Crime writing is the culprit for this biz editor

Howard Owen, The Fredericksburg (Va.) Free Lance–Star’s business editor, has won the North America branch of the International Association of Crime Writers’ Hammett Prize.

Cathy Jett of the Free Lance-Star writes, “He beat out four other authors for the award, which is given annually for literary excellence in the field of crime writing in a book published in the English language in the United States or Canada.

“‘I am stunned and thrilled,’ Owen said Wednesday. ‘It’s the biggest honor I’ve gotten in 24 years of writing fiction.’

“He received the organization’s ‘Thin Man’ trophy Tuesday at the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association Fall Conference in Somerset, N.J.

“Dashiell Hammett, widely regarded as one of the finest mystery writers of all time, was the creator of such enduring characters as Sam Spade in ‘The Maltese Falcon’ and Nick and Nora Charles in ‘The Thin Man.’ ‘The Thin Man’ was later adapted for film in a series of movies.

“‘I’m heading to the auto shop right now to have the statuette mounted on the hood of my car,’ Owen joked. ‘I’m definitely thrilled and surprised.'”

Read more here.