  
Blogger seana graham said...

No, but someone probably would.

April 24, 2012  
Blogger Peter Rozovsky said...

Well, I think everyone wore shoes at Bouchercon in San Francisco.

April 24, 2012  

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