The Mystery Writers of America are planning their annual awards affair, which among other will honor Joe Meyers, the omnivorous Hearst entertainment writer. Here are some details from the MWA.
“The 2012 Ellery Queen Award will be given to Joe Meyers of the Connecticut Post/Hearst Media News Group. The Ellery Queen award is given to editors or publishers who have distinguished
themselves by their generous and wide-ranging support of the genre,
Joe Meyers writes about mystery/thriller books, reviews them, and blogs about them for the Connecticut Post. He consistently reviews not only bestselling mystery authors, but lesser know authors as well. His reviews are thoughtful and perceptive, and his criticism is constructive. He is a scholar of mystery and crime fiction, attending conferences and moderating panels. Joe was one of the first reviewers on Twitter to write about mystery/thriller books and authors.
When told of the award he said, “To say I was bowled over by the news of this award is an
understatement. I feel so lucky to work for a news organization that supports me in reviewing crime fiction and doing profiles of so many of the figures in the mystery field. I know I am part of an endangered species, so I try to relish every day I spend on the job. I am deeply honored that an organization I respect so much would single me out for giving mystery writers and their work the attention they deserve.”
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Previous Ellery Queen winners include Kate Stine and Brian Skupin, co-publishers of Mystery Scene
Magazine, Carolyn Marino, Vice President/Executive Editor, Harper Collins, and Ed Gorman.
The Edgar Awards, or “Edgars,” as they are commonly known, are named after MWA’s patron saint Edgar Allan Poe and are presented to authors of distinguished work in various categories. MWA is the premier organization for mystery writers, professionals allied to the crime-writing field, aspiring crime writers, and those who are devoted to the genre. The organization encompasses more than 3,000 members including authors of fiction and non-fiction books, screen and television writers, as well as publishers, editors, and literary agents. For more information on Mystery Writers of America, please visit the website: www.mysterywriters.org”