Award winners!

Congratulations to the many fine books and authors honored at Bouchercon (the World Mystery Convention) this weekend. Half a dozen different prizes are awarded at this gathering, recognizing quality in every different aspect of crime fiction.

I want to add my personal congratulations to my fellow mystery writers Sean Chercover for his winning the Anthony Award for his short story, “A Sleep Not Unlike Death” and his Crimespree Award for “Trigger City;” and Robert Crais for his Crimespree Award for "Chasing Darkness.' Robert got the award for ongoing series and, I've gotta tell you, he sure has a fantastic series about Elvis Cole and Joke Pike. If you haven't read any of Bob's book, get going. Also another congratulations to fellow MWA - Florida board member James O. Born for winning the Barry Award for his short story "The Draught." All three of these writers are friends and if you haven't read them, you should.

We salute all this year's winners:

Anthony Award, given by the attendees of Bouchercon:

Best Novel: Michael Connelly, THE BRASS VERDICT
Best First Novel: Stieg Larsson, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
Best Paperback Original: Julie Hyzy, STATE OF THE ONION
Best Short Story: "A Sleep Not Unlike Death," by Sean Chercover from Hardcore Hardboiled
Best Critical Nonfiction Work: Jeffrey Marks, ANTHONY BOUCHER: A Bibliography
Best Children's/Young Adult Novel: Chris Grabenstein, CROSSROADS
Best Cover Art: Peter Meselund for THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Stieg Larsson
Special Service Award: Jon and Ruth Jordan

Barry Award, given by Deadly Pleasures magazine:

Best Novel: Arnaldur Indridason, THE DRAINING LAKE
Best First Novel: Tom Rob Smith, CHILD 44
Best British: Stieg Larsson, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
Best Paperback Original: Julie Hyzy, STATE OF THE ONION
Best Thriller: Brett Battles, THE DECEIVED
Best Short Story: "The Draught" by James O. Born, from The Blue Religion

Crimespree Award, given by Crimespree Magazine:

Favorite Book: Sean Chercover, TRIGGER CITY
Best in an Ongoing Series: Robert Crais, CHASING DARKNESS
Favorite Comics Writer: Brian Azzarello
Favorite Original Paperback: Christa Faust, MONEY SHOT
Favorite Mystery Bookstore: Once Upon a Crime, Minneapolis

Derringer Award for Short Mystery Fiction, given by the Short Mystery Fiction Society:

Best Short Story: "The Cost of Doing Business," by Michael Penncavage (published in ThugLit)
Best Flash: tie – "No Flowers for Stacey," by Ruth McCarty (Deadfall: Crime Stories by New England Writers;); and "No Place Like Home," by Dee Stuart (Mysterical-E)
Best Novella: "Too Wise," by O'Neil De Noux (published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
Best Long Story: "The Quick Brown Fox," by Robert S. Levinson (published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)

Macavity Award, given by Mystery Readers International:

Best Mystery Novel: Deborah Crombie, WHERE MEMORIES LIE
Best First Mystery: Stieg Larsson, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
Best Nonfiction/Critical: Frankie Y. Bailey, AFRICAN-AMERICAN MYSTERY WRITERS: A HISTORICAL & THEMATIC STUDY
Best Mystery Short Story: "The Night Things Changed" by Dana Cameron from WOLFSBANE & MISTLETOE
Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery: Rhys Bowen,A ROYAL PAIN

Shamus Award, given by the Private Eye Writers of America:

Best Hardcover: Reed Farrel Coleman, EMPTY EVER AFTER
Best First P.I. Novel: IN THE HEAT, Ian Vasquez
Best Paperback Original: Lori Armstrong, SNOW BLIND
Best Short Story: "Family Values," by Mitch Alderman
Hammer Award (for character longevity): Matthew Scudder, created by Lawrence Block
Lifetime Achievement: Robert J. Randisi