Beth Groundwater is an American

author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...

who has written three novels. Her first novel, '' A Real Basket Case'', was nominated for the Best First Novel Agatha Award in 2007. She writes primarily in the

Mystery Mystery, The Mystery, Mysteries or The Mysteries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters *Mystery, a cat character in ''Emily the Strange'' Films * ''Mystery'' (2012 film), a 2012 Chinese drama film * ''Mystery'' ( ...

genre Genre () is any form or type of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially-agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other for ...

, but has a published

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

novella.

Writing career

Groundwater first began writing fiction in the fifth grade, and in high school took an independent study in English. She went to the

College of William and Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III a ...

and earned a degree in

Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...

and

Computer Science Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to Applied science, practical discipli ...

in 1978. She received a

Master of Science A Master of Science ( la, Magisterii Scientiae; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree in the field of science awarded by universities in many countries or a person holding such a degree. In contrast to ...

degree in

software engineering Software engineering is a systematic engineering approach to software development. A software engineer is a person who applies the principles of software engineering to design, develop, maintain, test, and evaluate computer software. The term '' ...

from

Virginia Tech Virginia Tech (formally the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and informally VT, or VPI) is a Public university, public Land-grant college, land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It also ...

in 1983. She worked as a software engineer until 1999, then decided to become a writer. After attending multiple writers' conventions, she began writing short stories. 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, and was nominated for the Best First Novel Agatha Award in 2007. Of her short stories, nine have been published including one translated into

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

. Another of Groundwater's short stories has been adapted into a live theater performance. Her most recent short story, "Fatal Fish Flop," was published in ''Fish Tales,'' a 2011 mystery anthology.

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. "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. Groundwater's first two novels have been award candidates. '' A Real Basket Case'' was nominated for the Best First Novel Agatha Award in 2007. ''

To Hell in a Handbasket "Going to hell in a handbasket", "going to hell in a handcart", "going to hell in a handbag", "go to hell in a bucket", "sending something to hell in a handbasket" and "something being like hell in a handbasket" are variations on an allegorical loc ...

'' was a finalist in the Colorado Romance Writers' 2010 award category, Mainstream with Romantic Elements.

Novels and novellas

Claire Hanover, Gift Basket Designer, mystery series

*'' A Real Basket Case'' (2007) *''

: A Claire Hanover, Gift Basket Designer, Mystery'' (2009)

Rocky Mountain Outdoor Adventures mystery series

*''Deadly Currents'' (2011) *''Wicked Eddies'' (2012)

Other works

*''The Epsilon Eridani Alternative'' (2009)

References

External links

Beth Groundwater's blog
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Groundwater, Beth 21st-century American novelists American mystery writers American women novelists Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Women mystery writers 21st-century American women writers College of William & Mary alumni