INTRODUCING THE AGATHA NOMINEES FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL AND BEST SHORT STORY

by Paula Gail Benson

Aimee Hix

Susanna Calkins

Each year, it’s a true joy for me to interview the Agatha nominees for Best First Novel and Best Short Story. This year, I made a late start in getting the questions to the nominees, so I’ll be following up next week with some terrific answers that you’ll want to return to read!

For this post, let me introduce you to the nominees. They are a diverse group: in their work, their locations, and their lives. What is similar is that these folks are all diligent and talented authors whose novels and short stories are deserving of both publication and recognition.

Keenan Powell

Art Taylor

In the Best First Novel category, Shari Randall’s Curses, Boiled Again! is published by St. Martin’s (an imprint of one of the Big Five), Dianne Freeman’s A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder and Edwin Hill’s Little Comfort are published by Kensington (well known for its impressive line of mysteries), Aimee Hix’s What Doesn’t Kill You is from Midnight Ink (which, despite its distinguished list of authors, is sadly closing its doors this year), and Keenan Powell’s Deadly Solutions comes from Level Best Books (now managed by editors Shawn Reilly Simmons, Verena Rose, and Harriette Sackler, collectively known as the Dames of Detection). Each nominated book is the first in a series. The second novel in each series either has been or is soon to be released.

Tara Laskowski

Two of the Best Short Story nominees are published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and two in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. The fifth is found in last year’s Bouchercon anthology. All the short story authors are familiar names to the Malice Domestic community, with long histories of publications and awards. Leslie Budewitz writes two contemporary series and has previously won Agathas in the Best First Novel and Best Nonfiction categories. Susanna Calkins writes two historical series. Her fiction has been nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award, the Agatha, the Lefty, and the Anthony and has won the Macavity. Twenty-five times Barb Goffman has been a finalist for national crime-writing awards and her short stories have won the Agatha, Macavity, and Silver Falchion. The semi-newbie nominee, Tara Laskowski, has won several awards including the 2010 Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Award, had two books published, and has another being released in her birth month of October, not to mention being wife of the final nominee. Art Taylor, Tara’s husband, won the Agatha for his novel in stories, On the Road with Del & Louise, and three additional Agathas, an Anthony, two Macavities, three Derringers, and is currently an Edgar finalist, all for his short stories.

 

Dianne Freeman

Leslie Budewitz

Both historical and contemporary mysteries are included among this year’s nominees. Two of the short stories, Leslie Budewitz’ “All God’s Sparrows” and Susanna Calkins’ “A Postcard from the Dead,” as well as Dianne Freeman’s novel represent (1) the American West (Budewitz), (2) early 1900’s Florida (Calkins), and (3) an American who has married into Victorian England’s aristocracy (Freeman). Two short stories, Tara Laskowski’s “The Case of the Vanishing Professor” and Art Taylor’s “English 398: Fiction Workshop,” as well as Edwin Hill’s novel take place in academic settings. Shari Randall’s novel and Barb Goffman’s “Bug Appetit” deal with people’s reactions to food. Aimee Hix’ former police officer and aspiring P.I. and Keenan Powell’s public defender are found in delightfully paced procedurals.

Edwin Hill

The nominees live all over the country. Edwin Hill and Shari Randall make their homes in New England. Barb Goffman, Aimee Hix, Tara Laskowski, and Art Taylor are in or near the D.C. area. Susanna Calkins teaches at Northwestern in Chicago. While Leslie Budewitz went to college in Seattle and practiced law there after graduating from Notre Dame, she now lives in Montana. Dianne Freeman splits her time between Michigan and Arizona. Keenan Powell is in Alaska.

Barb Goffman

Shari Randall

Leslie Budewitz, Barb Goffman, and Keenan Powell are attorneys. Susanna Calkins (Northwestern) and Art Taylor (George Mason) teach at universities. Like Leslie, Edwin Hill pursued college on the west coast, but now works in educational publishing in the east. Aimee Hix is a former government contractor. Shari Randall has served as a librarian and is now the library liaison for the National Sisters in Crime. Tara Laskowski is the editor of Smoke Long Quarterly. In addition to writing, Barb Goffman has an editing business.

And, all of these folks have truly compelling fictional tales to tell. Here are the Agatha nominations, with links to where you can read the short stories:

Best First Novel

A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman (Kensington)
Little Comfort by Edwin Hill (Kensington)
What Doesn't Kill You by Aimee Hix (Midnight Ink)
Deadly Solution by Keenan Powell (Level Best Books)
Curses, Boiled Again! by Shari Randall (St. Martin's)

Best Short Story

“All God's Sparrows” by Leslie Budewitz (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
“A Postcard for the Dead” by Susanna Calkins in Florida Happens (Three Rooms Press)

“Bug Appetit” by Barb Goffman (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
“The Case of the Vanishing Professor” by Tara Laskowski (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)

“English 398: Fiction Workshop” by Art Taylor (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)

Have you read these nominated novels and stories yet? What are you waiting for?