MWA Approved Publishers: the Debate that Will Not Die

Now DorothyL posters have put on the boxing gloves to debate the MWA (Mystery Writer's of America) approved publishers debate. It started on the Sisters In Crime Internet Chapter and has segued to DorothyL, a mystery readers, fans (and writers) list serve.

In a nutshell, MWA decided to "vet" various mystery publishers, in terms of advance paid, length of time in publishing, number of copies printed. This was done to separate the sheep from the goats, but screams of "elitist" rent the air and writers who were not on the approved list (the have-nots) beat their breasts and accused MWA of arbitrary decisions regarding publishers, and pointed out, fairly I think, that some dreadful books are published by major publishing houses and some good books are either self-published or published by very small presses that do not meet MWA's criteria. The small (now defunct) e-publisher that first published The Shadow Warriors would no longer pass muster.

This is a debate that goes round and round and like many things in life there is no good answer. I was thirty-seven when I learned that, a bolt of lightning to be sure in my still young lfe. A right way and a wrong way and eeek, no good way at all. What a revelation! There is no good answer. Some people never learn that, so I consider myself fortunate. Consider: "what do we do about Iraq" as an example. No good answer.

I sit on the sidelines of the MWA/vs. small press debate, and only hope they don't change the rules to boot me. Grandfathered in is not a comfy place. Sort of like being a legacy at an Ivy League school. No, even worse.

Suck it up, the only alternative. Whatchagonnado?

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