Beth Groundwater is an American author who has written three novels. Her first novel, A Real Basket Case, was nominated for the Best First Novel Agatha Award in 2007.[1] She writes primarily in the Mystery genre, but has a published science fiction novella.
Writing career
Groundwater first began writing fiction in the fifth grade, and in high school took an independent study in English.[2] She went to the College of William and Mary and earned a degree in Psychology and Computer Science in 1978.[2] She received a Master of Science degree in software engineering from Virginia Tech in 1983.[3] She worked as a software engineer until 1999, then decided to become a writer.[2]
After attending multiple writers' conventions, she began writing short stories.[2] Seven were published before she met a literary agent who agreed to publish her first novel, A Real Basket Case. It was published in 2007,[4] and was nominated for the Best First Novel Agatha Award in 2007.[1][5] Of her short stories, nine have been published including one translated into Persian.[5] Another of Groundwater's short stories has been adapted into a live theater performance.[5] Her most recent short story, "Fatal Fish Flop," was published in Fish Tales, a 2011 mystery anthology.[6]
Awards and recognition
Groundwater's short stories have won several contests. Her short story "New Zealand" won first place in the 2003 PPW Paul Gillette Memorial Writing Contest, and was the winner of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Short Story Anthology Contest.[7] "Flamingo Fatality" won the Great Manhattan Mystery Conclave Short Story Anthology Contest in 2005, and her 2005 short story "Lucky Bear" placed first in the Storyteller Magazine Flash Fiction Contest.[7]
Groundwater's first two novels have been award candidates. A Real Basket Case was nominated for the Best First Novel Agatha Award in 2007.[1][5] To Hell in a Handbasket was a finalist in the Colorado Romance Writers' 2010 award category, Mainstream with Romantic Elements.[8]
Novels and novellas
Claire Hanover, Gift Basket Designer, mystery series
- A Real Basket Case (2007)
- To Hell in a Handbasket: A Claire Hanover, Gift Basket Designer, Mystery (2009)
Rocky Mountain Outdoor Adventures mystery series
- Deadly Currents (2011)
- Wicked Eddies (2012) [9]
Other works
- The Epsilon Eridani Alternative (2009)
References
- 1 2 3 "Beth Groundwater on tour for book 'A Real Basket Case (Five Star Mystery) (Five Star Mystery Series)'". Zvents. October 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2008.
- 1 2 3 4 "About Beth". Beth Groundwater. May 5, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2008.
- ↑ "Book Notes". Virginia Tech Magazine. 32 (1): 47. Fall 2009. ISSN 0274-9904. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
- ↑ "A Real Basket Case". Goodreads Inc. 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2008.
- 1 2 3 4 "beth groundwater". ColoradoSprings.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2008.
- ↑ "Fish Tales Page". Sisters in Crime—Guppies. Archived from the original on November 26, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
- 1 2 "Resume". Beth Groundwater. July 12, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2008.
- ↑ "2010 Award of Excellence Finalists & Winners". Colorado Romance Writers. Archived from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ↑ Fisher, Brett (March 20, 2011). "An Interview with Beth Groundwater, Author of Deadly Currents". River Ranger. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
The second book in the series, Wicked Eddies, will be released May 2012.