Booksellers Honored With Raven Awards

Among the awards bestowed by Mystery Writers of America (MWA) at last week's Edgar Banquet in New York City were two recognizing independent bookstores as major supporters of fiction and nonfiction crime writers. Books & Books in Miami and Coral Gables, Florida, and Mystery Loves Company in Baltimore and Oxford, Maryland, were the recipients of 2007 Raven Awards, honoring outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing.

The MWA Board of Directors recognized Books & Books owner Mitchell Kaplan for his support of mystery writers, as well as for his direction and guidance in founding and chairing the Miami Book Fair International. Kaplan is the past-president of the American Booksellers Association.

Books & Books will be celebrating its silver anniversary in October, and Kaplan told BTW, "Winning this award made me reflect about the last 25 years. When we opened, there were not too many published mystery writers in South Florida. I only recall Charlie Willeford, who wrote Miami Blues. In many ways, he was the forerunner of so many of the community of mystery writers here in South Florida. Charlie's no longer alive, so I accepted the award in his honor."

Kathy and Tom Harig were honored with a Raven award for their role "in supporting the careers of hundreds of established and emerging crime writers, and in connecting mystery enthusiasts from the Maryland community with authors." The couple founded Mystery Loves Company in 1991 to spotlight local talent, and the bookstore welcomed readings by George Pelecanos, Laura Lippman, and many others early in their careers.

Kathy Harig said of winning the Raven, "We're extremely humbled and very grateful to [MWA]."

For more information about MWA and a complete list of the 2007 Edgar Awards, visit www.theedgars.com. --Karen Schechner