tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post1767073822944808323..comments2023-11-03T06:20:06.604-05:00Comments on Lesa's Book Critiques: Donna Andrews, Mystery Writers of America and WomenLesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-55259489837831429072015-04-13T15:14:55.697-05:002015-04-13T15:14:55.697-05:00It's not an easy task, Carole. I agree with yo...It's not an easy task, Carole. I agree with you, kudos to the board members who tackled this.Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-39993591584342079432015-04-13T14:08:20.786-05:002015-04-13T14:08:20.786-05:00Excellent news, Donna!
Kudos to board members li...Excellent news, Donna! <br /><br />Kudos to board members like you for coming to grips with these issues. <br /><br />CaroleCarole Nelson Douglasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-87822212837461596352015-04-09T19:46:25.776-05:002015-04-09T19:46:25.776-05:00I'm glad it was helpful, Radine.I'm glad it was helpful, Radine.Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-41410587204376465572015-04-09T16:33:24.956-05:002015-04-09T16:33:24.956-05:00Gosh--didn't mean to be anonymous...thing went...Gosh--didn't mean to be anonymous...thing went "bye-bye" before I finished.<br />Radine Trees NehringRadine Trees Nehringhttp://radinesbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-59974408354284837402015-04-09T16:31:09.554-05:002015-04-09T16:31:09.554-05:00Though I have been a MWA member for a number of ye...Though I have been a MWA member for a number of years, I learned a lot here. Thanks to both of you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-86926875753636047652015-04-09T11:09:16.560-05:002015-04-09T11:09:16.560-05:00Carole, Thanks for your question. And, Donna, most...Carole, Thanks for your question. And, Donna, most of all, thank you for answering!Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-39594429141473239502015-04-09T10:39:03.474-05:002015-04-09T10:39:03.474-05:00Carole and Judy:
At its December 2014 meeting, M...Carole and Judy: <br /><br />At its December 2014 meeting, MWA's board adopted the following<br />resolution:<br /><br /><i>The Board of Mystery Writers of America recognizes that self-published authors are capable of achieving the same level of professionalism as traditionally published authors, and wishes to offer its protection, advocacy, and educational opportunities to professional authors who elect to pursue self-publishing in a manner that reflects the goals and missions of Mystery Writers of America. <br /><br />a. The current Board charges the incoming MWA Board of Directors to investigate and establish the qualifications for professional self-published authors to become active members of Mystery Writers of America, with the understanding that those qualifications should be sufficiently stringent to ensure an equivalent level of experience and professionalism as that required of active, traditionally-published members.<br /><br />b. The Board wishes to evaluate its current requirements for active status membership, which reflect Mystery Writers of America’s long-standing dedication to the promotion of professionalism in mystery writing and the protection of its membership as a whole, to ensure that these requirements recognize that unity among professional mystery writers on both the traditional and self-publishing paths is in the best interests of MWA, the mystery genre, and professional mystery writers.</i> <br /><br />Last year's board passed this change after eleven months of research, discussion, debate, two subcommittees and the recent survey sent to the MWA membership.<br /><br />Now this year's board is working on the criteria for implementing it. So stand by!Donna andrewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-66591232941467386392015-04-09T10:10:18.572-05:002015-04-09T10:10:18.572-05:00Good question, Judy. And what about the many autho...Good question, Judy. And what about the many authors who have long lists of traditionally published books and have chosen to indie publish because of exploitive clauses in current contracts. Surely an organization dedicated to writers earning a good living and having careers would look at these authors' criteria differently from that of indie-only published authors with no track record? Is there an accommodation for "hybrid" authors in place? True, there is an influx of new, indie-published authors, I understand, but the criteria could be adjusted for the times. And an indie author has just won the top Rita award of the Romance Writers of America, I notice. The times have changed.Carole Nelson Douglawshttp://www.carolenelsondouglas.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-42860380409796738092015-04-09T08:11:12.663-05:002015-04-09T08:11:12.663-05:00Judy, I hope Donna answers you, because I have no ...Judy, I hope Donna answers you, because I have no idea. Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-15012034297962335402015-04-08T21:09:53.452-05:002015-04-08T21:09:53.452-05:00A question about membership: if I read this correc...A question about membership: if I read this correctly, readers are invited to join. If so, why then are authors with small presses or indie authors not eligible in this day of dramatic changes in publishing? Is it a question of maintaining standards? If so, does the criteria needs a new look?judyalterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13767466505891813090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-42487527472592903812015-04-08T10:38:34.043-05:002015-04-08T10:38:34.043-05:00Oh, my gosh, Donna. I read a lot, but I only do be...Oh, my gosh, Donna. I read a lot, but I only do between 150-180 books a year, not what might be needed to be on the award committee. Granted, I know they don't always read an entire book, but enough of them to know if they meet the qualifications. Even so...Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-21151942597135919222015-04-08T10:27:37.762-05:002015-04-08T10:27:37.762-05:00If you want to keep track of what books--and how m...If you want to keep track of what books--and how many books--the various Edgar committees are reading, check out our Edgars website: http://www.theedgars.com/<br /><br />There's a link near the bottom of the home page to the list of current submissions. We're only three months into the year, and already the best novel category has over 80 books listed!Donna Andrewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-32327584207262188882015-04-08T10:05:00.752-05:002015-04-08T10:05:00.752-05:00It's good to see that shift, isn't it, Kay...It's good to see that shift, isn't it, Kay? I'm with you. I wasn't interested very often in the award-winning books, although I always followed the awards. I can't imagine giving a year of my life to the awards, though!Lesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12946133849271512083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9995206.post-29742170859546581792015-04-08T07:54:05.583-05:002015-04-08T07:54:05.583-05:00Thanks for providing this, Lesa and thanks to Donn...Thanks for providing this, Lesa and thanks to Donna for answering the questions. Love her books, by the way. I was very interested in the process of selecting the nominated lists for the awards. I don't think I knew how much time it takes those committee members. Wow. <br /><br />And, honestly, I think I can see somewhat of a shift in this award to more diverse selections. I always felt that the Edgar nominated books were not ones that would be interesting to me. The last couple of years has proved me wrong. Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13495669354860191042noreply@blogger.com