"Femme Sole," for your Agatha consideration

For a limited time, read "Femme Sole" here: BostonNoir_FemmeSole.pdf

Thanks!

An Agatha nomination for "Femme Sole!"

This has been a month of wonderful news: yesterday, the Agatha Award nominations for works published in 2009 were announced (you can see the entire list here). I'm thrilled to let you know that "Femme Sole" was short-listed for Best Short Story! The nominees for Best Short Story are:

“Femme Sole” by Dana Cameron, Boston Noir (Akashic Books)
“Handbaskets, Drawers and a Killer Cold” by Kaye George, Crooked ezine
“The Worst Noel” by Barb Goffman, The Gift of Murder (Wolfmont Press)
“On the House” by Hank Phillippi Ryan, Quarry (Level Best Books)
“Death Will Trim Your Tree” by Elizabeth Zelvin, The Gift of Murder (Wolfmont Press)

I'm delighted to be among the nominees, and especially happy for fellow Femme Fatale Hank Phillippi Ryan, who is not only nominated for her terrific short story, but also for Best Novel for Air Time. As if that wasn't terrific enough, our fellow Femme Donna Andrews garnered a nod for Best Novel for Swan for the Money!

The winners will be announced at the 2009 Agatha Awards banquet to be held on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at Malice Domestic.

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words and support! And congratulations to all the nominees!

A good book for cocktails...

Tonight's signing will be the third event promoting Boston Noir that featured drinks. Last October, the Boston Book Festival ended our reading with a "noir" cocktail party, featuring the specially composed "Literatini." At last month's reading, we were treated to beverage interpretations of our stories at Noir Bar. Tonight, it will be "Boston Noir and Pinot Noir."

Like wine? Like short stories? Need a Valentine's Day present for someone? Stop by Henry's Wine Cellar tonight and get your Noir on.

The BR pile: Julia Child

As I am fond of saying (probably because I say it so frequently): I'm so far behind, I can see my own ass. Yes, there's been a lot of excitement lately and more events than I anticipated this time of year; I'm also working on two short stories, both of which are due the same month. Good thing the cats are here, and cause a ruckus early afternoon for their vittles. Otherwise, I would forget to eat lunch. That's busy.

I was disappointed to realize I haven't been keeping up with reading and have accumulated a sizable TBR since Christmas. I've made an effort on that front, and am whittling away at it. Right now, I'm reading the Edgar nominees for "Best Short Story" and am blown away. More about them later; for now, Julia Child's My Life in France.

One of the reasons I loved this book (co-authored with Alex Prud'Homme) was that it absolutely sounded like the Julia Child I grew up with (televisually speaking). There is such incredible and appealing can-do energy in Child, who was a problem-solver and infinitely curious about so many things. It reveals itself whether she's discussing attempting to negotiate a household move across continents, schedule her final exams at Le Cordon Bleu or how to finalize a recipe for French-style bread.

You don't have to be a foodie (I am) to enjoy this book; there's enough of French culture and 20th-century history to satisfy anyone. But if you are a foodie, she is the genesis of cooking on television, and the early history of "The French Chef" is simply wonderful.

Boston Noir at Noir Bar

Here, at long last, some pics from the event at Noir Bar in the Charles Hotel. The setting was ideal: outside was a gawdawful rain storm, inside was dimly lit, muffled conversation, the clink of glassware.

Suddenly, a woman screamed...


Okay, not a woman, it was feedback from the mic as we got set up. It really was fun; I've mentioned the signature cocktails based on each of our stories, and can attest that the "Femme Sole" was elegant, tasty, and packed an unexpected wallop.



Here, I'm trying to "smolder." I'm not sure it's working, but I do enjoy a challenge.

Another element, one that made me feel almost like a performance artist, was the projection of old black and white noir films on the screens behind us.

L-R: me, Brendan DuBois (who did a cracker-jack job of introducing the book and the event), Lynne Heitman, and Russ Aborn.

We sold a bunch of books and the audience was super. Not a bad crowd, for a rainy Monday night. Thanks to the folks at Noir Bar for making a fun event!