Elaine Viets
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Elaine Viets is an Midwestern American newspaperwoman, and mystery writer.
A native of the working-class white southside of St. Louis, Missouri, the statuesqe (almost two meters) Viets became a long-time popular media figure in St. Louis. She was a regular columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for 25 years, her columns focussing mostly on local issues and human-interest fare. She also hosted the local light-news television program, "Viets Beat", for which she won Emmy Awards in 1989 and 1990. After moving to Washington D.C. and leaving the Post-Dispatch, Viets wrote a syndicated column carried by United Feature Syndicate and later by United Media.
She also began writing mystery novels, and eventually left the newspaper business almost entirely to become a full-time novelist. Viets first drew on her professional experience to produce four novels set in St. Louis and featuring fictional St. Louis newspaper columnist Francesca Vierling (and exciting speculation over which characters might represent real-life Post-Dispatch figures).
By the time she had written the last of these, Viets had relocated to south Florida, which became the locale for her next novels, the Dead-End Jobs series. Viets researches these books by herself taking the same sort of low-level dead-end jobs - telemarketer, shop clerk, and so forth - as the series' protagonist, Helen Hawthorne.
Viets, married for over thirty years to author and actor Don Crinklaw, is active in the trade organization Mystery Writers of America. In 2005, she won awards presented for best short story at two notable mystery conventions: an Agatha Award at Malice Domestic, and an Anthony Award at Bouchercon, both for her story "Wedding Knife".
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[edit] Publications
[edit] Francesca Vierling series
- Viets, Elaine (1997). Back Stab. Dell. ISBN 0-440-22431-4.
- Viets, Elaine (1998). Rubout. Dell. ISBN 0-440-61348-5.
- Viets, Elaine (1999). The Pink Flamingo Murders. Dell. ISBN 0-440-61351-5.
- Viets, Elaine (2000). Doc in the Box. Dell. ISBN 0-440-23620-7.
[edit] Dead-End Job series
- Viets, Elaine (2003). Shop Till You Drop. Signet. ISBN 0-451-20855-2.
- Viets, Elaine (2003). Murder Between The Covers. Signet. ISBN 0-451-21081-6.
- Viets, Elaine (2003). Murder Unleashed. New American Library. ISBN 0-451-21840-X.
- Viets, Elaine (2004). Dying To Call You. Signet. ISBN 0-451-21332-7.
- Viets, Elaine (2005). Just Murdered. Signet. ISBN 0-451-21492-7.
[edit] Josie Marcus series
- Viets, Elaine (2005). Dying In Style: Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper. Signet. ISBN 0-451-21679-2.
- Viets, Elaine (2006). High Heels are Murder: Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper. Signet. ISBN 0-451-21988-0.
[edit] Short stories and novelettes
- Viets, Elaine (2004). "Red Meat", in Lawrence Block (editor): Blood On Their Hands. Berkley. ISBN 0-425-19924-X.
- Viets, Elaine (2004). "Blonde Moment", in Stuart M. Kaminsky (editor): Show Business Is Murder. Berkley. ISBN 0-425-19652-6.
- Viets, Elaine (2004). "Wedding Knife", in Stuart M. Kaminsky (editor): Chesapeake Crimes. Quiet Storm. ISBN 0-9749608-0-2.
- Viets, Elaine (2005). "Killer Blonde", Drop-Dead Blonde, Elaine Viets, Nancy Martin, Denise Swanson, Victoria Laurie, Signet. ISBN 0-451-21444-7.
Wedding Knife received an Agatha Award for best short story in 12004.
[edit] Other books
- Viets, Elaine (1988). Urban Affairs: Tales from the Heart of the City, Viets et al, Patrice Press. ISBN 0-935284-65-6.
- Viets, Elaine (1993). Viets Guide to Sex, Travel and Anything Else That Will Sell This Book, 3rd, Patrice Press. ISBN 0-935284-72-9.
- Viets, Elaine (1995). St. Louis: Home on the River (Urban Tapestry), Viets et al.
- Viets, Elaine (1997). How to Commit Monogamy: A Lighthearted Look at Long-Term Love. Andrews McMeel. ISBN 0-8362-2723-9.
- Viets, Elaine (1997). How to Survive the Happiest Day of Your Life (audio cassette). Dh Audio. 0886469023.
- Viets, Elaine (1998). Censored Viets [UNABRIDGED] (audio cassette). Wildstone Audio. 1882467000.
- Viets, Elaine (2000). "Introduction", in Quinta Scott (editor): Images of St. Louis. University of Missouri Press. ISBN 0-8262-0697-2.
[edit] Related publications
- Kramer, Staci (February 1 1996). "Viets-Post marriage on the rocks? Editor Woo takes over negotiations. (Includes related article on the 'Retain Elaine' party at Pancke House)". St. Louis Journalism Review 26 (183).
- St. John, Burt (September 1 1996). "Viets' future with the Post uncertain; she continues to build syndication.". St. Louis Journalism Review 26 (189).
[edit] External links
- Elaine Viets' website
- Southern Scribe interview with Elaine Viets
- Crescent Blues interview with Elaine Viets
- Writerspace interview with Elaine Viets
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Viets, Elaine |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Writer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
