There’s more reason to celebrate during Bouchercon Oct. 15 to 18 in Indianapolis.

And if you haven’t signed up for this mystery conference, what is your excuse? I am even giving you the link!

The Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) has announced the nominees for the 28th annual Shamus Awards, given annually to recognize outstanding achievement in private eye fiction. The 2009 awards cover works first published in the U.S. in 2008.

The awards will be presented at the PWA banquet, to be held Friday evening Oct. 16, 2009, in Indianapolis, Indiana, during the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention.

Here are the nominees. Congratulations to each and best of luck to each.

This is a terrific list…everyone is a winner already.

Best Hardcover
Salvation Boulevard by Larry Beinhart (Nation Books)
Empty Ever After by Reed Farrel Coleman (Bleak House Books)
The Blue Door by David Fulmer (Harcourt)

The Price of Blood by Declan Hughes (Wm. Morrow)
The Ancient Rain by Domenic Stansberry (St. Martins Minotaur)

Best First PI Novel
Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer (Doubleday)
Swann’s Last Song by Charles Salzberg (Five Star)
The Eye of Jade by Diane Wei Liang (Simon & Schuster)
In the Heat by Ian Vasquez (St. Martins Minotaur)
Veil of Lies by Jeri Westerson (St Martins Minotaur)

Best Paperback Original
Snow Blind by Lori Armstrong (Medallion)
Shot Girl by Karen Olson (Obsidian)
The Stolen by Jason Pinter (MIRA)
The Black Hand by Will Thomas (Touchstone/Simon &Schuster)
The Evil That Men Do by Dave White (Crown/Three Rivers Press)

Best Short Story
“Family Values” by Mitch Alderman (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, June 2008)
“Last Island South” by John C. Boland. (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Sep/Oct 2008)
“The Blonde Tigress” by Max Allan Collins (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, June 2008)
“Discovery” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Nov 2008)
“Panic on Portage Path” by Dick Stodghill (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Jan/Feb 2008)