We always knew that Minnesota was the land of many mystery writers, but it's apparently the land of many award-winning mystery writers, as well. Case in point: the International Thriller Writers Awards. The winner for best hardcover novel of 2013 was Brian Freeman of Woodbury, for "Spilled Blood." Two years ago, the award went to Minnesota writer John Sandford for "Bad Blood." (The winner in between was Stephen King, for "11/12/63.")

Freeman is the author of seven mysteries. His eighth, "The Cold Nowhere," will be published next spring. There will be a celebration of his award at 7 p.m. Sept. 26 at Once Upon a Crime Bookstore, 604 W. 26th St., Mpls. The public is invited.

Also …

• William Kent Krueger's latest Cork O'Connor mystery, "Tamarack County," has been published by Atria Books. Local events: Book launch, 6:30 p.m., Aug. 19, Once Upon a Crime, Mpls.; 7 p.m. Aug. 21, The Bookcase of Wayzata; noon, Aug. 22, Turtle Town Books and Gifts, Nisswa; 9:30 a.m. Aug. 23, Lake Country Books, White Bear Lake; 7 p.m. Aug. 27, Excelsior Bay Books, Excelsior; 7 p.m. Sept. 4, Subtext Bookstore, St. Paul; 7 p.m. Sept. 11, Magers & Quinn, Mpls.; 7 p.m. Oct. 22, Plymouth Public Library; 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28, Maple Grove Public Library.

• Anne Ursu's latest middle-school novel, "The Real Boy," will be published in September by HarperCollins Childrens. It's the story of Oscar, who is the shop hand for a powerful magician. Ursu, the author of "Breadcrumbs" and other books, teaches in the MFA program at Hamline University in St. Paul. She will be at the annual celebration of Minnesota Children's Authors and Illustrators at the Anderson Center in Red Wing on Sept. 21.

• Emily Carter, whose reviews appear on these pages regularly, has an essay in the forthcoming anthology, "Goodbye to All That: Writers on Loving and Leaving New York," to be published in October by the Seal Press. Carter is the author of "Glory Goes and Gets Some," published by Coffee House Press, and was a longtime Minnesota resident.