Kelli Stanley (born 1964) 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).[1]Nox Dormienda takes its title from a line by the Roman poet Catullus in the poem known as Catullus 5 (Vivamus, mea Lesbia ...)[2]. 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.[3]
Stanley's second novel (and the first in a second series) was published by Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's Minotaur in February 2010.[4] The novel marked Stanley's move from a small press to a major publisher.[4] The title is City of Dragons, and the setting is 1940 San Francisco.[5]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.[6] Miranda Corbie is the name of her private investigator protagonist, a former Spanish Civil War nurse and ex-escort.[7]
The novel received early praise from notable writers, including Lee Child, Linda Fairstein, Robert B. Parker, George Pelecanos and Otto Penzler,[8] 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.[9]
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.”[10]. 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."[11]
The hardcover edition of City of Dragons reached #2 on the bestseller list for the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.[12] The novel is currently available in hardcover, paperback, large-print, audio and e-editions.[13] City of Dragons won the Macavity Award (Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery Award) for 2010,[14], a major mystery award given out by Mystery Readers International.[15] 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.[16][17][18]
"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[19].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.[20][21]
"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.[22]
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".[23]
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.[24] She lived and attended high school in northern Mendocino/southern Humboldt counties in northern California.[25]
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,"[26] a pun on the French literary term for “black novel,” calling it a combination of historical setting and hardboiled style.[27] She credits Raymond Chandler as her greatest writing influence.[28]
Contents |
City of Dragons won the Macavity Award (Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery Award) for best historical mystery of 2010.[29]
City of Dragons was selected as a finalist for the Shamus Award, for Best First Private Eye Novel.[30]
City of Dragons was selected as one of the five finalists for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.[31][32]
City of Dragons was a finalist for the RT Book Reviews Readers Choice award for Best Historical Mystery of 2010.[33]
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.[34]
Nox Dormienda won the Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award[35] 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.[36]
Nox Dormienda was a Writer's Digest Notable Debut (July/August, 2008)[37], and Stanley was awarded a Certificate of Honor from the City and County of San Francisco for her creation of the "Roman noir".[38].
Stanley's short story "Convivium", a prequel to Nox Dormienda, was published in the webzine Hardluck Stories[39] in 2007, and was nominated for a Spinetinger Award that same year.[40]
The Miranda Corbie Series
City of Dragons, Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's Minotaur, February 2010, Hardcover [41]
City of Dragons, Tantor Media, Narrated by Cynthia Holloway, April 2010, Audio Book [42]
"Children's Day" (included in First Thrills: High-Octane Stories from the Hottest Thriller Authors")[43]
City of Secrets, Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's Minotaur, September 13, 2011, Hardcover [44]
Memory Book, St. Martin's Minotaur, September 6, 2011, e-book [45]
The Roman Noir Series
Nox Dormienda (A Long Night for Sleeping), Five Star Mysteries (Gale Group), July, 2008, Hardcover [46]
The Curse-Maker, Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's Minotaur, February 2011, Hardcover [47]
"Convivium" (short story), republished in e-book anthology Left Hanging: 9 Tales of Suspense and Thrills [48]
Non-Series Work
"Coolie" (short story), published in e-book anthology Shaken: Stories for Japan [49]