New authors you might want to try:

Washed up by Susan Koefod

1222: a Hanne Wilhelmsen novel by Anne Holt; translated by Marlaine Delargy

Cold cruel winter: a Richard Nottingham mystery by Chris Nickson

All cry chaos: an Henri Poincaré mystery by Leonard Rosen

The 13th Annual Love is Murder Conference for Mystery writers and readers will be held in Chicago at the Intercontinental Chicago O'Hare Hotel Friday, February 3 through Sunday, February 5. The conference offers author chats, opportunities to meet with publishers and/or agents, and writer's workshops. Entertainment in the evening includes a performance by Those Were The Days Radio Players.

Artistic license by Julie A. Hyzy — Ms Hyzy is the conference's Guest of Honor.

The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association has announced the nominees for the 2012 Dilys Award. This award is given to the mystery titles booksellers most enjoyed selling throughout the year. The winning novel will be announced at the Left Coast Crime Convention in Sacremento on March 31. This year's nominees are:

Faithful Place: a novel by Tana French

Wicked autumn: a Max Tudor novel by G.M. Malliet

The Mermaids Singing by Val McDermid — Fans of Val McDermid's Dr. Tony Hill should be interested in her recent article Methods and Madness in Mystery Readers Journal Winter 2011-2012 issue. Apparently Tony Hill, Clinical Psychologist and profiler came to Ms. McDermid as a fully developed character with his own agenda.

2011 North American Hammett Prize nominees have been announced by the International Crime Writers Association — North American Branch. The organization will name the Hammett Prize winner, during the Bloody Words Conference, in Toronto, June 1-3, 2012. The winner will receive a bronze trophy, designed by sculptor Peter Boiger.

Feast day of fools: a novel by James Lee Burke

Claire DeWitt and the city of the dead [sound recording]: [a mystery] by Sara Gran

Breakdown by Sara Paretsky — A first time Skype Event at Nicola's Books. Sara Paretsky will join Nicola's Books patrons via an Internet video conference on Tuesday, January 31 at 7:00 PM. A screen and projector hooked to a laptop will bring Ms. Paretsky to you to discuss her new V.I. Warshawski.

The Orphan Master's Son: a novel by Adam Johnson — Author Adam Johnson will speak at Nicola's Books on Tuesday, January 24 at 7:00 PM in Ann Arbor.

The Mystery Writers of America have announced its nominees for the 2012 Edgar Awards for the best mystery writing in fiction, non-fiction, television, and production.

Murder in the 11th house: a Starlight Detective Agency mystery by Mitchell Scott Lewis

All cry chaos: an Henri Poincaré mystery by Leonard Rosen

Ghouls, ghouls, ghouls by Victoria Laurie

Blood ties by Jane A.

This popular children's series is moving from the series section to its new home in J Fiction. It will be found under the author's last name, Warner. We appreciate your patience and understanding while these items are temporarily unavailable in order to change the spine labels.

The Paris wife [Large print]: a novel by Paula McLain

Doc [Large print] by Mary Doria Russell

Treason at Lisson Grove [Large print]: a Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novel by Anne Perry

Books can be deceiving [Large print] by Jenn McKinlay

The language of flowers: a novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Winterdance: the fine madness of running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen

My name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira

1984: a novel by George Orwell ; with an afterword by Erich Fromm

The boy in the suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis; translated from the Danish by Lene Kaaberbol

Dreams of joy: a novel by Lisa See

Faith: a novel by Jennifer Haigh

The fatal touch: a Commissario Alec Blume novel by Conor Fitzgerald

Enjoy books like The 39 Clues? Looking for something else with adventure and mystery? Try some of these:

NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley

A world without heroes by Brandon Mull

The name of this book is secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

Vintner's Wine and Mysteries Book Discussion Group will meet every other month (i.e. even-numbered months) in 2012. The first meeting at Vintner's Canton Winery will be on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 from 7:00-8:00 PM.

Registration is required and will begin on January 21, 2012. The February reading selection will be available for pickup at the Canton Public Library's Help Desk on January 21.

ITV in partnership with Agatha Christie, LTD has announced they will film 5 new Hercule Poirot stories for release in 2012.

Dead man's folly by Agatha Christie

The big four [Large print]: a Hercule Poirot mystery by Agatha Christie

Elephants can remember [by] Agatha Christie by Christie, Agatha, 1890-1976

Murder at the Villa Byzantine by R.T.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith — Fans of Alexander McCall Smith, author of several series, including The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, 44 Scotland Street, and Isabel Dalhousie's novels will enjoy this recent interview by Connie Fletcher in BookList Online (12/01/2011).

Wine and Mysteries Book Discussion, which meets monthly at Vintners Winery, will not be meeting in the month of December. Have a festive, safe and fun Christmas holiday! A few recommended titles to help you enjoy this season are:

The Christmas cookie club: a novel by Ann Pearlman

Hot toddies: mulled wine, buttered rum, spiced cider, and other soul-warming winter drinks by Christopher O'Hara; photographs by William A. Nash

The End of the Wasp Season: a novel by Denise Mina — has received the Martin Beck Award for best translation. Romantic Times Book Reviewers Awards for Mystery, Suspense, and Crime were recently announced in Orlando, Florida.