I AM a Tie-In Writer!

As the little glyph off to the left (and above, in this post) shows, I'm a proud member of the 150+ member strong IAMTW, the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers. We're the gals and guys who write novelizations and original books based on movies, TV shows, video games, comic books, and other media properties. Among are number are such bestselling authors as James Rollins, Max Allan Collins, Donald Bane, Jeff Marriotte, Raymond Benson and Nancy Holder.

Like all such groups, we hand out awards, in our case, the Scribes, honoring excellence in licensed tie-in writing. 2009 marks the third annual Scribes, nominees for which were just announced by our fearless leader and co-founder, Lee Goldberg. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at Comicon in San Diego in July.

Best General Fiction Original
BURN NOTICE: THE FIX by Tod Goldberg
CRIMINAL MINDS: FINISHING SCHOOL by Max Allan Collins
CSI: HEADHUNTER by Greg Cox

Best General Fiction Adapted
DEATH DEFYING ACTS by Greg Cox
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL by James Rollins
THE TUDORS: KING TAKES QUEEN by Elizabeth Massie
THE WACKNESS by Dale C. Phillips
X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE by Max Allan Collins

Best Speculative Fiction Original
GHOST WHISPERER: REVENGE by Doranna Durgin
RAVENLOFT: THE COVENANT, HEAVEN'S BONES by Samantha Henderson
STARGATE SG-1: HYDRA by Holly Scott & Jamie Duncan
STAR TREK: TEROK NOR, DAY OF THE VIPERS by James Swallow

Best Speculative Fiction Adapted
HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY by Bob Greenberger
THE MUTANT CHRONICLES by Matt Forbeck
STAR WARS - THE CLONE WARS: WILD SPACE by Karen Miller
UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS by Greg Cox

Best Young Adult Original
DR. WHO: THE EYELESS by Lance Parkin
PRIMEVAL: SHADOW OF THE JAGUAR by Steven Savile
DISNEY CLUB PENGUIN: STOWAWAY! ADVENTURES AT SEA by Tracey West

Best Young Adult Adapted
IRON MAN: THE JUNIOR NOVEL by Stephen D. Sullivan
THE DARK KNIGHT: THE JUNIOR NOVEL by Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohen
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH 3D by Tracey West

Grandmaster Award
The highest honor the IAMTW can bestow is the Grandmaster Award, which recognizes a writer for his or her extensive and exceptional work in the tie-in field. This year's honoree is Keith R.A. DeCandido. He has written over thirty novels, most of them original tie-ins or novelizations. His work includes many Star Trek novels, as well as original books in the CSI: NY and Supernatural tie-in series, to name just a few.

Congratulations to all our nominees. I urge you to run right out and pick up as many of the above mentioned books as you can lay your hands on. As a judge in the Best General Fiction Adapted category, I can tell you there's not a bum read in the lot! I'm proud to call some of these people friends and honored to be considered a colleague by the rest.

You're also invited to check out website and learn more about the organization and the many fine people who fill its ranks.