Poisoned Pen Press
Encyclopedia
Poisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction
in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona
. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade paperback editions of previously published hardcovers. Audio books of new titles are produced by Blackstone Audio. All titles are distributed through Ingram Publisher Services.
, Robert Rosenwald, and their daughter, Susan Malling. Peters, who had founded Scottsdale Arizona's 'The Poisoned Pen, A Mystery Bookstore' a decade ago, sees consolidations in the publishing industry as a threat to cultural diversity and to the survival of the independent bookstore
.
Poisoned Pen Press began by selling out-of-print books, but soon expanded to publish original titles. They earned two Edgar Award
nominations (1998 and 2000) and many of their books receive positive reviews in trade publications and general press.
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade paperback editions of previously published hardcovers. Audio books of new titles are produced by Blackstone Audio. All titles are distributed through Ingram Publisher Services.
History
Poisoned Pen Press was founded in 1997 by Barbara G. PetersBarbara G. Peters
Barbara G. Peters was born in Winnetka, Illinois.Peters was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the eleven most important people in Bookselling in their January 3, 2000 issue in an article entitled Eleven for the Millennium. She holds a BA from Stanford University, an MA from Northwestern...
, Robert Rosenwald, and their daughter, Susan Malling. Peters, who had founded Scottsdale Arizona's 'The Poisoned Pen, A Mystery Bookstore' a decade ago, sees consolidations in the publishing industry as a threat to cultural diversity and to the survival of the independent bookstore
Independent bookstore
An independent bookstore is a retail bookstore which is independently owned.-Literary and countercultural history:Author events at independent bookstores sometimes take the role of literary salons. The bookstores themselves, "have historically supported and cultivated the work of independent...
.
Poisoned Pen Press began by selling out-of-print books, but soon expanded to publish original titles. They earned two Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
nominations (1998 and 2000) and many of their books receive positive reviews in trade publications and general press.
Lifetime achievement award
In recognition of Barbara Peters' and Robert Rosenwald's contribution to the publishing industry, they received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2008 Bouchercon Crime and Mystery conference.Ellery Queen award
On April 29, 2010, at the Mystery Writers of America's 64th annual Edgar Awards dinner, Barbara Peters and Robert Rosenwald were given the Ellery Queen Award, which honors "writing teams and outstanding people in the mystery-publishing industry."Notable authors
Notable authors the company has published include:- James AndersonJames Anderson (author)James Arthur Andersons first published short story appeared in Andrew J. Offutt's Swords Against V anthology in 1979. He has since published stories in Lin Carter's Weird Tales 4, Elditch Tales, Fantasy Tales, and Haunts. His nonfiction has appeared in Fangoria. In 1997 he began using his...
- Robert BarnardRobert BarnardRobert Barnard is an English crime writer, critic and lecturer.- Life and work :Born in Essex, Barnard was educated at the Colchester Royal Grammar School and at Balliol College in Oxford....
- Claudia BishopMary StantonMary Stanton is an American author. She is most famous for her eight-volume children's fantasy series Unicorns of Balinor, about a young princess who must return to her kingdom to regain all of her memories, her throne, and to return peace to her world.Under the pseudonym Claudia Bishop she is the...
- Kate CharlesKate CharlesKate Charles is an Anglo-American crime writer.Kate Charles was born Carol Fosher in Cincinnati. Her family moved to Bloomington, Illinois when she was 10. She graduated from Bloomington High School and went on to Illinois State University where she graduated with a degree in library science in...
- Ruth Dudley Edwards
- Martin EdwardsMartin Edwards (author)Kenneth Martin Edwards, commonly known as Martin Edwards is a British crime novelist, critic and solicitor.- Biography :...
- Kerry GreenwoodKerry GreenwoodKerry Greenwood is a solicitor from Melbourne, Australia. She is also the author of many plays and books, most notably a string of historical detective novels centred on the character of Phryne Fisher. She writes mysteries, science-fiction, historical fiction, and children's stories, as well as...
- Steven F. HavillSteven F. HavillSteven F. Havill is an American author of mysteries and westerns.Havill lives in Ratón, New Mexico, with his wife Kathleen. He has written two series of police procedurals set in the fictional Posadas County, New Mexico; along with other works....
- Libby Fischer HellmannLibby Fischer HellmannLibby Fischer Hellmann is a mystery writer who currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.- Career :Raised in Washington D.C., she attended the National Cathedral School, followed by the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating with a BA in History, she enrolled in New York University's Graduate...
- H.R.F. Keating
- Laurie R. KingLaurie R. KingLaurie R. King is an American author best known for her detective fiction. Among her books are the Mary Russell series of historical mysteries, featuring Sherlock Holmes as her mentor and later partner, and a series featuring Kate Martinelli, a fictional lesbian San Francisco, California, police...
- Ken KuhlkenKen KuhlkenKen Kuhlken was born and grew up in San Diego, played semi-pro baseball in Tijuana, and attended San Diego State University, first as a philosophy and then as an English major...
- Cornelius Lehane
- Edward Marston
- Peter MayPeter May (writer)Peter May is a Scottish television screenwriter, novelist and crime writer.- Early life :Peter was born in Glasgow. From an early age he was intent on becoming a novelist, but took up a career as a journalist as a way to start earning a living by writing. At the age of 21, he won the Fraser...
- Val McDermidVal McDermidVal McDermid is a Scottish crime writer, best known for a series of suspense novels starring her most famous creation, Dr. Tony Hill.-Biography:...
- Keith MilesKeith MilesKeith Miles is a writer of historical fiction and mystery novels. He has also written children's books, radio and television dramas and stage plays. He is best known under the pseudonym Edward Marston, and has also written as Martin Inigo and Conrad Allen.-Career:Miles was born and educated in...
- Susan MoodySusan MoodySusan Moody is the principal nom de plume of Susan Elizabeth Donaldson, née Horwood, a British novelist best known for her suspense novels...
- Paul MoorcraftPaul MoorcraftPaul Leslie Moorcraft is the Director of the Centre for Foreign Policy Analysis in London and visiting professor at Cardiff University's School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies.-Personal life:...
- Michael NormanMichael NormanMichael Norman is an American author known for his Haunted superstitious series with Beth Scott. Norman holds a Master's degree from DeKalb's Northern Illinois University in 1969. He worked at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls journalism department from 1973 until his retirement in May 2003...
- Barbara G. PetersBarbara G. PetersBarbara G. Peters was born in Winnetka, Illinois.Peters was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the eleven most important people in Bookselling in their January 3, 2000 issue in an article entitled Eleven for the Millennium. She holds a BA from Stanford University, an MA from Northwestern...
- Twist PhelanTwist PhelanTwist Phelan writes crime-themed short stories and the critically acclaimed Pinnacle Peak mystery series, published by Poisoned Pen Press .- Biography :...
- James SallisJames SallisJames Sallis is an American crime writer, poet and musician, best known for his series of novels featuring the character Lew Griffin and set in New Orleans, and for his 2005 novel Drive, which was adapted into a 2011 film of the same name.He is the brother of philosopher John Sallis...
- Rick ShefchikRick ShefchikRick Shefchik is an American novelist and journalist. He is the author of the novels Amen Corner, published in 2007, and Green Monster, published August 1, 2008 by Poisoned Pen Press...
- David Waltner-ToewsDavid Waltner-ToewsDavid Waltner-Toews is a Canadian epidemiologist, essayist, poet, fiction writer, veterinarian, and a specialist in the epidemiology of food and waterborne diseases, zoonoses and ecosystem health...
- Betty WebbBetty WebbBetty Webb, a former journalist, is the author of a series of detective stories set in Arizona. She has stated that each book has been inspired by a real case....