Books are everything

Hi - this is Thalia Proctor, signing in from London as guest blogger for today.

I'm rather daunted, looking at previous posts, by being asked to do this; not being an author or reviewer but mostly being known in our friendly world of crime fiction, as Mark B championed in his guest spot, for working in all the crime bookshops of London and now doing editorial stuff at Orion. Sarah says I should write about myself, though. So my news is that I'm going to become Editor at Little, Brown UK in October, in posh job move. The publishing world really is about Who You Know and I do have the crime fiction world to thank for this. I'm been incredibly lucky to make a lot of varied contacts. Through the bookshops, I got to know authors and reps, and of course other booksellers; through my foray into literary scouting at Van Lear Limited, to find out about agents; and now in publishing that all ties together beautifully. It's hugely interesting to see things from either end of a book's life. I miss the aesthetic satisfaction of rows of books and the challenge of recommending to crime fans but now, being able to shape the phrasing on book jackets, to have the heady power of deciding where commas should go in the text and liaising with an author about an odd character trait makes me feel on top of the world. (I'm easily pleased.) Mostly I have my marvellous friend Wayne Brookes from HarperCollins UK to thank, for pushing me towards copyediting, recommending me to Orion, and starting the whole ball rolling. I've loved it at Orion - everyone has been great and I've learned a hell of a lot. I'll be very sad to leave but I couldn't resist the offer to work on the crime list at Little,Brown with David Shelley and get back to being critical with people's manuscripts.

Wow, this is getting to be an Oscar speech. Enough about me - oh, except for this. 

So now I'll give you some award news. The CWA have been in the press enough recently with all the award changes...and the Short Story Dagger has been one of the casualties, having been ripped from the main body of awards to form its own thing. Our friends Ayo Onatade and Ali Karim are the judges along with the marvellous Peter Lovesey as the Chair. Thought you might like to see who's on it:

Robert Barnard for Sins of Scarlet from I.D Crimes of Identity (Comma Press)
The ultimate in locked-room murders, set in the Sistine Chapel during the election of a Pope.

Ken Bruen for Loaded from London Noir (Serpent's Tail)
Brixton noir, tough as they come, strong, finely crafted and convincing.

PD James for The Part-Time Job from The Detection Collection (Orion)
The account of an original form of revenge, with revelation after revelation.

Stuart Pawson for Les's Story from I.D. Crimes of Identity (Comma Press)
Perfectly fitting the I.D. theme, this story told by a tearaway kid is compelling, moving and surprising.

Martyn Waites for Love from London Noir (Serpent's Tail)
The voice of a skinhead tells powerfully and ironically of racial conflict and self-discovery.

The winner will be announced at the Off the Shelf Festival in Sheffield on October 18.

Best to all
Thalia

Comments

[Jon Jordan]

Thalia is one of the reasons I love the mystery community. I met her back in 1999, and the more I talked with her the more I was convinced she is a genius.

Thalia Rocks.

[Laura]

Thalia,

Wonderful news about the new job. Congratulations.

[Ayo Onatade]

Thalia,

Congratulations on being guest blogger. I have been reading Sarah's blog on a daily basis since I have been on leave. It has been a blast. Since I am in Canada at the moment I am depending on you to keep me in touch with what is going on in the UK.

[Mark Billingham]

Hey, Thal...

Lovely to see you here. You are a marvel. Looking forward to you telling me where to put my commas. God, I need help...

See you soon. Come on you Bees!

Mark

[Karen M]

Brilliant news on the new job, sounds wonderful. Karen

[Kevin Wignall]

Thalia, congrats on the move to Little, Brown. I hope you find Jon W a replacement before leaving - you can't seriously expect him to do it on his own.

Does this mean you'll build your own list or just work with David to begin with? I would have thought the real pleasure (and pressure) comes with your own stable of authors.

[Ali]

CONGRATULATIONSCONGRATULATIONSsHuTTeRiSLAnDCONGRATULATIONSCONGRATULATIONS!sHuTTeRiSLAnDCONGRATULATIONSCONGRATULATIONSsHuTTeRiSLAnDCONGRATULATIONSCONGRATULATIONSsHuTTeRiSLAnDCONGRATULATIONSCONGRATULATIONS!sHuTTeRiSLAnD

great seeing you here Thalia, you rock

Ali
www.shutterisland.com

[Patricia]

Thalia, how wonderful! Congrats you certainly deserve it...we both wish you every success

[Cara]

Fantastic, Thalia. Congratulations! Couldn't happen to a nicer, more deserving and knowledgeable lady than you.

[n.l. belardes]

So good to be recognized by your peers...

[Mary]

Congratulations on the great new job.

[Jan]

Congratulations on the new job -- and being named the B'Con GOH, which doesn't pay as well, but should be lots of fun.

Looking forward to your posts here.

[Thalia Proctor]

Thanks, everyone! What lovely comments from all (some of it hyperbole, Mr Jordan) - I'm honoured. Ali even brought back the Shutter Island thing. Kevin - it'll be quite a while before I reach the dizzy heights of having my own list; I'll be helping David bring in new blood whilst sorting out Mark's commas. Jon W is sure to manage fine but he was such an glorious boss that it'll be sad to part. Looking forward to seeing everyone at Bcon 2008 if not before (am tempted by Alaska...) T x

[Annie]

Happy to read this wonderful news, Thal .. Congrats!

[jonny]

jonny