by Leigh Perry / Toni L. P. Kelner
I confess that I'm still in a daze from my whirlwind trip last week. I took a train down to New York City on Tuesday for Edgar week activities. After the Edgar banquet on Thursday night, I got up Friday morning to fly to DC to go to Malice Domestic in Bethesda, MD. Then I flew home again Sunday night. I hugged people, took meetings galore, had gala meals with some amazing folks, and attended two awards banquets. May have picked up a book or two, as well. Unfortunately, I also regained the nasty cold/allergy contagion I thought I'd recovered from before starting my trip.
So while I've got a dozen blog posts worth of memories, I'm too wiped to write 'em. Fortunately, Charlaine and Hank have already talked a little about our adventures at Malice Domestic, so I'm settling for a few words about the Edgar Banquet. I'll post more pictures and stories in a couple of weeks. If the freaking cold goes away by then!
In case you don't know, the Edgar Awards are presented annually by the Mystery Writers of America. I've been a proud MWA member for many years, and this year had the opportunity to chair the committee Best Critical/Biographical Work. The nominees were Martin Edwards for The Golden Age of Murder, Frederick Forsyth for The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue, Suzanne Marrs and Tom Nolan for Meanwhile There Letters: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and Ross Macdonald, Matthew Parker for Golden Eye: Where Bond Was Born: Ian Fleming's Jamaica, and Nathan Ward for The Lost Detective: Becoming Dashiell Hammett. These are all terrific books, both erudite and entertaining, and I was honored to present the Edgar to Martin Edwards.
Being the committee chair meant I had first shot at actually presenting the award. That's why I went to New York, applied considerably more makeup than I normally wear, and put on my glad rags. Well, to be honest, it wasn't presenting the Edgar per se. It was for a chance to touch an Edgar personally. So while I was waiting to present to Martin Edward, I confess to rubbing Edgar's head affectionately. (Martin, if you dust for prints, don't be surprised.)
The MWA filmed the award presentations, so here's a video of me on the big stage in front of some of the best mystery writers in the business. (And that woman at table 6 who kept talking throughout my bit.) I didn't have a mic drop moment, but then again, I didn't fall off the stage or drop the Edgar statuette. I count that as a win.
The judges for the Edgars are kept confidential until after the awards are presented, but now that it is public, I'd like to take a moment to thank my terrific crew. I could not have asked for a nicer, more professional group of folks to work with: Robin Burcell, Ellen Crosby, David Morrell, and Duane Swierczynski. I've known Robin and Ellen for years, and got a chance to chat with Duane at the Edgar banquet (he was nominated for Best Novel for his awesome book Canary), and would love to meet David in person some day.
You are hilarious! That 's terrific, Toni, and wow. SO cool. And you speech was perfect.
Posted by: Hank Phillippi Ryan | May 04, 2016 at 05:26 AM
David will be in NOLA for Bouchercon. I have not yet met him either. Looking forward to it.
Posted by: Kristopher | May 04, 2016 at 06:36 AM
That was a great committee, Toni. I'm glad that was a good experience for you. And you look great!
Posted by: Charlaine Harris | May 04, 2016 at 02:17 PM
You were fabulous! Love the presenter, love her books, love the winner, love his books -- I'm just filled with love over this. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Joni | May 05, 2016 at 09:28 AM
Thanks, Hank. Margery said to make it short, and I never argue with Margery.
Kristopher, awesome! Maybe I can catch up to him then.
Charlaine, it really was. Could not have asked for a better. And thank you!
Thanks, Joni.
Posted by: Toni LP Kelner | May 05, 2016 at 11:45 AM