Thornton Collects His Due

Congratulations to Brian Thornton! The Seattle-area teacher and short-fiction author (Paper Son), who also serves as president of the Northwest Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, will be presented this evening, September 9, with the Willo Award, described as “the Pacific Northwest’s own special recognition prize given to those individuals whose writing and contributions to the Northwest mystery community are exemplary.” The Willo is named in memory of Willo Davis Roberts, a Granite Falls, Washington, resident and Edgar Award-winning author who passed away in 2004.

“[F]ew can claim to have done more to advance the cause of mystery writers in the Northwest than Brian,” reads a notice from the MWA—Northwest Chapter. “As a longtime Board Member and President of this organization, Brian has seen us through better than a decade of ups and downs in the industry, scores of meetings and seminars, events both happy and sad, and a great growth in our numbers and our achievements. He has personally fostered the career growth of quite a few of his fellow mystery writers, and has led us with skill, enthusiasm, and an infectious smile.”

Thornton will receive his Willo Award during a ceremony tonight, held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Angelo’s Ristorante in Burien, a southern suburb of Seattle. There is no admission charge for MWA members; non-members will pay a mere $10. Click here for directions to Angelo’s.