Walter Mosley to receive honorary National Book Award
NEW YORK Walter Mosley is receiving an honorary National Book Award, cited for dozens of books which range from science fiction and erotica to the acclaimed mystery series that has followed the life of Los Angeles private detective Ezekiel Easy Rawlins. The National Book Awards are presented by the non-profit National Book Foundation. But like such previous medal winners as Ray Bradbury and Elmore Leonard, he has never been nominated for a National Book Award in a competitive category. Mosley knows well the reason: Crime fiction is usually bypassed when lists for a years best books are considered. In a statement Thursday, National Book Foundation Executive Director Lisa Lucas noted the quantity, and quality, of Mosley's work.
An eventful year for Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead
NEW YORK Even sheltering in place, Colson Whitehead has had an eventful year. Whitehead became the first fiction writer to win Pulitzers for back to back novels, Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, which won the Pulitzer in May and comes out in paperback this week. In Underground Railroad,' I felt I needed a fantastic device to move Cora (the main character) to her freedom. With The Nickel Boys, there was no need for any kind of fantastic flourish. "For The Nickel Boys, I was someone trying to figure out where the country was going.