Beth Groundwater
Encyclopedia
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. She writes primarily in the Mystery
genre
, but has a published science fiction
novella.
and earned a degree in Psychology
and Computer Science
in 1978. She received a Master of Science
degree in software engineering
from Virginia Tech 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
. 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.
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
was a finalist in the Colorado Romance Writers' 2010 award category, Mainstream with Romantic Elements.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
who has written three novels. Her first novel, A Real Basket Case
A Real Basket Case
A Real Basket Case is a mystery novel that was written by Beth Groundwater. It was published by Five Star Publishing and released on March 21, 2007. It was later re-published in large print in January 2008. The novel follows the story of Claire Hanover who sets out to discover the identity of her...
, was nominated for the Best First Novel Agatha Award in 2007. She writes primarily in the Mystery
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...
genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
, but has a published science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
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 MaryCollege of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
and earned a degree in Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
in 1978. She received a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in software engineering
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
from Virginia Tech 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 language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
. 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 ConclaveGreat Manhattan Mystery Conclave
The Great Manhattan Mystery Conclave is an annual convention for mystery writers and fans held in Manhattan, Kansas. The Conclave is a Non-profit organization.-Panelists:...
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
A Real Basket Case
A Real Basket Case is a mystery novel that was written by Beth Groundwater. It was published by Five Star Publishing and released on March 21, 2007. It was later re-published in large print in January 2008. The novel follows the story of Claire Hanover who sets out to discover the identity of her...
was nominated for the Best First Novel Agatha Award in 2007. To Hell in a Handbasket
To hell in a handbasket
"Going to hell in a handbasket", "going to hell in a handcart", "going to hell in a handbag" and "sending something to hell in a handbasket" are variations on an American alliterative locution of unclear origin, which describes a situation headed for disaster without effort or in great haste.Its...
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 CaseA Real Basket CaseA Real Basket Case is a mystery novel that was written by Beth Groundwater. It was published by Five Star Publishing and released on March 21, 2007. It was later re-published in large print in January 2008. The novel follows the story of Claire Hanover who sets out to discover the identity of her...
(2007) - To Hell in a HandbasketTo hell in a handbasket"Going to hell in a handbasket", "going to hell in a handcart", "going to hell in a handbag" and "sending something to hell in a handbasket" are variations on an American alliterative locution of unclear origin, which describes a situation headed for disaster without effort or in great haste.Its...
: A Claire Hanover, Gift Basket Designer, Mystery (2009)
- A Real Basket Case
- Rocky Mountain Outdoor Adventures mystery series
- Deadly Currents (2011)
- Wicked Eddies (2012)
- The Epsilon Eridani Alternative (2009)