Kelli Stanley
Encyclopedia
Kelli Stanley is an American author of mystery
-thrillers. Her first novel, Nox Dormienda (A Long Night for Sleeping) (released in July, 2008) was the first of a series set in Roman Britain in the 1st century CE (The Arcturus Series).Nox Dormienda takes its title from a line by the Roman poet Catullus
in the poem known as Catullus 5
(Vivamus, mea Lesbia ...). The Curse-Maker, the second novel in the Arcturus series, was sold to Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's Minotaur
and was published February 1, 2011.
Stanley's second novel (and the first in a second series) was published by Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's Minotaur
in February 2010. The novel marked Stanley's move from a small press to a major publisher. The title is City of Dragons, and the setting is 1940 San Francisco.City of Dragons tackles issues relating to the Second Sino-Japanese War
, and is set mainly in Chinatown. Stanley has said that she wanted to create a femme fatale as a hero, playing tribute to noir
conventions while at the same time challenging them. Miranda Corbie is the name of her private investigator protagonist, a former Spanish Civil War
nurse and ex-escort.
The novel received early praise from notable writers, including Lee Child
, Linda Fairstein
, Robert B. Parker
, George Pelecanos
and Otto Penzler
, and was published to high critical acclaim: three starred reviews from Publishers Weekly
, Booklist
, and Library Journal
, an RT Book Review Top Pick, an Indie Next Pick from the American Booksellers Association
, and a Killer Book from the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
Crime fiction critic Tom Nolan of the San Francisco Chronicle
wrote in a review dated March 28, 2010, that "Stanley, winner (for a previous book set in ancient Rome) of the Bruce Alexander Award
for best historical mystery, knows how to bring the past to life: not only with a wealth of references to old buildings and politics and popular culture, but with thoughts and attitudes, dialogue and gestures, that seem both true to another time and as spontaneous as right this minute. City of Dragons, with its brittle patter and its broken heart of gold, is a joy to read.”. Oline Cogdill of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel praised on February 21, 2010: "Kelli Stanley's riveting new series about 1940s San Francisco private investigator Miranda Corbie revels in the character's uniqueness without resorting to cliches ... The gritty, hard-boiled City of Dragons works as an insightful look at racism and sexism. Stanley never misses a beat as she also shows San Francisco's hidden corners, seething emotions in the days before WWII. ... City of Dragons is a wonderful start to what should be a long-running series."
The hardcover edition of City of Dragons reached #2 on the bestseller list for the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. The novel is currently available in hardcover, paperback, large-print, audio and e-editions. City of Dragons won the Macavity Award (Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery Award) for 2010,, a major mystery award given out by Mystery Readers International
. City of Dragons was also selected as a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the mystery/thriller category, was nominated for the Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award
, the RT Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice award in the historical mystery category, and was a finalist for the Shamus Award
for Best First PI Novel by the Private Eye Writers of America.
"Children's Day", a short story prequel to City of Dragons featuring Miranda Corbie, Stanley's private detective protagonist, was published in the International Thriller Writers
anthology First Thrills: High-Octane Stories from the Hottest Thriller Authors.The collection, which was edited by Lee Child
, was released on June 22, 2010, by Tor/Forge.
The sequel to City of Dragons (City of Secrets) was published on September 13th, 2011.
"Memory Book", another Miranda Corbie short story prequel to both City of Dragons and City of Secrets, was published September 6th, 2011, on Macmillan's The Criminal Element website. It is also for sale as an e-book.
Stanley also participated in the first charity e-book anthology, spearheaded by author Timothy Hallinan
. The project, which resulted in the bestselling e-book Shaken: Stories for Japan, contributes all money--including the share normally retained by Amazon
--to the Japan America Society of Southern California, to be used to help the country recover from the devastating effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Stanley's contribution is set during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
, and is entitled "Coolie".
Stanley holds a Master's Degree in Classics from San Francisco State University
, is published in that field, and has lectured internationally at academic conferences. She lived and attended high school in northern Mendocino/southern Humboldt counties in northern California.
A member of the Mystery Writers of America
, International Thriller Writers
, Sisters in Crime
, International Association of Crime Writers, and Private Eye Writers of America, Stanley has labeled her first series as "Roman noir," a pun on the French literary term for “black novel,” calling it a combination of historical setting and hardboiled style. She credits Raymond Chandler
as her greatest writing influence.
City of Dragons was selected as a finalist for the Shamus Award
, for Best First Private Eye Novel.
City of Dragons was selected as one of the five finalists for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
City of Dragons was a finalist for the RT Book Reviews Readers Choice award for Best Historical Mystery of 2010.
City of Dragons was also a finalist for the Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award
for Best Historical Mystery of 2010, awarded at Left Coast Crime
in March, 2011.
Nox Dormienda won the Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award
for Best Historical Mystery of 2008, awarded at the mystery conference Left Coast Crime
in March, 2009.
Nox Dormienda was also nominated for a 2009 Macavity Award (the Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery Award). The Macavity is awarded annually by the members of Mystery Readers International
.
Nox Dormienda was a Writer's Digest Notable Debut (July/August, 2008), and Stanley was awarded a Certificate of Honor from the City and County of San Francisco for her creation of the "Roman noir"..
Stanley's short story "Convivium", a prequel to Nox Dormienda, was published in the webzine Hardluck Stories in 2007, and was nominated for a Spinetinger Award that same year.
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
-thrillers. Her first novel, Nox Dormienda (A Long Night for Sleeping) (released in July, 2008) was the first of a series set in Roman Britain in the 1st century CE (The Arcturus Series).Nox Dormienda takes its title from a line by the Roman poet Catullus
Catullus
Gaius Valerius Catullus was a Latin poet of the Republican period. His surviving works are still read widely, and continue to influence poetry and other forms of art.-Biography:...
in the poem known as Catullus 5
Catullus 5
Catullus 5 is a passionate and perhaps the most famous poem by Catullus. The poem encourages lovers to scorn the snide comments of others, and to live only for each other, since life is too brief and death brings on a night of perpetual sleep...
(Vivamus, mea Lesbia ...). The Curse-Maker, the second novel in the Arcturus series, was sold to Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's Minotaur
St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City. Currently, St. Martin's Press is one of the United States' largest publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under eight imprints, which include St. Martin's Press , St...
and was published February 1, 2011.
Stanley's second novel (and the first in a second series) was published by Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's Minotaur
St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City. Currently, St. Martin's Press is one of the United States' largest publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under eight imprints, which include St. Martin's Press , St...
in February 2010. The novel marked Stanley's move from a small press to a major publisher. The title is City of Dragons, and the setting is 1940 San Francisco.City of Dragons tackles issues relating to the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, and is set mainly in Chinatown. Stanley has said that she wanted to create a femme fatale as a hero, playing tribute to noir
Noir
Noir is the French word for black. It may refer to:- People :* Noir , Danish Dj & Producer. Owner of Noir Music...
conventions while at the same time challenging them. Miranda Corbie is the name of her private investigator protagonist, a former Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
nurse and ex-escort.
The novel received early praise from notable writers, including Lee Child
Lee Child
Jim Grant , better known by his pen name Lee Child, is a British thriller writer. His wife Jane is a New Yorker, and they currently live in New York state. His first novel, Killing Floor, won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel....
, Linda Fairstein
Linda Fairstein
Linda Fairstein is an American feminist author and former prosecutor focusing on crimes of violence against women and children. She served as head of the sex crimes unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's office from 1976 until 2002 and is the author of a series of novels featuring Manhattan...
, Robert B. Parker
Robert B. Parker
Robert Brown Parker was an American crime writer. His most famous works were the novels about the private detective Spenser. ABC television network developed the television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character in the late 1980s; a series of TV movies based on the character were also...
, George Pelecanos
George Pelecanos
George P. Pelecanos is a Greek-American author. Many of his works are in the genre of detective fiction and set primarily in his hometown of Washington, D.C. He is also a film and television producer and a television writer...
and Otto Penzler
Otto Penzler
Otto Penzler is an editor of mystery fiction in the United States, and proprietor of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, where he lives.-Biography:...
, and was published to high critical acclaim: three starred reviews from Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
, Booklist
Booklist
Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
, and Library Journal
Library Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
, an RT Book Review Top Pick, an Indie Next Pick from the American Booksellers Association
American Booksellers Association
The American Booksellers Association is a non-profit industryassociation founded in 1900 that promotes independent bookstores in the United States and Canada. The ABA and its members support freedom of speech, literacy, and programs that encourage reading...
, and a Killer Book from the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
Crime fiction critic Tom Nolan of the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
wrote in a review dated March 28, 2010, that "Stanley, winner (for a previous book set in ancient Rome) of the Bruce Alexander Award
Left Coast Crime
Left Coast Crime is an annual conference organised by mystery fiction fans for mystery fiction fans, first held in San Francisco in 1991. It is concerned with western North American region mysteries, but the conference itself travels worldwide, having been held in Canada and the United Kingdom, as...
for best historical mystery, knows how to bring the past to life: not only with a wealth of references to old buildings and politics and popular culture, but with thoughts and attitudes, dialogue and gestures, that seem both true to another time and as spontaneous as right this minute. City of Dragons, with its brittle patter and its broken heart of gold, is a joy to read.”. Oline Cogdill of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel praised on February 21, 2010: "Kelli Stanley's riveting new series about 1940s San Francisco private investigator Miranda Corbie revels in the character's uniqueness without resorting to cliches ... The gritty, hard-boiled City of Dragons works as an insightful look at racism and sexism. Stanley never misses a beat as she also shows San Francisco's hidden corners, seething emotions in the days before WWII. ... City of Dragons is a wonderful start to what should be a long-running series."
The hardcover edition of City of Dragons reached #2 on the bestseller list for the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. The novel is currently available in hardcover, paperback, large-print, audio and e-editions. City of Dragons won the Macavity Award (Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery Award) for 2010,, a major mystery award given out by Mystery Readers International
Mystery Readers International
Mystery Readers International is a fan/reader organization open to all readers, fans, critics, editors, publishers, and writers of Mystery fiction. It was founded by Janet A...
. City of Dragons was also selected as a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the mystery/thriller category, was nominated for the Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award
Left Coast Crime
Left Coast Crime is an annual conference organised by mystery fiction fans for mystery fiction fans, first held in San Francisco in 1991. It is concerned with western North American region mysteries, but the conference itself travels worldwide, having been held in Canada and the United Kingdom, as...
, the RT Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice award in the historical mystery category, and was a finalist for the Shamus Award
Shamus Award
The Shamus Award is awarded by the Private Eye Writers of America for the best detective fiction genre novels and short stories of the year....
for Best First PI Novel by the Private Eye Writers of America.
"Children's Day", a short story prequel to City of Dragons featuring Miranda Corbie, Stanley's private detective protagonist, was published in the International Thriller Writers
International Thriller Writers
International Thriller Writers, Inc., was founded October 9, 2004, at a meeting at Bouchercon World Mystery and Suspense Conference in Toronto, Canada. Six months later, some 150 authors with more than one billion books sold worldwide had joined the organization as founding members.Co-founders...
anthology First Thrills: High-Octane Stories from the Hottest Thriller Authors.The collection, which was edited by Lee Child
Lee Child
Jim Grant , better known by his pen name Lee Child, is a British thriller writer. His wife Jane is a New Yorker, and they currently live in New York state. His first novel, Killing Floor, won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel....
, was released on June 22, 2010, by Tor/Forge.
The sequel to City of Dragons (City of Secrets) was published on September 13th, 2011.
"Memory Book", another Miranda Corbie short story prequel to both City of Dragons and City of Secrets, was published September 6th, 2011, on Macmillan's The Criminal Element website. It is also for sale as an e-book.
Stanley also participated in the first charity e-book anthology, spearheaded by author Timothy Hallinan
Timothy Hallinan
Timothy Hallinan is an American thriller writer, based in Southern California and Southeast Asia. In the 1990s, Hallinan created the erudite private eye Simeon Grist, who appeared in a total of six novels, all set in Los Angeles...
. The project, which resulted in the bestselling e-book Shaken: Stories for Japan, contributes all money--including the share normally retained by Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
--to the Japan America Society of Southern California, to be used to help the country recover from the devastating effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Stanley's contribution is set during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
, and is entitled "Coolie".
Stanley holds a Master's Degree in Classics from San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
, is published in that field, and has lectured internationally at academic conferences. She lived and attended high school in northern Mendocino/southern Humboldt counties in northern California.
A member of the Mystery Writers of America
Mystery Writers of America
Mystery Writers of America is an organization for mystery writers, based in New York.The organization was founded in 1945 by Clayton Rawson, Anthony Boucher, Lawrence Treat, and Brett Halliday....
, International Thriller Writers
International Thriller Writers
International Thriller Writers, Inc., was founded October 9, 2004, at a meeting at Bouchercon World Mystery and Suspense Conference in Toronto, Canada. Six months later, some 150 authors with more than one billion books sold worldwide had joined the organization as founding members.Co-founders...
, Sisters in Crime
Sisters in Crime
Sisters in Crime is an organization that has 3,600 members in 48 chapters world-wide, offering networking, advice and support to mystery authors. Members are authors, readers, publishers, agents, booksellers and librarians bound by their affection for the mystery genre and their support of women...
, International Association of Crime Writers, and Private Eye Writers of America, Stanley has labeled her first series as "Roman noir," a pun on the French literary term for “black novel,” calling it a combination of historical setting and hardboiled style. She credits Raymond Chandler
Raymond Chandler
Raymond Thornton Chandler was an American novelist and screenwriter.In 1932, at age forty-five, Raymond Chandler decided to become a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive during the Depression. His first short story, "Blackmailers Don't Shoot", was published in...
as her greatest writing influence.
Awards and honors
City of Dragons won the Macavity Award (Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery Award) for best historical mystery of 2010.City of Dragons was selected as a finalist for the Shamus Award
Shamus Award
The Shamus Award is awarded by the Private Eye Writers of America for the best detective fiction genre novels and short stories of the year....
, for Best First Private Eye Novel.
City of Dragons was selected as one of the five finalists for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
City of Dragons was a finalist for the RT Book Reviews Readers Choice award for Best Historical Mystery of 2010.
City of Dragons was also a finalist for the Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award
Left Coast Crime
Left Coast Crime is an annual conference organised by mystery fiction fans for mystery fiction fans, first held in San Francisco in 1991. It is concerned with western North American region mysteries, but the conference itself travels worldwide, having been held in Canada and the United Kingdom, as...
for Best Historical Mystery of 2010, awarded at Left Coast Crime
Left Coast Crime
Left Coast Crime is an annual conference organised by mystery fiction fans for mystery fiction fans, first held in San Francisco in 1991. It is concerned with western North American region mysteries, but the conference itself travels worldwide, having been held in Canada and the United Kingdom, as...
in March, 2011.
Nox Dormienda won the Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award
Left Coast Crime
Left Coast Crime is an annual conference organised by mystery fiction fans for mystery fiction fans, first held in San Francisco in 1991. It is concerned with western North American region mysteries, but the conference itself travels worldwide, having been held in Canada and the United Kingdom, as...
for Best Historical Mystery of 2008, awarded at the mystery conference Left Coast Crime
Left Coast Crime
Left Coast Crime is an annual conference organised by mystery fiction fans for mystery fiction fans, first held in San Francisco in 1991. It is concerned with western North American region mysteries, but the conference itself travels worldwide, having been held in Canada and the United Kingdom, as...
in March, 2009.
Nox Dormienda was also nominated for a 2009 Macavity Award (the Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery Award). The Macavity is awarded annually by the members of Mystery Readers International
Mystery Readers International
Mystery Readers International is a fan/reader organization open to all readers, fans, critics, editors, publishers, and writers of Mystery fiction. It was founded by Janet A...
.
Nox Dormienda was a Writer's Digest Notable Debut (July/August, 2008), and Stanley was awarded a Certificate of Honor from the City and County of San Francisco for her creation of the "Roman noir"..
Stanley's short story "Convivium", a prequel to Nox Dormienda, was published in the webzine Hardluck Stories in 2007, and was nominated for a Spinetinger Award that same year.
See also
- Crime fictionCrime fictionCrime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
- Mystery (fiction)
- DetectiveDetectiveA detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
- NoirNoirNoir is the French word for black. It may refer to:- People :* Noir , Danish Dj & Producer. Owner of Noir Music...
- List of female detective/mystery writers
- List of female detective characters