Two More Crime Fiction Writers Honored

ELEANOR TAYLOR BLAND CRIME FICTION WRITERS OF COLOR AWARD

D. Ann Williams has won the 2021 Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award given by Sisters in Crime (SinC).

Queer Black American writer D. Ann Williams of Eugene Oregon [is] the winner of the 2021 Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award. 

Williams’ novel in progress titled Murder at the Freeman Hotel is set in 1920s California and features Minnie Freeman, a woman on a mission to move to a new city, open a hotel, and stay independently wealthy. Her plan is hindered by the dead body found at the bottom of the new automatic elevator shaft and a sigil linking it to other deaths in the city.

Eleanor Taylor Bland 2021 judges Tracy Clark, Yasmin McClinton, and David Heska Wanbli Weiden wrote Williams’ entry is “a compelling historical mystery with a wonderful, strong opening and deft use of craft elements. We all agree that we’ll be hearing much more from the writer in the very near future.”

The award was created in 2014 to honor the memory of pioneering African-American crime fiction author Eleanor Taylor Bland with a $2,000 grant to an emerging writer of color.

Williams, a writing coach for We Need Diverse Books, Black Creatives Revision Workshop, and an authenticity reader, credits her support systems—Wordmakers and Tessera Editorial—in helping her break from the jitters around submitting her unpublished work. “Being connected with so many authors, and many of them authors of color, has helped because there’s an inherent understanding of the complexities of our lived experiences and histories,” said Williams. “With writing groups, mentorships, and even awards, like this one from Sisters in Crime, I am surrounded by people rooting for me at each step and seeing my characters for the fully realized people they are.”

Runner-ups for the 2021 Crime Fiction Writers of Color Awards are Hiawatha Bray, Mariah Meade, Robin Page, Catherine Tucker, and Zoe B. Wallbrook. 

PRIX CHARBONNIER

The Prix Charbonnier isn’t a crime fiction award, but is given out by the Federation of Alliances Françaises USA to honor individuals who promote French culture and French language with their work. However, this year’s winner Martin Walker is a mystery author whose mysteries are set in Perigord, France.

Martin Walker was awarded Le Prix Charbonnier for his Bruno novels, set in the Perigord region of France. He follows in the footsteps of Truffaut, Pierre Cardin, Julia Child and other. Congratulations, Martin!

The Prix Charbonnier, the Federation of Alliances Françaises USA’s most prestigious award, was created in 1991 to recognize M. Daniel Charbonnier of San Francisco, a past President of the Federation, who exemplified all of the best qualities of this organization. The purpose of the Prix Charbonnier, to be given from time to time as appropriate at the Federation’s Annual Meeting and Convention, is to recognize persons of national stature and reputation whose vocation or avocation has promoted French language and culture in a manner consistent with the goals and purpose of the Federation. The recipient need not be a member of an Alliance Française. A committee established by the Board of Directors of the Federation nominates the candidate for the Prix Charbonnier. In its early years, from 1991-1995, the prize was called le Prix de la Fédération. Since 1995, it’s been called le Prix Charbonnier, in honor of Daniel Charbonnier.

[Thanks to Cora Buhlert for the story,]