If there was one overriding theme at this year’s Bouchercon, it was community. And it seemed to just spring up and then spread.

From the Thursday night award ceremonies with the McCavity, the Barry, Crimespree, etc., to the Anthony Awards Saturday afternoon, the word community was invoked time and again.

Bouchercon does illustrate what a community is. In this case, it is fans, avid readers, librarians, publishers, agents and authors brought together because of one overriding interest — or rather love – of the mystery genre.

I felt this sense of community during the panels. The organizers’ decision to try several different things this year further sealed that sense of community. A crafts room, the hot ticket, the continuous conversations, the tea for librarians, the kids program, the evening at Gameswork and the off-site events added to the sense that everyone is welcomed at this party.

I felt this sense of community when I sat down with Kate and Brian at Mystery Scene table and when I minded the table for them when Kate and Brian took a break. That gave me the chance to chat, however briefly, with Chris and Lynn of Mystery News. The loss of Mystery News is sad and this publication will be missed. But I think it’s great that they will be joining the Mystery Scene family.

  I felt this sense of community during my often too-brief talks with authors in the halls, the elevators, the bar and during panels.

  I felt this sense of community especially on Sunday afternoon, well after Bouchercon was finished and the Hyatt was being overtaken by the agricultural students. There in the bar, a group of critics, magazine publishers and authors put aside our roles and just became fans talking about the genre, the behind the scenes events and more.

  As George Easter of Deadly Pleasures said of the magazine publishers and critics, we’re all friends. We only come together once a year and don’t really know that much about each other’s personal lives, but the genre draws us together.

  I couldn’t have said it better. Then we ordered another drink and made plans to make this Sunday afternoon gabfest a post-Bouchercon ritual.

  Next year in San Francisco? I plan to be there as well as in St. Louis during 2011.

  How about you?

Back from Bouchercon — a good conference with insightful panels and a chance to reconnect with old friends, check out the authors and relax.

Unfortunately, came back with a cold.  So I’m a bit late in posting the winners so apologies for being late.

Here are the slew of good winners; congratulations to all who won and who were nominated. Everyone was a winner. Next year, we’ll see you in San Francisco.

2009 Anthony Awards
Best Novel: The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
Best First Novel: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Best Paperback Original: State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy
Best Short Story: “A Sleep Not Unlike Death” by Sean Chercover
Special Service Award: Jon and Ruth Jordan (CrimeSpree Magazine)
Best Critical Non-Fiction: Anthony Boucher: A Biography by Jeffrey Marks
 Best Young Adult Novel: The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
 Best Cover Art: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The 2009 Shamus Awards are given annually by the Private Eye Writers of America: 
Best PI Hardcover: Empty Ever After by Reed Farrel Coleman 
Best First PI Novel: In the Heat by Ian Vasquez  
Best PI Paperback Original: Snow Blind by Lori Armstrong 
Best Short Story: “Family Values” by Mitch Alderman
Hammer Award for Character Longevity: Lawrence Block (Matthew Scudder)

Chris Grabenstein

The 2009 Barry Awards:

Best Novel: DRAINING LAKE by Arnaldur Indridason
Best First Novel: CHILD 44 by Tom Rob Smith
Best Thriller: THE DECEIVED by Brent Battles
Best British Novel: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Stieg Larsson
Best Paperback Original: STATE OF THE ONION by Julie Hyzy

2009 Macavity Awards, given out annually by Mystery Readers International:
Best Mystery Novel: Where Memories Lie by Deborah Crombie
Best First Mystery: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Best Mystery Short Story: “The Night Things Changed” by Dana Cameron
Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery: A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen

Elmore Leonard is a true master of the genre. We know this because in 1992 the Mystery Writers of America awarded him a Grand Master award.

But we also know this because Elmore Leonard’s massive body of work is highly entertaining. His dialogue is priceless, saying more in a couple of lines of dialogue than most authors do in several pages.

So it never comes as a surprise when Leonard gets another award.

The latest is that Elmore Leonard will receive PEN USA’s lifetime achievement award.

Leonard, 83, began his career writing westerns and has since written more than 40 novels, including his latest, Road Dogs.

His books Hombre, 52 Pickup, Out of Sight, Get Shorty and Be Cool and his short story 3:10 to Yuma have been adapted for film. His novel Rum Punch was filmed as the 1997 movie Jackie Brown.

He is also a screenwriter for movies such as Mr. Majestyk and Desperado.

PEN USA, a Los Angeles-based organization that works to advance writers’ freedom, will present Leonard the award Dec. 2 in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Do you have a favorite Leonard novel?

As the consumate dog lover, I can’t help but feel great affection for this book trailer for author David Rosenfelt introducing his new novel New Tricks.

The Edgar-award nominated Rosenfelt writes about a smart-mouthed attorney named Andy Carpenter who loves his dog more than the law. Of course….who doesn’t?

In New Tricks, Carpenter’s latest high-profile murder case, a Bernese mountain dog puppy named Waggy and his golden retriever, Tara, play instrumental roles.

The video is eye catching because it contains dogs….lots and lots and lots of dogs.

But it also is effective because it shows who Rosenfelt is as an author; what his books are about and his commitment to rescuing dogs and trying to place them in loving homes.

Judge the video for yourself…then read a book….and if your home needs a furry companion for life, you know what to do.

I must admit that I have become intrigued by the videos that authors have filmed to promote their books.

No, a good video won’t help sell a bad book….but the marriage of a good video trailer and a good book can at least get an author a second look.

Kind of early MTV for the literary set.

I don’t think the videos have to be expensive or involved but have to be interesting.

Not everyone can afford the dynamic videos that Michael Connelly has — of course not everyone is as good an author as Connelly is.

But a good video is more than just setting a book on a chair and doing a point and shoot.

Two videos recently caught my eye for very different reasons.

Today, here’s the one that Florida author Tom Lowe did for his novel A False Dawn, which is set in the Ocala National Forest.

In his video, Lowe choose a specific scene to shoot that he says “helped set up the “journey” that Sean O’Brien was about to take.”

He choose an Orlando actor named David Mackey, who had been recommended to him by a friend to portray his hero Sean O’Brien.

“I wanted to use actors rather than a voice-over narrator,” Lowe told me in an e-mail.

“We did shoot some extra footage, and I may change or add to the trailer. The trailer has received more than 2,000 views on my website. I plan to shoot a trailer for the next novel, THE 24th LETTER, which will be published March 16th.”

The trailer is a labor of love. Lowe wrote and co-produced the trailer. It’s been online, (St Martins website, YouTube, and his website) since the novel came out earlier this year.

Here, judge for yourself. (Come back Wednesday for a look at another video):