Artifacts

AND THE CRUMPETS GO TO…Local writers Joyce Krieg and Elain Flinn are among seven finalists for the prestigious Agatha Award in the category of “best first novel.” The Agathas (named after famous mystery writer Agatha Christie, of course) are given out by the mystery fan organization Malice Domestic, and seek to recognize “traditional mysteries” in the style of the Great One herself: no gratuitous sex or violence; the action takes place in one confined setting; and the main character is an amateur sleuth. It’s quite an honor, and Krieg, for one, is understandably excited. The awards will be handed out at a ceremony May 1 in Washington, DC, she says, with the prizes consisting of “a ceramic teapot and lots of bragging rights.” Krieg’s entry, Murder Off Mike, was published last April by St. Martin’s Minotaur Press, where it won the publishing house’s “best first traditional mystery” contest; Flinn’s Dealing in Murder was published by Avon.

WRITE YOUR OWN…There’s nothing stopping you from trying for next year’s Agatha with your own first novel, which you might dust off and bring to the first annual Big Sur Fiction Writer’s Workshop, March 12-14. The weekend writing event is sponsored by the Henry Miller Library and is held at the Big Sur Lodge; admission is by manuscript evaluation only, and the lucky participants will spend two days working with agents, editors and published authors to whip those babies into submission shape. Visit www.henrymiller.org for details.

MUSIC FOR ALL…Chamber Music Monterey Bay has been bringing some fine concerts to our shores lately, including the Osiris Piano Trio, which will perform March 5 at Sunset Center. But they’re doing even more to keep music alive. As part of CMMB’s local outreach program, the Osiris Trio will present a shorter version of their concert the next morning to elderly residents at Hillcrest Manor, the assisted living facility of Carmel Valley Manor. And the St. Lawrence Quartet, CMMB’s last concert of the season, will give two interactive educational programs at Monterey and Carmel high schools during the week before their April 16 Sunset Center show. “These two constituencies mean a lot to me: schoolchildren who are being deprived of music education due to budget cuts, and music-loving seniors who no longer have the mobility to attend concerts,” says CMMB’s C. Kevin Smith. Call 626-4066 for information on concerts and the outreach program.

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