MEET THE MEN OF MYSTERY

TWO LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD FINALISTS IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Sorry, this event has been cancelled!

Sunday May 3, 4:00 PM

Borders Books and Music
2240 E. Sunrise Blvd.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304
(954) 566-6335

Monday May 4, 7:00 PM

Murder on the Beach Mystery Bookstore
273 Pineapple Grove Way
Delray Beach, FL 33444
(561) 279-7790

Neil Plakcy and Anthony Bidulka, two of the best practioners of the gay mystery genre, both finalists for the 2009 Lambda Literary Award for best gay men’s mystery, join forces to talk about their books, their handsome, sexy heroes, and the future of the gay mystery.

Anthony Bidulka’s five-book series about Saskatchewan private eye Russell Quant has garnered a Lambda Literary Award, renown among Canadian mysteries, and critical acclaim. SUNDOWNER UBUNTU takes Russell on a professional and personal journey from the Canadian prairies to the plains of Africa, as he searches for a man missing for twenty years—and learns the meaning of ubuntu, a traditional African concept loosely translated as “we’re all in this life together.”

Neil Plakcy is a two-time finalist for the Lambda Literary Award, and his third mystery, MAHU FIRE, won the Hawaii Five-O Award for best police procedural, given by mystery fans at the 2009 Left Coast Crime conference. His mystery series follows the life of Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka, who is dragged out of the closet in the first book, MAHU, now back in print from Alyson Books.

Congratulations, Ron Block!

I'm a little late in offering up my congratulations to my old boss, Ron Block. He moved on from being the Circulation Manager at the Southwest County Regional Library in Palm Beach County, to being the Circulation Services Coordinator for the Jacksonville Public Library. He was nominated for Paraprofessional of the Year and received an Honorable Mention. He is fabulous so I wasn't the least bit surprised. (pictured here with Adriana Trigiani, who was guest speaker at Much Ado About Books in Jacksonville and one of my favorite authors!)

Here's what LJ posted:

Other Paraprofessionals of Note
"In addition to Adams, LJ saluted two other notable entrants nominated for the award...LJ also noted Ron Block, circulation services coordinator, Jacksonville Public Library (JPL), FL, who chairs JPL’s Circulation Review Unit of librarians and support staff. JPL’s user-friendly policy helps make it easier for the homeless living in shelters to get library cards. He is one of 16 trainers who teach in the library’s Destination Leadership program.

The Paraprofessional of the Year Award is sponsored by Brodart Library Supplies & Furnishings, McElhattan, PA, which underwrites the $1500 cash prize and a reception to honor the winner at the American Library Association annual conference in July. The award recognizes the essential role of paraprofessionals in providing excellent library service."

Well deserved, Ron!