Neds Up

Wow, I’m away from Rap Sheet headquarters for just a couple of days and in the interim news breaks out all over the place. Hurricane Gustav threatens to devastate beautiful New Orleans, forcing Republicans to scale back their quadrennial national convention. Democrats and Republicans alike denounce John McCain for picking a running mate who lacks the experience necessary to serve as vice president. Actress Jennifer Aniston announces that she will return (albeit briefly) to network television. And, most important to readers of this blog, the Crime Writers Association of Australia (CWA) announced the winners of its annual Ned Kelly Awards during the Melbourne Writers Festival.

Best Crime Fiction
Shatter, by Michael Robotham

Best First Crime Novel
The Low Road, by Chris Womersley

Best Non-fiction
Red Centre, Dark Heart, by Evan McHugh

In addition, novelist Marele Day (The Disappearances of Madalena Grimaldi, Mrs. Cook: The Real and Imagined Life of the Captain’s Wife) received the CWA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

The original longlist of 2008 Ned Kelly nominees can be found here. The shortlist, released in early August, is available here.