I'm heading to the Killer Nashville mystery writer's conference, where 43 MISSING, the 6^th Detective Emilia Cruz novel, is a finalist for the Silver Falchion award for Best Procedural. The award has multiple categories and many of the finalists are very well known authors so I'm amazed to be in such august company.

You can see all the finalists for all Silver Falchion categories here: https://killernashville.com/awards/silver-falchion-award/

BTW, 43 MISSING is based on a true crime in rural Mexico, which nearly 4 years later is still unsolved. Does the word "Ayotzinapa" ring a bell?

Related: The true story behind 43 MISSING

43 MISSING is also in contention for the conference’s Reader’s Choice award for Best Procedural, as is PACIFIC REAPER, Detective Emilia Cruz #5. I've been asking friends on Facebook to vote for PACIFIC REAPER. https://killernashville.com/awards/killer-nashville-readers-choice-award/

I'm armed with new business cards, too!  This is the first time I've gone to a writer's conference in my (so-far) 6-year-old writing career and I'm probably a bit too excited. No matter the outcome, I’m amazed and honored to have had both books recognized this way.

Maybe I'm on the right track after all . . .