MWA Announces 2014 Grand Masters and Raven Award Recipient

The Mystery Writers of America have announced the 2014 Grand Masters and the winner of the 2014 Raven Award.

Robert Crais and Carolyn Hart have been chosen as the 2014 Grand Masters for their achievement in mystery writing and to acknowledge their important contributions to this genre, as well as for a body of work that is both significant and of consistent high quality. Mr. Crais and Ms. Hart will be presented with their awards at the Edgar Awards Banquet, which will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City on Thursday, May 1,
2014.

"I am happy, proud, and more than a little humbled to be chosen for this high honor by Mystery Writers of America," said Crais. "The list of Grand Masters is a list of my literary heroes. I may never accept that my name is now on this list, but I will be forever grateful for the kindness and generosity of MWA for placing me among these esteemed writers."

"To be named Grand Master by Mystery Writers of America is the greatest honor I could receive as a mystery writer," added Hart. "My thanks to the Board for this wonderful, surprising, thrilling moment.

The 2014 Raven Award will be awarded to an independent mystery bookstore. Established in 1953, the award recognizes outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing. Aunt Agatha's of Ann Arbor, Michigan will receive the 2014 Raven Award.

Owners Robin and Jamie Agnew said, "We are absolutely thrilled and astonished to be the recipient of the Raven Award! We feel we have been privileged for twenty-one years to share our passion for mysteries with readers and to put forward the work of writers we love. We are really grateful to the Mystery Writers of America for this wonderful honor."