Heading Home . . .

. . . no, I didn't get the Anthony.

C'est la vie.

But I did get to spend time with lots of wonderful writers and readers and most especially with Herself, my editor, a once a year treat.

No, we weren't all on stage for the awards so there was no way to do the jumping and squealing thing.

But Julie Hyzy, who won the Best PBO Anthony, was certainly the most enthusiastic in her acceptance speech.

The winner of the Best First Novel -- where you'd really expect to see some Sally Field moments -- was, unfortunately, deceased and his publisher and translator, who did the accepting, were suitably subdued.

And I didn't even take pictures of the event, having left my camera battery in the charger back in my room.

But, without further ado, here are the winners.

Best Novel
The Brass Verdict - Michael Connelly

Best First Novel
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson

Best Paperback Original
State of the Onion - Julie Hyzy

Best Short Story
"A Sleep Not Unlike Death"- Sean Chercover

Best Critical Nonfiction Work
Anthony Boucher: A Biobibliography -Jeffrey Marks

Best Children's / Young Adult Novel
The Crossroads - Chris Grabenstein

Best Cover Art
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo -Peter Mendelsund- Stieg Larsson

And no, I'm neither disappointed nor depressed, having not ever really thought it might be a possibility (except for about a nano-second before Julie's name was called.)

C'est, as I said before, la vie!

Now, onward and upward and back to the mountains!