Jane K. Cleland
Encyclopedia
Jane K. Cleland is a contemporary American
author of mystery fiction
. She is the author of the Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries, a traditional mystery series set in New Hampshire
and featuring antiques appraiser Josie Prescott, as well as "noir" plays that focus on women and their complicated love relationships with the men they hate. In addition, Cleland runs seminars and workshops on business writing and marketing, and the writing of memoirs, creative non-fiction, young-adult fiction, romance, and science fiction. Cleland has been nominated for and has won numerous awards for her writing.
, graduating from Newton High School
. She then attended the University of Denver
, graduating with a B.A. in English and Theatre. She obtained an M.B.A in Marketing and Management from Babson College
, and an M.F.A. in Playwriting and Speechwriting from Western Connecticut State University
.
and served a two-year term as president of the group's New York chapter. She currently chairs the Literary Awards Committee of the Wolfe Pack, an association of fans of the Nero Wolfe
novels by Rex Stout
which confers the annual Nero Award as well as the Black Orchid Novella Award (BONA) in partnership with Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Cleland is also a member of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, Sisters in Crime
, and the Dramatists Guild of America
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author of mystery fiction
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
. She is the author of the Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries, a traditional mystery series set in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and featuring antiques appraiser Josie Prescott, as well as "noir" plays that focus on women and their complicated love relationships with the men they hate. In addition, Cleland runs seminars and workshops on business writing and marketing, and the writing of memoirs, creative non-fiction, young-adult fiction, romance, and science fiction. Cleland has been nominated for and has won numerous awards for her writing.
Early Years
Jane K. Cleland was born in Boston and reared in Newton, MassachusettsNewton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
, graduating from Newton High School
Newton High School
Newton High School may refer to:*Newton High School — Covington, Georgia*Newton High School — Newton, Illinois*Newton High School — Newton, Iowa*Newton High School — Newton, Kansas...
. She then attended the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
, graduating with a B.A. in English and Theatre. She obtained an M.B.A in Marketing and Management from Babson College
Babson College
Babson College is a private business school located in Wellesley, Massachusetts near Boston.- History :Babson College was founded by Roger Babson on September 3, 1919, as the Babson Institute. It was renamed "Babson College" in 1969...
, and an M.F.A. in Playwriting and Speechwriting from Western Connecticut State University
Western Connecticut State University
Western Connecticut State University is a public university in Danbury, Connecticut. Founded in 1903, WestConn has an arts and sciences curriculum, a business school, and several professional programs including elementary and secondary education, nursing, music performance, and social work...
.
Josie Prescott Novels
- Consigned to Death (2006). This, the first Josie Prescott book, was an Independent Mystery Booksellers Association bestseller and was nominated for the Agatha AwardAgatha AwardThe Agatha Awards are literary awards for mystery and crime writers who write via the same method as Agatha Christie...
, MacavityMacavity AwardsThe Macavity Awards are a literary award for mystery writers. Nominated and voted upon annually by the members of the Mystery Readers International, the award is named for the "mystery cat" of T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. The award is given in four categories -- best novel,...
, and David Awards for Best First Novel. A Reader’s Digest Book Club selection. Selected by the New Hampshire State Library as a Book of the Week. Translated into Russian and Hungarian. Editions published in the UK and in large print. Selected by Library Journal as a "core title" for librarians seeking to build a cozy collection. - Deadly Appraisal (2007), won the David Award for Best Novel of 2007. Editions published in the UK and in large print.
- Antiques to Die For (2008), nominated for the David for Best Novel of 2008. Editions published in the UK and in large print.
- Killer Keepsakes (2009). Editions published in the UK and in large print.
- Silent Auction (2010), a Harlequin Book Club selection. Editions published in the UK and in large print. Nominated for a David Award.
- Deadly Threads (2011), a Harlequin Book Club selection. Editions published in the UK and in large print.
- Dolled Up for Murder (scheduled publication April 2012)
Short stories
- “Killing Time” - Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery MagazineAlfred Hitchcock's Mystery MagazineAlfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine is a monthly digest size fiction magazine specializing in crime and detective fiction. AHMM is named for Alfred Hitchcock, the famed director of suspense films and television.-History:...
, November, 2008. Nominated for Agatha and Anthony awards for Best Short Story, 2008The Best American Short Stories 2008The Best American Short Stories 2008, a volume in The Best American Short Stories series, was edited by Heidi Pitlor and by guest editor Salman Rushdie.-Short Stories included:-Other notable stories:...
; also named one of the Best Short Stories of 2008 by critic and scholar, Michael E. Grost. - “Designed To Kill” - Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, June 2009
Noir plays
- Easy Kill - A 10-minute play about a woman who’ll kill to save herself.
- Back to Jack - A two act play testing what’s more important—friendship or the truth.
- Killing Time - A one-act play featuring Josie Prescott, an antiques appraiser who uses her knowledge of antiques to uncover a dark and dangerous secret.
Non-fiction books
- Business Writing for Results, McGraw Hill
- Putting First What Matters Most NAL/Penguin PutnamPenguin BooksPenguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
- How to Create High Impact Newsletters, Career Track
- How to Create Eye-Catching Design, Career Track
Writing guides
- "Start a Blog, Earn a Career", LIM College, 2011.
- "How to Solve a Case Study", LIM College, 2010.
- "How to Structure an Essay", LIM College, 2010.
- "How to Get Published", LIM College, 2010.
- "Book Club discussion questions for the Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries" St. Martin’s MinotaurSt. Martin's PressSt. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City. Currently, St. Martin's Press is one of the United States' largest publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under eight imprints, which include St. Martin's Press , St...
, 2006-present - "One City, One Book Discussion Questions: Some Buried Caesar," City of Indianapolis, Indiana, 2010.
Affiliations
Cleland served as a director of the Mystery Writers of AmericaMystery Writers of America
Mystery Writers of America is an organization for mystery writers, based in New York.The organization was founded in 1945 by Clayton Rawson, Anthony Boucher, Lawrence Treat, and Brett Halliday....
and served a two-year term as president of the group's New York chapter. She currently chairs the Literary Awards Committee of the Wolfe Pack, an association of fans of the Nero Wolfe
Nero Wolfe
Nero Wolfe is a fictional detective, created in 1934 by the American mystery writer Rex Stout. Wolfe's confidential assistant Archie Goodwin narrates the cases of the detective genius. Stout wrote 33 novels and 39 short stories from 1934 to 1974, with most of them set in New York City. Wolfe's...
novels by Rex Stout
Rex Stout
Rex Todhunter Stout was an American writer noted for his detective fiction. Stout is best known as the creator of the larger-than-life fictional detective Nero Wolfe, described by reviewer Will Cuppy as "that Falstaff of detectives." Wolfe's assistant Archie Goodwin recorded the cases of the...
which confers the annual Nero Award as well as the Black Orchid Novella Award (BONA) in partnership with Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Cleland is also a member of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, Sisters in Crime
Sisters in Crime
Sisters in Crime is an organization that has 3,600 members in 48 chapters world-wide, offering networking, advice and support to mystery authors. Members are authors, readers, publishers, agents, booksellers and librarians bound by their affection for the mystery genre and their support of women...
, and the Dramatists Guild of America
Dramatists Guild of America
The Dramatists Guild of America is a professional organization for playwrights, composers, and lyricists working in the U.S. theatre market.Membership as an Associate Member is open to any person having written at least one stage play. Active Members are playwrights who have had at least one play...
.
Honors & Awards
- Bestseller, Independent Mystery Bookseller AssociationDilys AwardThe Dilys Award have been presented every year since 1992 by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. It is given to the mystery title of the year which the member booksellers have most enjoyed selling. The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association is an association of retail businesses...
: Consigned to Death - “Core Title” Consigned to Death selected by Library Journal as a “core title” when building a cozy collection, one of only 22 titles listed, along with novels by Agatha Christie & Dorothy L. Sayers.
- Winner, David Award, Deadly Appraisal
- Finalist, AgathaAgatha AwardThe Agatha Awards are literary awards for mystery and crime writers who write via the same method as Agatha Christie...
, Anthony, MacavityMacavity AwardsThe Macavity Awards are a literary award for mystery writers. Nominated and voted upon annually by the members of the Mystery Readers International, the award is named for the "mystery cat" of T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. The award is given in four categories -- best novel,...
, and David Awards, multiple nominations. - Barnes & NobleBarnes & NobleBarnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
, online book club, Featured Author, spring 2010; “Agatha Christie Month” essayist, September 2010; and Rex Stout essayist, multiple dates. - Western Connecticut State UniversityWestern Connecticut State UniversityWestern Connecticut State University is a public university in Danbury, Connecticut. Founded in 1903, WestConn has an arts and sciences curriculum, a business school, and several professional programs including elementary and secondary education, nursing, music performance, and social work...
MFA “Distinguished Thesis,” “Women Who Love Men They Hate,” awarded the program’s highest honor.