Carmen Amato Receives Poison Cup Award from CrimeMasters of America

Carmen Amato Receives Poison Cup Award from CrimeMasters of America

August 1, 2019

Mystery author Carmen Amato received the 2019 Poison Cup Award for Outstanding Series from CrimeMasters of America for the Detective Emilia Cruz police series set in Acapulco. As the first female police detective in Acapulco, Emilia Cruz confronts Mexico’s official corruption, cartel crime, and culture of machismo. Titles include CLIFF DIVER, HAT DANCE, DIABLO NIGHTS, KING PESO, PACIFIC REAPER, and 43 MISSING.

2019 Poison Cup Award

CrimeMasters of America places its focus on crime fiction across genres with a mission to help, promote, share, educate, and grow our crime writing careers through common support.
Board of Governors: Owen Parr, Mike Faricy, Mike Pettit
Annual awards:
  • Poison Cup Award (Annual); Best Book and/or Series, Audio. Best support in editing, cover design, audio talent, graphic design.
  • Masters Poison Cup (Annual) Most group support from a member. Most active member through sharing, mentoring, educating.
  • Yorick Skull Award (Annual) Best First Book ( must be written and published/self-published the prior year of the award. Example written & published in 2018, Award 2019).
Criminal Element Publishes Joint Discussion of Women in Narco Noir Lit

Criminal Element Publishes Joint Discussion of Women in Narco Noir Lit

July 31, 2019

In “The Women of Narco Noir,” thriller authors Carmen and Amato discuss the four female character types prevalent in narco noir genre literature for Criminal Element, one of the leading websites devoted to crime fiction. The article is available here: https://www.criminalelement.com/the-women-of-narco-noir/

“There are four prominent female character archetypes in narco noir. Each type appears in every narco noir book, while some, like Don Winslow’s The Cartel, pack them in all at once.

“In no particular order, there’s the female narca, the cop, the civilian caught in the crossfire, and the woman who becomes the chess piece or victim who is used to create allegiances or satisfy an itch. Like the women on whom so many of these characters are based, all of the character archetypes are shaped by the war on drugs. It controls what they do, where they go, who they love, and how long they live.

“The women of narco noir don’t live behind white picket fences, have BFFs, or join book clubs. Dinner doesn’t materialize nightly at seven. Narco noir women tend to be loners with no husband or significant other to come home to because the drug war has claimed their emotional lives. They’re as tough and as hardboiled as the tales they inhabit.

“In an ironic twist of female solidarity, however, these women are bound together by one simple element.

“The need to survive”

The new article follows their February 2019 joint essay laying out the roots and dangerous direction of the narco noir genre in “The Ascent of Narco Noir: A Literary Game Changer,” which can be read here: https://www.criminalelement.com/ascent-narco-noir/

Members of the dynamic Mexico Writers group on Facebook, Carmen Amato and Jeanine Kitchel first collaborated on the travel essay collection The Insider’s Guide to the Best of Mexico. They write crime fiction, however, from opposite ends of the cops-and-cartel spectrum.

Carmen Amato used the counterdrug expertise gained during a 30 year career with the CIA to create the Detective Emilia Cruz series set in Acapulco. Pitting the iconic Mexican city’s first female police detective against cartels, corruption and machismo, the series recently won the 2019 Poison Cup award for Outstanding Series from CrimeMasters of America. Carmen is a recipient of both the National Intelligence Award and the Career Intelligence Medal. Visit her website at http://carmenamato.net to get a free copy of the Detective Emilia Cruz Starter Library.

Jeanine Kitchel’s love of Mexico led her to a fishing village on the Mexican Caribbean coast where she bought land, built a house, and opened a bookstore. A former journalist, she wrote travel articles for newspapers and Mexico websites before branching into fiction.

In Wheels Up—A Novel of Drugs, Cartels and Survival, Latina protagonist Layla Navarro rises to the top of Mexico’s most powerful cartel after her drug lord uncle is recaptured. Challenged by enemies from without and within, she’s determined to retain her dominant position in Mexico’s criminal world—if she can stay alive. Book two in the trilogy, Layla’s Law, is in the works. Check JeanineKitchel.com for details.

Carmen Amato Inducted into Rome NY Arts Hall of Fame

Carmen Amato Inducted into Rome NY Arts Hall of Fame

April 28, 2019

Mystery author Carmen Amato has been inducted into the Arts Hall of Fame in her hometown of Rome, New York, at a ceremony honoring 7 new inductees at the historic Capital Theater.

According to the Rome Daily Sentinel, “The Class of 2019 is the fourteenth group to be enshrined in the Rome Arts Hall of Fame which was created in 2005 to honor individuals who have a strong connection to the Rome community and have a significant involvement in the performing, visual or literary arts.” Read the full statement here: https://romesentinel.com/stories/seven-area-artists-to-be-inducted-into-rome-arts-hall-of-fame,73845

Hall of Fame class of 2019

Hall of Fame ceremony 2019

Amato is recognized for contributions to literature, notably the Detective Emilia Cruz mystery series which pits the first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico’s official corruption, cartel crime and tradition of machismo. A plaque of Amato’s accomplishments joins those of previous Hall of Fame Inductees on permanent display at the Capital Theater in Rome, NY.

Hall of Fame 2019

As part of the Hall of Fame induction, Amato has been honored with certificates of recognition from Member of Congress Anthony Brindisi, representing New York’s 22nd District, State Senator Joseph A. Griffo, representing the 47th State Senate District, and Marianne Buttenschom, Member of the New York State Assembly.

Criminal Element Publishes Joint Discussion of Women in Narco Noir Lit

Criminal Element Features Joint Examination of Narco Noir Genre

February 27, 2019

Criminal Element, one of the leading sites devoted to crime fiction, published “The Ascent of Narco Noir: A Literary Game Changer,” co-written by thriller writers Carmen Amato and Jeanine Kitchel. Find it here: https://www.criminalelement.com/ascent-narco-noir/

The article dives into the narco noir genre of crime fiction inspired by drug cartel activities in Mexico and Central America. Including Amato and Kitchel, authors writing in the narco noir genre include Don Winslow, Sam Hawkins, Guillermo Paxton, and others. The genre has its roots in non-fiction, creating a body of work and blurred lines that crosses from the page to the screen and back again.

“Narco noir fiction is a by-product of the drug war that has irrevocably altered the political and societal landscape in Mexico, Colombia, and Central America. With a few exceptions, narco noir authors walked the walk themselves as federal agents, cops, or journalists at the front lines of the drug war.

“The result is a compelling mix of fiction, reporting, and exposé, as well as memorable characters on both sides of the law, painted in shades of gray. And blood red.”

About the Authors:

Members of the dynamic Mexico Writers group on Facebook, Carmen Amato and Jeanine Kitchel first collaborated on the travel essay collection The Insider’s Guide to the Best of Mexico. They write crime fiction, however, from opposite ends of the cops-and-cartel spectrum.

Following a 30 year career with the Central Intelligence Agency, Carmen Amato created the Detective Emilia Cruz mystery series, which pits the first female police detective in Acapulco against Mexico’s cartels, corruption, and culture of machismo. The series was recently awarded the Poisoned Cup for Outstanding Series by the CrimeMasters of America. 43 Missing, the latest book in the series, was a 2018 Silver Falchion Award finalist for Best Procedural. Visit Carmen’s website at CarmenAmato.net to get a free copy of the Detective Emilia Cruz Starter Library.

Jeanine Kitchel’s love of Mexico led her to a fishing village on the Mexican Caribbean coast where she bought land, built a house, and opened a bookstore. A former journalist, she wrote travel articles for newspapers and Mexico websites before branching into fiction.

In Wheels Up—A Novel of Drugs, Cartels and Survival, Latina protagonist Layla Navarro rises to the top of Mexico’s most powerful cartel after her drug lord uncle is recaptured. Challenged by enemies from without and within, she’s determined to retain her dominant position in Mexico’s criminal world—if she can stay alive. Book two in the trilogy, Layla’s Law, is in the works. Check JeanineKitchel.com for details.

 

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