Local author wins Agatha book award

She didn’t expect to win, in fact, she was thrilled just to be nominated.

But she did win.

On April 28, Fernadale author Leslie Budewitze recieved an Agatha Award for “Books, Crooks, and Counselors: How to Write Accurately About Criminal Law and Courtroom Procedure.”

“It felt wonderful, I was just stunned,” Budewitz said. “Not because I doubted my work, but because of the field (of competition).”

On April 28, she attended the Malice Domestic Convention’s Agatha Awards Banquet near Washington D.C. Roughly 500 authors, readers, librarians, booksellers, agents and publishers attended.

Her competition in the non-fiction category included the foremost expert on Agatha Christie, John Currran, former book editor for the Washington Post, Michael Dirda, and Charlaine Harris, whose works are the basis for the TV series “True Blood.”

“I was certain Charlaine would win,” Budewitz said. “I didn’t think I would win, so I wasn’t nervous, I was just excited. After a lot of years of writing without publication, it’s a nice affirmation.”

The Agatha Awards are named after the classic mystery author Agatha Christie, and are awarded to authors of novels in different categories that exemplify her style of mystery, that is, no explicit gore, sex, or violence.

While at the awards banquet Budewitz participated in panel discussions and answered questions from the public about her book. Some wanted to know what the most bizarre thing she had to do for her research and many wanted to know how long it took to write.

“Books, Crooks, and Counselors” took six months to write and covers 160 topics about the law and courtroom procedures. According to Budewitz it involved a lot of research because the law differs from one state to another.

She didn’t have anything too out of the ordinary, but having her favorite childhood book, “Calico Bush,” within sight while writing gives her method of research a more personal touch.

As a part-time lawyer and a writer, she was frequently asked for tips on writing about these topics so she set out to provide writers with a reference that is practical for them and would answer their questions about writing fiction that involves courtroom procedures and law.

She also participated in a charity auction to benefit the John L. Gildner Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents, a community program for children with emotional disabilities. Signed copies of books and other items were auctioned off to raise funds for the program’s literacy efforts. As a writer Budewitz said she felt that it’s important to promote literacy for all ages, particularly children.

“Winning this award means I hit the mark,” Budewitz said.

For her publishers, Budewitz said winning this award assures them that she will be successful in her future writing. She recently signed a three-book contract with Berkley Prime Crime for a cozy mystery series called “The Food Lovers Village Mysteries” set to debut in the summer of 2013.

“Personally, it’s a really neat affirmation and wind beneath my wings,” Budewitz said.