Edgar nomination
Yesterday, I was in the middle of writing a scene in my novel -- a culminating scene where we finally begin to understand something important about the main character -- and I was beginning to have my doubts. It was clear my MC had his own ideas about things, and I was finding it hard to get him to say what I wanted, or to even stay put in one room.
So I took a break to check email, and that's when I found out from one of my friends that Vanished had been nominated for an Edgar. Of course when I read the email, I was certain it was a mistake. How could it be when I hadn't heard anything yet so far? I google my name often enough, but yesterday I did not because I was actually working and staying off the Internet as I've tried to do lately in the hopes of finishing my book.
First off I'd have to say that being nominated for an Edgar is one of the nicest things that has ever happened to me, and because I was so unprepared and surprised by this news, it has made it all the much sweeter to enjoy, without any expectations tied in with it.
Edgar Allan Poe -- who hasn't read some part of his writing? I read most of his short stories when I was in high school, and some of his poems. The Bells was my favorite. I even named my violin Annabel Lee, after the main character of his tragic poem. In college, we studied Poe in my short story class because he is one of the forerunners of the American short story. He championed it as its own legitimate and literary form, one that was even superior to the novel, in its ability to achieve total unity, a complete work that could be read in "one sitting." Anyone who's studied the short story in school has to know about Poe's influence, on a form that is here to stay for good.
Interestingly, Edgar wasn't there just in my high school and college years, but his presence was even there in the first year or so of my marriage. My husband and I lived on the Upper West Side, a place where Edgar is said to have lived for a while. In his honor, there was a cafe near our apartment called Edgar's, a place where we went for a quick bite to eat, an early dinner, or one of our favorite desserts, frutti de basco, which was better at Edgar's than any other place we'd tried.
Edgar's Cafe (now sadly closed)
When I think of Edgar, I think of all these things - of his presence in my life throughout the years, of how I've regarded him with thoughtfulness and amusement and endearment. But most of all, I'm just happy that my writing might be connected to him in some small way now, that the idea I had so many years ago could turn from that into a real book. Writing a good mystery is about the toughest thing I can imagine doing, and sometimes I scarcely wonder how I even did.
As always I'm glad Vanished turned out as it did, that a few more people know about this strange and beautiful instrument called a veena, with its mysterious and deeply spiritual sound. It's been my way of opening the front door, and letting people in.
So I took a break to check email, and that's when I found out from one of my friends that Vanished had been nominated for an Edgar. Of course when I read the email, I was certain it was a mistake. How could it be when I hadn't heard anything yet so far? I google my name often enough, but yesterday I did not because I was actually working and staying off the Internet as I've tried to do lately in the hopes of finishing my book.
First off I'd have to say that being nominated for an Edgar is one of the nicest things that has ever happened to me, and because I was so unprepared and surprised by this news, it has made it all the much sweeter to enjoy, without any expectations tied in with it.
Edgar Allan Poe -- who hasn't read some part of his writing? I read most of his short stories when I was in high school, and some of his poems. The Bells was my favorite. I even named my violin Annabel Lee, after the main character of his tragic poem. In college, we studied Poe in my short story class because he is one of the forerunners of the American short story. He championed it as its own legitimate and literary form, one that was even superior to the novel, in its ability to achieve total unity, a complete work that could be read in "one sitting." Anyone who's studied the short story in school has to know about Poe's influence, on a form that is here to stay for good.
Interestingly, Edgar wasn't there just in my high school and college years, but his presence was even there in the first year or so of my marriage. My husband and I lived on the Upper West Side, a place where Edgar is said to have lived for a while. In his honor, there was a cafe near our apartment called Edgar's, a place where we went for a quick bite to eat, an early dinner, or one of our favorite desserts, frutti de basco, which was better at Edgar's than any other place we'd tried.
Edgar's Cafe (now sadly closed)
When I think of Edgar, I think of all these things - of his presence in my life throughout the years, of how I've regarded him with thoughtfulness and amusement and endearment. But most of all, I'm just happy that my writing might be connected to him in some small way now, that the idea I had so many years ago could turn from that into a real book. Writing a good mystery is about the toughest thing I can imagine doing, and sometimes I scarcely wonder how I even did.
As always I'm glad Vanished turned out as it did, that a few more people know about this strange and beautiful instrument called a veena, with its mysterious and deeply spiritual sound. It's been my way of opening the front door, and letting people in.