The Amazing Edgar Awards

On Tuesday this week I embarked on a gigantic adventure thanks to the Mystery Writers of America and Sylvie Frank (my editor), Paula Wiseman, and her amazing team at Simon & Schuster‘s Paula Wiseman Books. Footer Davis Probably Is Crazy was nominated for an Edgar award in the Juvenile category, along with amazing books by Avi, Matthew Baker, Lauren Oliver, and Kevin Sands (a fellow Simon and Schuster author).

First up–getting from Hopkinsville, Kentucky to New York City. I’ll try to let you journey with me!

MWA and S & S treated us *so well*. We began the awards week with a visit and signing at the incredible Mysterious Bookshop in Tribeca–which is, quite literally, wall to wall mystery books, complete with ladders on rails and the best ever atmosphere.

The next day, we had a great panel discussion about writing mysteries/darker themes for children and young adults, moderated by Lyndsay Faye. We moved on to Books Of Wonder for another panel event, with all of the Juvenile and Young Adult nominees. That bookshop was a magical children’s place, complete with signed rare books from the authors who wrote the very text of my own childhood.

The next day, S & S Kids gave us a festive, lovely reception to celebrate!

Then it was time to get ready for the big event itself (thank you Blooming Nails for healing my chipped, cracked mess of a manicure in record time). Everyone looked SO good, dressed up in their best!

(Yes that’s a raven on a skull on my tunic, because THIS IS THE EDGARS!)

The awards ceremony was larger than life, and fun, and electric, with so much talent packed into one room!

Then the presentation for my category came…

O.M.G.

I think if I hadn’t seen everyone at the table staring at me and bouncing and clapping, I would have kept sitting there in disbelief.

Winning the Edgar is a highlight of my career, and I want to give many thanks to MWA, my agent Erin Murphy, my editor Sylvie, and to everyone at S & S Kids/Paula Wiseman books for making it possible.