Edgar Nominations: The Short Stories

Before I get started, allow me to present a choice quote from yesterday’s profile of Laurie Lynn Drummond in the Oregonian:

Laurie Lynn Drummond was in Borders Books & Music in Eugene,

browsing and doing what she always does in bookstores these days —

checking to see how many copies of her book “Anything You Say Can and

Will Be Used Against You” were in stock.

She’s used to finding it in the literature section, right between

books by Margaret Drabble and Andre Dubus, one of her favorites. This

time, it was shelved with the mysteries, something Drummond understands

but doesn’t really like. So what to do? What should a woman who spent

six years as a police officer in Baton Rouge, La., and 12 years writing

a book of linked short stories about policewomen that was praised by

Elmore Leonard and Joseph Wambaugh do when she discovers her book’s in

the wrong section of her local store?

“I took half of them and put them with the literature,” Drummond said and let out a big laugh.

So naturally, her story “Something About a Scar” is up for Best Short Story. Looks like she’ll continue to fight the whole crime fiction/literature divide just a little longer…

It’s a hell of a story, and brilliant collection. Is it crime fiction? Why not? Tom Franklin’s POACHERS was, and the title story won the Edgar six years ago, although his background was certainly just as literary minded as Drummond’s is. So if she wins — and well she might — there shouldn’t be any complaints at all…

Otherwise, I’m a little surprised to see Pete Hamill’s story included because as best I recall, this was not exactly a genre story, even if it did open BROOKLYN NOIR. But it was such an amazingly written one that I can’t argue against it.  I haven’t read the others, and I suppose I could start my usual argue & whine about the lack of online fiction presence but that’s not really necessary.

Besides, why do that when I can be happy for Akashic and BROOKLYN NOIR, not only for Hamill’s nod but for Thomas Morrisey’s well-deserved win for the Robert Fish Award. It’s great to see cool people and kickass collections recognized, after all…