The Good News Has Landed

It's official, I'm old! Grand, but old.

In this month’s newsletter, I said I had good news I couldn’t share just yet. Well, it’s here. It was announced today that I will be named a “Grand Master” by the Mystery Writers of America, alongside John Sandford of the hugely successful “Prey” series. We will be honored at the organization’s annual Edgar ceremony — the mystery world’s Oscars — on May 1 in New York City.

I kept this secret from pretty much everyone¹ except my family, of which there is very little, for more than two weeks. My daughter’s response was: “Do you get a plus-one and can I get a new dress?” So we’ve mainly talked about the dress. What kind of hemline? It goes without saying that it will be black. What I will wear is obviously much less important.

I’m pretty emotional about this, especially after reading my long-time friend Donna Andrews’s comment in the press release, screenshot here.

To be cited as a teacher and a role model — that means the world to me. Next week marks my 20th year at Eckerd’s Writers in Paradise, where I’ve taught the crime novel for 19 of those 20 years. (In 2022, I taught the personal essay via Zoom. Oh those pandemic times, which, ) I’ve been lucky to see so many of my students publish and thrive, and it’s really thrilling. As a teacher, I try to be a cheerleader-coach, helping students excavate the potential and opportunities in their work. (Wow, Lippman, mix metaphors much? Should you be teaching writing at all?)²

Anyway, I guess I’ll buy a new dress, too, although I’m flirting with the idea of a tuxedo-inspired outfit, as I have a BCBGMAZAZRIA jacket that I thrifted in New Orleans earlier this year. But obviously, that’s not important. What’s important is: What’s the 14-year-old going to wear?

1. OK, I told my trainer and Molli, technically my assistant, but she runs everything. And she had to provide my photo/bio to MWA, so she had to know!

2. I’m writing this on the fly minutes after some big news became public! Shut up, inner critic!