Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather, as the saying goes. Last Wednesday, Mystery Writers of America surprised the heck out of me by nominating Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries Book 3, Cold-Blooded Myrtle, for the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery! Yes, that’s two nominations in a row for Myrtle!
It’s right there on the cover, even!
A year ago at this time, I was stunned and honored to have Premeditated Myrtle nominated. As I said then, the Edgar Allan Poe Award is the highest honor awarded to mystery writers worldwide. It’s a dream come true just to have your name among the august company of previous nominees and winners.
…And then it won. (!!!)
So, naturally, I hardly expected to see my—or Myrtle’s—name listed among the nominees again! I solemnly swear I did not bribe, threaten, or blackmail anyone.
Boo makes no such promises.
I am delighted to find myself among such a distinguished pool of nominees.
In celebration of this momentous occasion, I have a Poe treat for you (no, it’s not chocolate)! For more background on Edgar Allan Poe’s distinguished contributions to American mystery fiction, see my post: Myrtle in the Rue Morgue, where I introduced you to Poe’s pioneering fictional detective, C. Auguste Dupin. This year, we’re taking a closer look at the third (and, alas, final) Dupin mystery, “The Purloined Letter.”
The French police embark on a frantic search for a stolen letter in Poe’s short story
Poe is credited with introducing several classic features of detective fiction, and he did not disappoint in “The Purloined Letter,” which embraces state-of-the-art forensic science and an arch-nemesis to rival Dupin himself. You can read the full text of this entertaining tale of blackmail at the highest strata at the University of Virginia’s website: The Purloined Letter. Enjoy!
Many congratulations to my fellow nominees, and HUGE thanks to the MWA Edgar committee! These stalwart judges gave up a year of writing to read their colleagues’ work, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
I think this is so interesting.
Yay!!
I am so thrilled for you! Myrtle seems to be gaining a large, well deserved audience.
Congratulations!