There are some mornings you can’t plan for, that come as a delicious surprise. We had just such a morning on Thursday, June 29. Imagine our astonishment and delight to discover that Design for Dying (with a bonus mention of Dangerous to Know) topped Nancy Pearl’s summer reading list on NPR’s Morning Edition. Nancy was kind enough to have us as guests on her show Book Lust earlier this year, but we had no idea she’d be highlighting the books on her signature NPR segment.

The resulting frenzy is only now dying down. Over the weekend, print copies of both books sold out at Amazon and Barnes & Noble online. (Fear not, additional supplies are en route and orders are still being taken.) Here’s Nancy’s segment with her full slate of recommendations, along with a transcript of her comments on the books. She also did an extended riff on her list for the NPR station in her former hometown of Tulsa, during which she calls Design “the first book in what’s going to be a terrific series” and “just a delight, a lovely mystery.”

In related news, we’ve learned how to blush over the internet.

The very next day we were honored to learn that Design for Dying has been nominated for the Macavity Award for Best First Novel! We thank the members of Mystery Readers International for including us in the company of Fiona Barton (The Widow), Flynn Berry (Under the Harrow), Bill Beverly (Dodgers) and Joe Ide (IQ). The awards will be presented at the opening ceremonies of Bouchercon in Toronto on October 12. Here’s the full list of nominees.

While we have you here, a few words on some appearances this month. We’ll be reading at the next Noir at the Bar Seattle, which is also doubling as a release party for Cast the First Stone, the latest Ellie Stone mystery from our friend, Edgar Award nominee James W. Ziskin. The reading is at the Fireside Room in Seattle’s landmark Hotel Sorrento, Thursday, July 13 at 7 PM.

On Sunday, July 30 at 2 PM, we’ll be at the Barnes & Noble in Seattle’s Northgate Mall as part of the Get Pop-Cultured! festival. We’ll be talking about Edith Head, the Golden Age of Hollywood, the real historical figures who turn up in the books, and anything else we’re asked about. Vince is foregoing a rare New York Mets game in Seattle to be there, so come out and support him in his time of need!