Mary Higgins Clark Award

Mystery author Mary Higgins Clark was honored with the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award at the 55th annual Edgar Awards banquet. At the same time, a new award, sponsored by publisher Simon and Schuster to recognize their 25-year partnership with the Queen of Suspense was unveiled. The Mary Higgins Clark Award, consisting of a Tiffany crystal book etched with the winner's name, the book's title, the award date, and the Mary Higgins Clark Award logo along with a $1,000 check from the publishing company, is to be given annually for the next ten years to the book that best exemplifies the Ms. Clark's tradition. Novels cannot be specifically submitted for this award; instead the award committee will select the winner from those books submitted to the Edgar Awards Committee for Best Novel, Best First Novel and Best Paperback Novel. Ms. Clark will present the prize herself at the annual Agents and Editors Party held by the MWA each spring.

The Mary Higgins Clark Tradition, as explained by the author herself, is defined as:

• A very nice young woman, 27-38 or so, whose life is suddenly invaded. She is not looking for trouble -- she is doing exactly what she should be doing and something cuts across her bow (as in ship)
• She solves her problem by her own courage and intelligence.
• She's in an interesting job.
• She's self-made -- independent -- has primarily good family relationships.
• No on-scene violence.
• No four-letter words or explicit sex scenes.
• Think Rhett Butler, "You'll not shut me out of your bedroom tonight, my dear."

And the winners are:

• 2001 - Authorized Personnel Only, Barbara D'Amato (Forge)
• 2002 - Summer of Storms, Judith Kelman (Putnam)

It is truly a measure of how far Ms. Clark has come since she started writing in the 1950s and 1960s to have an award named for her and the style of mystery novel she writes within her lifetime.

Sources:
Deadly Pleasures. "The Mary Higgins Clark Award." deadlypleasures.com. >http://www.deadlypleasures.com/MHigginsClarkAward.htm< (January 8, 2003). Mystery Writers of America. "Edgar Search." The Mystery Writers of America Web Site. <http://64.57.86.186/edgarsDB/edgarDB.php> (January 8, 2003)
-----. "Mary Higgins Clark Award Guidelines." The Mystery Writers of America Web Site. <http://www.mysterywriters.org/awards/MHC_award_guidelines.html> (January 8, 2003)
-----. "Eligibility rules for Edgar^SM 2002 Awards." The Mystery Writers of America Web Site. <http://www.mysterywriters.org/awards/edgar_entry_rules.htm> (January 8, 2003)