Ned Kelly was Australia's most famous bushranger.  He led a gang whose greatest claim to fame was making their own primitive but effective armour to protect them from police bullets. The Australian crime writing prizes are named the Ned Kelly Awards.

As my dear agent mentions on her blog, this year I've been nominated for a Ned Kelly for best first novel.

Here's the complete list of nominations, which needless to say, I've begun reading:

Diamond Eyes by AA Bell
Undercover by Keith Bulfin
Prime Cut by Alan Carter
While I Have Perdo by John Chesterman
Who Killed Dave? by Linda Cockburn
The Pericles Commission by Gary Corby
Mosquito Creek by Robert Engwerds
Beyond Fear by Jaye Ford
Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James
The Old School by PM Newton
Five Parts Dead by Tim Pegler
Line of Sight by David Whish-Wilson

It's a good thing I wasn't nominated for the general prize, or I'd be facing the likes of Peter Corris. Kerry Greenwood, and Colleen McCullough.