The mother of all mystery fans

I was thinking today, "I'm just a mystery groupie, a wannabee, and a fair-weather fan of thrillers and mystery." WAIT! There's got to be somebody at the top, a sort of "mother of all mystery fans." Sure enough there is. This is someone recognized as Fan Guest of Honor at Malice Domestic in Washington, D.C. She was given an Athony Award in 2006 for "Special Service to the Field" of mystery fiction. For crying out loud - she's scheduled to be the fan guest of honor in 2010 at the "Left Coast Crime, Booked in LA" Conference! Who can compete when she's got the fan field booked two years ahead?

First of all, Janet A. Rudolph probably has one of the best blogs on mystery writing in existence. She is director of Mystery Readers International - the premier mystery books fan organization, editor of the Mystery Readers Journal - the premier mystery books fan publication.

She has more memberships in crime groups than Parker has books: She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, the International Association of Crime Writers, the British Crime Writers Association, Sisters in Crime, and the American Crime Writers League. She has been on panels at Bouchercon (the World Mystery Convention), Left Coast Crime, and several other mystery conventions. I was invited to a birthday party last year - does that count?

I suppose I should delete my blog right now.

Hah! I don't think so!