Valerie Wilson Wesley

Valerie Wilson Wesley (born November 22, 1947) is an American author of mysteries, adult-theme novels, and children's books, and a former executive editor of Essence magazine. She is the author of the Tamara Hayle mystery series. Her writings, both fiction and non-fiction, have also appeared in numerous publications, including Essence, Family Circle, TV Guide, Ms., The New York Times, and the Swiss weekly magazine Die Weltwoche.

Background
Wesley grew up in Ashford, Connecticut. She is African-American. She graduated from Howard University and earned master's degrees from the Bank Street College of Education and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. A former resident of East Orange, New Jersey, she now lives in Montclair, New Jersey, with her two daughters and playwright husband Richard Wesley.

Published books

 * Afro-Bets Book of Black Heroes from A to Z: An introduction to important Black achievers for young readers, with Wade Hudson (1988, Orange, New Jersey: Just Us Books, ISBN 0-940975-02-5)
 * When Death Comes Stealing, a Tamara Hayle mystery (1994, New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, ISBN 0-399-13949-4)
 * Devil's Gonna Get Him, a Tamara Hayle mystery (1996, New York: Avon Books, ISBN 0-380-72492-8)
 * Where Evil Sleeps, a Tamara Hayle mystery (1996, New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, ISBN 0-399-14145-6)
 * Freedom's Gifts: A Juneteenth story, illustrated by Sharon Wilson (1997, New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, ISBN 0-689-80269-2)
 * No Hiding Place, a Tamara Hayle mystery (1997, New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, ISBN 0-399-14318-1)
 * Easier to Kill, a Tamara Hayle mystery (1998, New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, ISBN 0-399-14445-5)
 * Ain't Nobody's Business if I Do (1999, New York: Avon Books, ISBN 0-380-97703-6)
 * The Devil Riding, a Tamara Hayle mystery (2000, New York: Putnam, ISBN 0-399-14617-2)
 * Always True to You in My Fashion (2002, New York: William Morrow, ISBN 0-06-018883-9)
 * How to Lose Your Class Pet, illustrated by Maryn Roos (2003, New York: Jump at the Sun, ISBN 0-7868-1322-9)
 * Dying in the Dark: A Tamara Hayle mystery (2004, New York: One World Ballantine Books, ISBN 0-345-46806-6)
 * How to Fish for Trouble, illustrated by Maryn Roos (2004, New York: Jump at the Sun, ISBN 0-7868-1807-7)
 * How to Lose Your Cookie Money, illustrated by Maryn Roos (2004, New York: Jump at the Sun, ISBN 0-7868-5146-5)
 * 23 Ways to Mess up Valentine's Day (2005, New York: Jump at the Sun, ISBN 0-7868-5524-X)
 * How to (almost) Ruin Your School Play, illustrated by Maryn Roos (2005, New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, ISBN 1-4155-7357-3)
 * Playing My Mother's Blues (2005, New York: William Morrow, ISBN 0-06-018882-0)

Awards and honors

 * 1993 – Griot Award from the New York Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists
 * 1995 – Nominee for Shamus Award for Best First P.I. Novel (When Death Comes Stealing)
 * 2000 – Excellence in Adult Fiction award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association