The Mystery Writers of America have uploaded the video from the Edgar Awards ceremony in New York last month. Here is the clip from the presentation of the "Best First Novel Award." I didn't win, but I did get the loudest applause!
Hobbstown POW Camp
One of the smaller subplots in The Poacher's Son concerns a real-life escape from a real-life World War II prisoner of war camp in the Maine woods. Of all the elements in the book, it's probably the one I get asked about most.
The Hobbstown POW camp, on the north side of Spencer Lake, received German prisoners from the various North African campaigns and put the men to work cutting trees. There's nothing left of the buildings today, but schoolchildren from the nearby town of Jackman have placed a plaque marking the spot, which is roughly twelve miles down the Spencer Road (which is privately owned by Plum Creek Timber, so be respectful and give logging trucks the right of way) from Route 201 at Parlin Pond.
Here are a few photographs of the camp in its heyday sent to me by one reader of The Poacher's Son. I don't know who took them, but if someone does, drop me a note and I'll add a credit line.
A Chat with Booklist
Booklist has a special issue devoted to mysteries, and I'm proud to be part of it. My new novel, Trespasser, gets its long-awaited review (and much-appreciated star), and there's a short interview with me along with fellow Minotaur author Brad Parks. I discuss the usual subjects: sad birthdays, Maine's version of Siberia, and drug-dealing lobstermen.
Update on 2011-05-15 02:21 by Paul Doiron
The Booklist Interview also talks with my publisher, Andrew Martin. Under Andy's watch, Minotaur has become the preeminent publisher of crime fiction in the nation. I've had a great ride with them.
The Jo Nesbo Boomlet
Never let it be said that I am behind the curve. Booklist came to me last month for a reading recommendation, and I presciently picked the Great Norwegian Hope. Now everyone is picking Nesbo to become the next Larsson. See here and here.
Update on 2011-05-13 00:22 by Paul Doiron
As an aside, that New York Magazine feature I linked to makes the point that Scandinavia has an enviably low murder rate, making it unlikely hotbed of crime fiction. Norway, for instance, saw only 6.9 murders per 1,000,000 people for the years 2006 through 2008. Maine, by contrast, averaged 18.7 murders per 1,000,000 people per year for that same period, and we are one of the safest states in the nation.
My Office
Over at the day job, I gush about my enviable workspace. It makes going to the office in the morning a lot easier when you get to smell mowed grass instead of auto exhaust and are more likely to hear the keening of ospreys rather than the blaring of car horns.