If you've never heard of the Mystery Writers of America, you are not alone. But I have a feeling that we are missing out on something. Last week on May 2, The Mystery Writers of America presented its 67th annual Edgar Awards honoring the best mystery and crime related novels, short stories television episodes and more. The Grand Masters of the event were New York Times Bestselling author Ken Follett and mystery writer Margaret Maron. Both Follett and Maron have previously received Edgar Awards themselves.
This year's winners include :
Live by Night by Dennis Lehane for BEST NOVEL
Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French for BEST FACT CRIME
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein for BEST YOUNG ADULT
"A Scandal in Belgravia" -Sherlock Teleplay by Steven Moffat (BBC/Masterpiece) for BEST TELEVISION EPISODE TELEPLAY
For a full list please see :http://www.mysterywriters.org/files/u6/2013_Edgar_Winners_-_Press_Release.pdf
Even more interesting I found though was not just that this guild of mystery writers gives out awards to the best of its ranks, because most professional associations do just that. No, what I found most interesting was that the Mystery Writers of America also is highly involved in an issue near and dear to my own heart providing books to children who need them. It is involved with Reader to Reader a national literacy group that provides books to libraries and schools in impoverished areas. It also provides resources to teachers seeking to help engage their students in reading. So lets hear it for professional responsibility! I can only hope that their efforts will help raise awareness within the United States that literacy is an important issue for our nation's success and that access to books is not a given for all people.
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