Joan Edmiston Hess

Joan Edmiston Hess, (68), author of more than 40 popular fiction books, died at home in Austin, Texas, Nov. 23, 2017. She was born in Fayetteville, Ark. She wrote what she loved to read, mysteries. Her first book, Strangled Prose, was published in 1986. Her most recent book was the New York Times best-seller, The Painted Queen, which she completed for her long-time friend Barbara Mertz (AKA Elizabeth Peters). Popular with both readers and mystery writers for her dry sense of humor, Joan had just received word that she was to be awarded the "Amelia", the highest award given by the mystery writer's organization Malice Domestic. This same group acknowledged her contribution to the genre with an "Agatha," for both short story writing and lifetime achievement. She also received Mystery Reader's International Macavity Award. She was a member of Sisters in Crime and former president of American Crimewriters' League. She is predeceased by her parents, Martha (Helen) Tidwell Edmiston and Jack Edmiston of Fayetteville. She is survived by her children and grandchildren: daughter Rebecca King, husband Jeremy, and their children Annabelle and Jack, of Austin; and son Dr. Joshua Hess, wife Tiffany, and children Charlize and Pierson, of Columbia, SC. She is also survived by her brother Dr. Dave Edmiston and wife Sharon, sister-in-law Karen Edmiston and nieces Ashley and Kate, all of California. A Celebration of Life is being planned for March. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a gift may be made to Ozark Literacy Council, ozarkliteracy.org, where Joan volunteered for many years, or Peace at Home Shelter, peaceathomeshelter.org, one of her favorite causes.