For writers, winning an Edgar—named after perhaps the best known mystery writer ever, Edgar Allan Poe—is akin to winning an Oscar. While nabbing an Academy Award means sales at the box office, winning an Edgar means sales at the bookstore (or, these days, online). So every spring, the best mystery writers, members of the Mystery Writers of America, gather to honor their own. And every author, whether a longtimer or a newbie, hopes that his or her name will be announced when that envelope is opened.
So how did this year’s event stack up? The invitation read “Dress to Kill,” and many partygoers took that directive to heart. There were wonderful outfits, from ball gowns to cowboy hats. Mystery writers, perhaps because they are always looking for new material and love their fans, are approachable and fun to talk with. Tell someone like Mary Higgins Clark that you love her books and she will ask you which ones you liked and take your opinions to heart. There are few divas here.
Laura Lippman, a former Edgar winner and a gracious hostess, kept the evening moving. But too often the presenters weren’t identified well enough. Most of the winners were humble, seeming overwhelmed with the award and quick to credit others for their success.
Our least favorite winner? Dave Cullen who won in the Best Fact Crime category for Columbine. His acceptance speech was inappropriately effusive, calling Columbine a great story. Students died at Columbine. He might have used the opportunity to pay tribute to those who died, and perhaps say that he hoped his book would help others understand and avoid similar tragedies in their schools. Instead he droned on about how he and his brother used to stay up at night telling stories and was excited that he found a great storytelling opportunity in Columbine. Despite the award, we won’t be buying his book.
Past Edgar celebrations featured clips from past mystery films, asking audience members to identify the movies for prizes. And well-known mystery writers were more visible. We would have enjoyed a moment when celebrity authors were asked to stand and bask in our applause. Perhaps this would have caused an ego crisis so was not considered.
In any case, we are eager to read many of the nominated books and the winners. (Not Columbine, though). Of all the genres, mystery continues to grow. Mystery writers are supportive, recognizing that competition is a good thing. Coming together to honor the best of the best serves to inspire other writers, perhaps the next Michael Connelly or Sue Grafton. The more the merrier. There’s no mystery about that.
Photos by Carol Toscano
