Mystery Writers of America (MWA) is an organization of mystery and crime writers, based in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
.
The organization was founded in 1945 by
Clayton Rawson,
Anthony Boucher
William Anthony Parker White (August 21, 1911 – April 29, 1968), better known by his pen name Anthony Boucher (), was an American author, critic, and editor who wrote several classic mystery novels, short stories, science fiction, and radio d ...
,
Lawrence Treat, and
Brett Halliday.
It presents the
Edgar Award, a small bust of
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wid ...
, to mystery or crime writers every year. It presents the Raven Award to non-writers, who contribute to the mystery genre. The category of Best Juvenile Mystery is also part of the Edgar Award, with such notable recipients as
Barbara Brooks Wallace having won the honor twice, for ''The Twin in the Tavern'' in 1994 and ''Sparrows in the Scullery'' in 1998, and Tony Abbott for his novel ''The Postcard,'' which received critical accolades in 2009.
Grand Master Award
The Grand Master Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Mystery Writers of America. It recognizes lifetime achievement and consistent quality. (The award was presented irregularly up to 1978; from 1979 to 2008, it was given to one writer each year. Since 2009, as many as three authors have been honored annually.)
In 2018, the Mystery Writers of America announced that it would honor best-selling author and former prosecutor
Linda Fairstein
Linda Fairstein (born May 5, 1947) is an American author, attorney, and former New York City prosecutor focusing on crimes of violence against women and children. She was the head of the sex crimes unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's offi ...
with one of its Grand Master Awards for literary achievement. But two days after controversy erupted in connection with her alleged role in the
Central Park jogger case, the organization withdrew the honor.
Raven Award
The Raven Awards are recorded in the Edgars Database of the Mystery Writers of America.
See also
*
The Top 100 Mystery Novels of All Time, selected by active MWA members in 1995
*
Crime Writers' Association
*
Crime Writers of Canada
*
Mystery Writers of Japan
*
Swedish Crime Writers' Academy
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Mystery and detective fiction awards
American writers' organizations
1945 establishments in the United States
Arts organizations established in 1945
Arts organizations based in New York City