I seem to be accumulating so many interesting bookish (other otherwise) links and other miscellanea that I am trying to save them up to share for leisurely weekend perusal.
The Mystery Writers of America have announced their 2017 Edgar Award nominations. I have not read a single one, which seems par for the course these days when it comes to me and awards lists, but a few have been on my radar. The awards are handed out late in April.
Of course this makes me curious about the CWA Dagger Awards as they give a variety of prizes out and they don't all run on the same schedule. At least they didn't in the past. I can't quite tell from their website if the shortlists are current or from the 2016 lists. Hmm. Further investigation shows that the longlists come out in May sometime, so what I see now must be from last year. Something to look forward to later this spring then.
I am really curious about this serial podcast: The Witch Who Came in from the Cold. It is soon to be in its second season and sounds most intriguing: "The Cold War rages in the back rooms and dark alleys of 1970s Prague and crackling beneath the surface of it all is a vein of magic, raw and waiting to be tapped. Covert agents from the CIA and KGB are fighting two wars: one between the United States and the Soviet Union, and another between ancient magical societies, the Consortium of Ice and the Acolytes of Flame." It sounds like it could be right up my alley and I do like podcasts. Has anyone listened to this one? (Or maybe you have another serial podcast favorite you might recommend?).
I am quite addicted to Lit Hub Daily and look forward to their updates landing in my email inbox every morning. I find so much of interest and now particularly there is lots to read about the new US Administration. Of interest at the moment, an interview with Paul Auster (whose new book I am greatly looking forward to). It is going to be a long four years, so it helps to have this kind of inspiration.
You know how I am always pushing short stories on you, and how much I enjoy little daily short story opportunities, though I can't quite seem to jump start my own weekly posts about the short stories that I am enjoying . . . here is a little something unusual, though the unusual is now the usual it would seem. Slate is giving us a reimagined United States with their Trump Short Story Project. Ten short stories, ten days and ten dystopian versions of what we have to look forward to in Trump's America. The first one up is "The Daylight Underground" by Héctor Tobar. I'm a little bit afraid to read what writer's are imagining for us, but I will anyway.
I have found a new (or at least new to me) indie publisher, Inpress, and it looks like there are a lot of good books (including lots of poetry for you poetry lovers!) to explore.
Did you know that next year will mark the 40th anniversary of Virago Modern Classics? To gear up for the celebration they are hosting a monthly Virago Modern Classic Book Club. The January book (a little late to get started but I am still keen) is Molly Keane's Good Behavior, which is sitting waiting for me on my shelf. Now if this is not a big nudge to get back to my Molly Keane project then nothing is. I'm really psyched about this actually since it was already one of my desires to read more VMCs and I have been so lucky of late finding them at my favorite used bookstore. Definitely a sign, and the reading moons have aligned!
Oh, and one last thing. I was woefully unprepared for last Saturday, but I think I still need a pink hat (my sister is going to knit one for me), because I fear I might have cause to use it again (and maybe again and again and . . .).