Valerie Wilson Wesley

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, ) • When Death Comes Stealing, a Tamara Hayle mystery (1994, New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, ) • ''Devil's Gonna Get Him'', a Tamara Hayle mystery (1996, New York: Avon Books, ) • Where Evil Sleeps, a Tamara Hayle mystery (1996, New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, ) • ''Freedom's Gifts: A Juneteenth story'', illustrated by Sharon Wilson (1997, New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, ) • No Hiding Place, a Tamara Hayle mystery (1997, New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, ) • Easier to Kill, a Tamara Hayle mystery (1998, New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, ) • ''Ain't Nobody's Business if I Do'' (1999, New York: Avon Books, ) • The Devil Riding, a Tamara Hayle mystery (2000, New York: Putnam, ) • Always True to You in My Fashion (2002, New York: William Morrow, ) • How to Lose Your Class Pet, illustrated by Maryn Roos (2003, New York: Jump at the Sun, ) • Dying in the Dark: A Tamara Hayle mystery (2004, New York: One World Ballantine Books, ) • How to Fish for Trouble, illustrated by Maryn Roos (2004, New York: Jump at the Sun, ) • How to Lose Your Cookie Money, illustrated by Maryn Roos (2004, New York: Jump at the Sun, ) • ''23 Ways to Mess up Valentine's Day'' (2005, New York: Jump at the Sun, ) • How to (almost) Ruin Your School Play, illustrated by Maryn Roos (2005, New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, ) • ''Playing My Mother's Blues'' (2005, New York: William Morrow, ) ==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 ==References==