Reviews, news, and more

The National Book Award nominees were announced yesterday, and the big surprises are that the fiction list is all female (naturally, I haven’t read any of the nominees, though MADELINE IS SLEEPING is getting great recommendations across the ‘sphere) and that the ⁹⁄₁₁ commission is up for non-fiction (which is pissing Ed off somewhat.)

Toby Litt’s new novel, GHOST STORY, has an interesting conceit in that the first portion is actually a non-fiction account of how he and his girlfriend endured three miscarriages. He speaks to the Telegraph about this prolonged tragedy and how it affected the writing of what became the novel.

Michael Basilieres has won the Best First Novel Award (in Canada, that is) for Black Bird. Rebecca Caldwell of the Globe and Mail reports on the award ceremony.

Mystery Ink has updated with several new reviews of releases by Alina Adams, Isaac Adamson, Reginald Hill, and Patricia Cornwell.

David Montgomery, MI’s editor, also reviews Barry Eisler’s RAIN STORM for USA TODAY. Alexander McCall Smith and Liza Ward get good notices in the paper as well.

I’ve wondered if Craig McDonald would post a new author interview on his Modesty Arbor site but he returns with a flourish–catching up with James Ellroy, who’s moved back to California, now believes Steve Hodel was right–sort of–about the Black Dahlia killer, and generally behaves like his usual self.

Stella Rimington should have been at Bouchercon–her experience with deluded fans likely mirrors some other authors who had to field strange questions after their panels….

And finally, happy birthday, TEV! Here’s to many, many more years in the ‘sphere as one of the leading litblogs. I’m happy to steal my links from you everytime….