Ruth Cavin
Encyclopedia
Ruth Cavin was an American
book editor who worked as an associate publisher of Thomas Dunne Books
, where she started working at age 70 and oversaw the publication of 900 books, mystery fiction
being her specialty, in her two decades in the business.
Cavin was born Ruth Brodie in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
to Jewish immigrants who taught her how to read as a young child. She attended Carnegie Institute of Technology
, earning her undergraduate degree there in 1939 and married Bram Cavin, a journalist with BusinessWeek
who she met after moving to New York City
. She lived the life of a typical suburban housewife, raising her twin daughters in suburban Westchester County, New York
, and didn't begin her publishing career until 1979, when she started editing books for Walker & Company.
Hired by St. Martin's Press
to work at its Thomas Dunne Books unit when she was already in her 70s, Cavin helped develop first novels by such mystery fiction authors as Donna Andrews
, Steve Hamilton
, Julia Spencer-Fleming
and Laurie R. King
. The Malice Domestic Contest, a yearly competition honoring best first mystery novels, was begun by St. Martin's Press based on Cavin's suggestion. Earning the nickname "First Lady of Mysteries" that adorned a plaque in her office, author Sue Grafton
called Cavin "soul mother to mystery writers for years". She helped edit and publish 900 books in a broad range of genres during her tenure there, continuing to work as an editor until 2010 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer
. Cavin wrote a number of her own books, including Trolleys and Complete Party Dinners for the Novice Cook, a book that she had originally conceived of as Dinners for Beginners.
Cavin died at the age of 92 at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York
on January 9, 2011, due to lung cancer
. She was survived by her twin daughters, a son and two grandchildren. Her husband had died in 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
book editor who worked as an associate publisher of Thomas Dunne Books
Thomas Dunne Books
Thomas Dunne Books, a division of St. Martin's Press, publishes popular trade fiction and nonfiction. Established in 1986 and based in New York City, Thomas Dunne Books publishes approximately 175 titles each year, covering a range of genres including commercial and literary fiction, mysteries,...
, where she started working at age 70 and oversaw the publication of 900 books, 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...
being her specialty, in her two decades in the business.
Cavin was born Ruth Brodie in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to Jewish immigrants who taught her how to read as a young child. She attended Carnegie Institute of Technology
Carnegie Institute of Technology
The Carnegie Institute of Technology , is the name for Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering. It was first called the Carnegie Technical Schools, or Carnegie Tech, when it was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie who intended to build a “first class technical school” in Pittsburgh,...
, earning her undergraduate degree there in 1939 and married Bram Cavin, a journalist with BusinessWeek
BusinessWeek
Bloomberg Businessweek, commonly and formerly known as BusinessWeek, is a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. It is currently headquartered in New York City.- History :...
who she met after moving to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She lived the life of a typical suburban housewife, raising her twin daughters in suburban Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
, and didn't begin her publishing career until 1979, when she started editing books for Walker & Company.
Hired by St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press
St. 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...
to work at its Thomas Dunne Books unit when she was already in her 70s, Cavin helped develop first novels by such mystery fiction authors as Donna Andrews
Donna Andrews (author)
Donna Andrews is an American mystery fiction writer of two award-winning amateur sleuth series. Her first book, Murder with Peacocks , introduced Meg Langslow, a blacksmith from Yorktown, Virginia. It won the St...
, Steve Hamilton
Steve Hamilton (author)
Steve Hamilton is an American writer of detective fiction. He was born January 10, 1961 and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated in 1983 from the University of Michigan where he won the Hopwood Award for fiction. -Works:...
, Julia Spencer-Fleming
Julia Spencer-Fleming
Julia Spencer-Fleming is an American novelist.She lives in Maine with her husband, 3 children, a dog, and two cats.-Rev. Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series :...
and Laurie R. King
Laurie R. King
Laurie R. King is an American author best known for her detective fiction. Among her books are the Mary Russell series of historical mysteries, featuring Sherlock Holmes as her mentor and later partner, and a series featuring Kate Martinelli, a fictional lesbian San Francisco, California, police...
. The Malice Domestic Contest, a yearly competition honoring best first mystery novels, was begun by St. Martin's Press based on Cavin's suggestion. Earning the nickname "First Lady of Mysteries" that adorned a plaque in her office, author Sue Grafton
Sue Grafton
Sue Taylor Grafton is a contemporary American author of detective novels. She is best known as the author of the 'alphabet series' featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California. The daughter of detective novelist C. W...
called Cavin "soul mother to mystery writers for years". She helped edit and publish 900 books in a broad range of genres during her tenure there, continuing to work as an editor until 2010 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. Cavin wrote a number of her own books, including Trolleys and Complete Party Dinners for the Novice Cook, a book that she had originally conceived of as Dinners for Beginners.
Cavin died at the age of 92 at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
on January 9, 2011, due to lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. She was survived by her twin daughters, a son and two grandchildren. Her husband had died in 2009.