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:

And the winners are:

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 EdgarSM 2002 Awards." The Mystery Writers of America Web Site. <http://www.mysterywriters.org/awards/edgar_entry_rules.htm> (January 8, 2003)

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