A year ago Phyllis Smallman was an unpublished author, virtually unheard of in the literary world.

Then she won the first ever Unhanged Arthur Ellis Award from the Crime Writers of Canada. Margarita Nights was published, people bought it...even wanted her autograph.

"It's been an exciting time," said Ms. Smallman. "It takes an amazing amount of time to find a publisher or an agent. That's why these contests are so important."

Ms. Smallman, who penned Margarita Nights four years ago, was also shortlisted by the Crime Writers of the U.K. and the Debut Dagger in the United States.

Her first novel tells the story of bartender Sherri Travis, who is separated from her husband Jimmy, a member of Jacaranda, Florida's social register. Jimmy and his boat explode, and the police come calling. A witness puts Sherri on the boat hours before it blew up. Add a quarter-million dollar life insurance policy and Sherri becomes the suspect du jour.

Ms. Smallman said her main character is loosely based on a true-life Florida hairdresser whose sideline was standup comedy. A plain-spoken, tell-it-like-you see-it kind of gal, Sherri's sarcasm and sense of humour bring readers smiles throughout the tale.

On her friend Cordelia, Sherri muses: "She was dressed in a crisp white blouse and navy skirt, probably on her way home from choir practice. She stood just inside the door, holding her pocketbook in front on her with both hands. She looked around, about as wary as a virgin at a Hells Angles reunion."

On her former mother-in-law: "The Wicked Witch of the South; her given name was Bernice but I had never been invited to call her that."

Easily relate

This snappy dialogue is used effectively throughout Margarita Nights to quickly and efficiently convey a scene and the main character's reaction. Readers can easily relate.

"Sherri is an ordinary person just trying to survive," said Ms. Smallman. "She's not a superhero, just an ordinary person trying to deal with what life throws at her."

Early in her working career, Ms. Smallman's love of books led to various library jobs. She eventually became a production potter who only dreamed of becoming a writer. In the meantime, she worked in her studio, sat on the board of Theatre Aquarius and raised her family.

For the past 10 years, Ms. Smallman and her husband have wintered in Florida -- a state she calls her inspiration.

"It's a giant bug light for every crazy and quirky person," said Ms. Smallman, who lived in Ancaster for 34 years before recently moving with husband Lee to Salt Springs Island, British Columbia.

Signed copies of Margarita Nights are available locally at Bryan Prince Bookseller, 1060 King St. W.

Ms. Smallman's next book, Sex in a Sidecar, features all the endearing characters in her debut novel. The luckless but loveable Sherri is trapped on an island with a murderer and crazy woman, and of course, there's a hurricane coming.