Kava's book picked for reading program

There's probably not much of a mystery for Alex Kava fans as to why one her novels was chosen for One Book One Nebraska.

The Silver Creek native's book, “One False Move,” was selected to follow last year's statewide read of “My Antonia” by Willa Cather. Several book discussion events are being planned by libraries throughout Nebraska.

“We're organizing a tour for One Book One Nebraska that I think will be in the fall - possibly late September or early October - and the Columbus library will definitely be on the list,” Kava said in an e-mail interview.

“One False Move” is about a con woman who lets her brother bully her and her son into trying to rob a fictional Nebraska bank.

Shots are fired, and the two males come out of the bank empty-handed. They refuse to tell the woman what happened, but the reader knows brutal killings have taken place. The three fugitives later come upon an author in his isolated cabin and take him hostage.

Kava, who now lives in Omaha, interviewed a crime lab technician and a newspaper reporter who had worked on the Norfolk bank slayings case, and they were able to take her through the investigative process step by step.

Sprinkled with other behind-the-scenes information from law enforcement officials, forensics experts, criminal behaviorists and attorneys, “One False Move” earned a spot on the New York Times extended bestseller list, as has her latest novel.

“Currently I'm on book tour promoting ‘A Necessary Evil.' It was just released and is the true sequel to my debut novel, ‘A Perfect Evil.' After only one full week I just found out today that it has hit No. 30 on the New York Times bestseller list,” Kava said.

She said it's somewhat ironic the accomplishments that mean the most.

“It probably should be that my books have hit the New York Times bestseller list or that they're published in 20 countries or that we've surpassed the 2 million mark in copies sold,” she said. But the accomplishments she's most proud of are that her books have reached No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5 in Poland - both her parents were children of Polish immigrants - and she has a sandwich named after her.

“When I wrote ‘At the Stroke of Madness' and set it in Connecticut I mentioned a local place, Vinny's Deli. When Vinny discovered it, he added the Alex Kava Mystery sandwich to his menu. How many people can say they have a sandwich named after them? Very cool,” Kava said.

She said she is honored and humbled to have “One False Move” chosen as the novel for the 2006 One Book One Nebraska.

Kava is the daughter of Ed and Patricia Kava of Silver Creek and a 1978 graduate of Silver Creek High School.

More information about Kava and her books can be found at www.alexkava.com.