Blogging A to Z: U is for "U is for Undertow"

Welcome to the Blogging From A to Z Challenge!

My theme for 2013 is Influential Women Authors.

My definition of influential is any author, classic or modern, who has inspired writers, readers, or the larger scope of culture. Some are personal favorites, or have special meaning to me.

What this list is not: a list of the most influential writers of all time. Rather, this is a collection of influential writers, corresponding with each day's letter.

For the full list of participating blogs, click here.

image: Goodreads

So, U was a tough one. I decided for today, to feature an author who has written an entire series using the alphabet as inspiration for titles:

Sue Grafton. She wrote U is for Undertow, the 21st book in her Kinsey Millhone mystery series, which she has been writing for thirty years!

I found this cool little glimpse into the life of the author's assistant on her blog: HERE It's amazing to think how much fan mail an author is still receiving through snail mail--I'd think most of it would be email or through social media by now. Although, her welcome page encourages readers to contact her by PO box or a Facebook page. Given she's been writing for over thirty years, probably a lot of her fans have stuck with her and maybe they prefer more traditional correspondence.

She does seem to be of the Old Guard in publishing, as evidenced by a firestorm she caused last fall by dismissing self-publishing as a lazy route to publication (which she subsequently apologized for).

Regardless, she is a publishing legend. Even if you haven't read her work, you've probably seen one of her alphabet mysteries in an airport, bookstore, or yard sale. Her series is probably one of the most recognized American mystery series, and that's a real accomplishment.