I love the mystery community so much, so it was a wonderful surprise to hear that Crime Writers of Color, a group I was involved in founding with Kellye Garrett and Walter Mosley five years ago, is being given the Raven Award from Mystery Writers of America!
The Raven Award is such an honor. It recognizes outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing. CWoC has grown into so much more than we ever imagined, and I'm so happy that I’ve been able to give back to the mystery community that’s given so much to me.
The idea of Crime Writers of Color to bring folks together started with three people (me, Kellye, and Walter) chatting and inviting about 30 people we knew, and now CWoC has over 350 members who generously share their experiences and support each other in this genre where we haven't always been well represented.
When I first created Jaya Jones, she was a character based on my own multicultural family in a type of story I loved reading but had rarely seen characters who looked like me. When I first met Kellye, I was so excited to learn about her debut novel (and I could tell how awesome she was). And in the years since, it's been so wonderful to see so many more diverse mystery novels published. I love the mystery community and am thrilled to see Mystery Writers of America and the community as a whole embracing all the stories diverse readers and writers want to read and write.
Here’s the statement we gave when we heard the news:
“When we first started talking about the idea that became Crime Writers of Color, we never imagined the small informal group would become such a big and thriving community in just a few years. Our goal was always to create a safe and supportive space for fellow writers of color to network and thrive. So, to know that the group is making a positive impact in the mystery community as a whole is so gratifying, and to be recognized by MWA in our fifth year is such an honor! We thank you on behalf of all our 350-plus members who are in all stages of their career."
— Kellye Garrett, Walter Mosley, and Gigi Pandian
I'll be heading to the Edgar Awards in New York City in April, to celebrate receiving the Raven. With my second Secret Staircase Mystery, THE RAVEN THIEF, coming out in March, 2023 is shaping up to be a very raven-themed year for me!