July 2022 Notable Author: George P. Pelecanos

“The crime part is the engine that moves the narrative and allows me to write the other things I want to write about.” – George P. Pelecanos

George P. Pelecanos (February 18, 1957) is a Maryland author whose detective fiction is set in and framed by Washington, D.C. He worked as a line cook, dishwasher, bartender, and woman's shoe salesman before publishing his first novel in 1992.

He is now the author of eighteen novels set in and around Washington, D.C. The Big Blowdown was the recipient of the International Crime Novel of the Year award in both Germany and Japan. In addition to his considerable success as an author, he has also worked as producer, writer and story editor for the award-winning US crime series, The Wire. His writing for the show earned him an Emmy Photo-Andre Chung for Washington Post nomination. Esquire magazine called him "the poet laureate of the D.C. crime world." In Entertainment Weekly, Stephen King wrote that Pelecanos is "perhaps the greatest living American crime writer."

When George was 19, he quit college to run his family’s coffee shop on 19th Street, after his dad got sick. He did a decent job, opened on time every day, and, six months later, handed the keys back to his father. He said he was more grateful, than proud, to have had the opportunity to prove himself to his dad. He credits his career success to following the advice of his longtime literary agent who advised against becoming obsessed with the business aspect of publishing and told him to “put his head down and keep working.” George took that opportunity to work on his craft. He tried things that he otherwise would not have. George is convinced it’s the best way for an author to build their career (slowly and patiently) because he makes a good living, loves his job, and is still here.

George can also claim credit for involvement in the production of feature films and miniseries, notably the World War II miniseries The Pacific, produced by Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and HBO.

Pelecanos lives in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Silver Spring, Maryland with his wife and three children. For more information visit www.george-pelecanos.com.

Genre: Detective Fiction

Detective fiction is a subgenre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator or a detective—either professional, amateur, or retired—investigates a crime, often murder.

Sample Reading List: Shoedog, Drama City, The Night Gardener, The Turnaround, The Way Home, The Man Who Came Uptown, Derek Strange and Terry Quinn series; Right as Rain, and Hell to Pay.

Writer's Prompt - Fun With Words

Fun With Words - Maryland Writers’ Association (MWA) invites you to have fun writing detective fiction like George Pelecanos. With just 100 words, create a detective character (professional, amateur, or retired) who investigates a crime centered in Washington, DC. Feel free to drop names and communities. Title your work and submit to: https://marylandwriters.org/Notable_Maryland_Authors by the 22nd of the month to receive an MWA Fun With Words submission certificate. Selected responses to be published with next month’s article as well as posted on the MWA website.

Submit Your FUN WITH WORDS Prompt

The MWA is a 33-year-old state-wide association (501c3) dedicated to encouraging and mentoring Maryland writers, poets, playwrights, and authors. Go to: www.MarylandWriters.org for more info.

Reader Responses: Last month we asked readers to have fun writing songs like Barry Louis Polisar. With just 100 words, pick a familiar tune and write a song that helps children overcome the tediousness of school or family. These are their responses: