Recognizing Diversity

The Lambda Literary Foundation today announced its finalists for the 26th annual Lambda Literary Awards (“Lammys”), honoring lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) books published in 2013. There are 24 categories of contenders for these prizes, including a brand-new one this year, Graphic Novel. However, the two that I suspect might be of greatest interest to Rap Sheet readers are these:

Gay Mystery:

• Baton Rouge Bingo, by Greg Herren (Bold Strokes Books)

• Boystown 5: Murder Book, by Marshall Thornton (MLR Press)

• Fierce, by David Lennon (Blue Spike)

• Foxed, by Garry Ryan (NeWest Press)

• The General and the Elephant Clock of Al-Jazari, by Sarah Black (Dreamspinner Press)

• How to Greet Strangers, by Joyce Thompson (Lethe Press)

• In Real Life, by Jonathan Gregory (Amazon Digital)

• Pawn of Satan, by Mark Zubro (MLR Press)

• Pretty Boy Dead, by Jon Michaelsen (Wilde City Press)

• The Prisoner of the Riviera, by Janice Law (Mysterious Press/
Open Road)

Lesbian Mystery:

• Cross and Burn, by Val McDermid (Atlantic Monthly Press)

• Death of the Demon, by Anne Holt (Scribner)

• High Desert, by Katherine V. Forrest (Spinsters Ink)

• The Killer Wore Leather, by Laura Antoniou (Cleis Press)

• Point of Betrayal, by Ann Roberts (Bella)

• The Rainey Season, by R.E. Bradshaw (R.E. Bradshaw)

• She Overheard Murder, by Jean Sheldon (Wellworth)

• Taken by the Wind, by Ellen Hart (Minotaur)

• Turning on the Tide, by Jenna Rae (Bella)

• Web of Obsessions, by Diane Wood (Bella)

• The Wild Beasts of Wuhan, by Ian Hamilton (Picador)

According to a press release, “Winners will be announced during a ceremony on Monday evening, June 2, 2014, at The Great Hall at Cooper Union (7 East 7th Street, New York City 10003).” For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Congratulations to all of the finalists.