Elmore Leonard receives the Diamond Dagger; LCC award nominations

The CWA has announced that this year’s recipient of the Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement has been given to Elmore Leonard. He will accept the award officially at a special awards ceremony, limited to 100 guests.

I must say my first thought was “why did it take so long?” but perhaps that’s why Leonard is finally receiving the award. Very cool.

Meanwhile, Left Coast Crime has announced the shortlists for the Lefty (for humorous mystery published in the English Language) as well as the Bruce Alexander Award for best historical mystery:

Lefty:

• Liz Evans, Cue The Easter Bunny (Orion, UK)

   

• Jasper Fforde, The Big Over Easy (Hodder & Stoughton, UK)

   

• Bill Fitzhugh, Highway 61 Resurfaced (Morrow, US)

   

• Peter Guttridge, Cast Adrift (Allison & Busby, UK)

   

• Charlie Williams, Fags And Lager (Serpent’s Tail, UK)

Bruce Alexander:

• Tony Broadbent, Spectres In The Smoke (St Martin’s, US)

   

• Maureen Jennings, Night’s Child (McCelland & Stewart, Canada)

   

• Jacqueline Winspear, Pardonable Lies (Henry Holt, US)

Interesting lists on both, and unsurprisingly (considering LCC’s in Bristol this year) there’s a strong UK contingent represented. Congratulations to all the nominees.