Robert J. Randisi: R.I.P.

Boy, this is sad news. Robert J. Randisi (Bob) passed away. I don't have a lot of details yet, but I'll post when I have them. Right now, I'm reeling from the news. Bob could be tough and brash like his characters, but he was also positive and supportive of other writers and the mystery community. 

Bob was born August 24, 1951. He wrote over 650 books in the Mystery, Western, Adventure, and Fantasy genres, as well as being an Editor and Screenwriter. Bob founded The Private Eye Writers of America in 1981, where he created the Shamus Award. He also co-founded The American Crime Writers League; co-founded Western Fictioneers, and co-created the Peacemaker Award. 

Read this interview with Ali Karim in Shots Magazine.

Rest in Peace, Bob!

More information to come about Memorial.

Killer Nashville Announces 2016 John Seigenthaler Legends Award

Killer Nashville announced Robert J. Randisi as the recipient of the 2016 Killer Nashville John Seigenthaler Legends Award. An exceptionally prolific author—Randisi has written over 650 novels in the western, mystery, sci-fi, horror, and spy genres, under different pseudonyms—Randisi’s dedication to the craft is rivaled only by his passion for advocating, encouraging, and featuring other genre writers.

He has edited over 30 short-story anthologies, collections in which numerous authors found their first breaks. His willingness to share professional insights led him to serve as co-founder and editor of Mystery Scene magazine. His desire to highlight new talent birthed another of his brainchildren, the now-coveted Shamus Award. And in founding The Private Eye Writers of America, and co-founding the American Crime Writers League, he not only raised the bar for multiple genres, but also demonstrated the legitimacy of crime writers by showing that they were not sensationalists, but real writers addressing real problems. 

Congratulations, Bob!