MU dean to resign, promote novels

Richard Schwartz, dean of MU’s College of Arts and Science, will step down from his position this summer. With extra time in his schedule, he said he plans to promote his four crime novels, which are being reissued over the next year by Midnight Ink.

“I can’t be in two places at once, basically,” Schwartz said.

The four novels: “Frozen Stare,” “The Last Voice You Hear,” “After The Fall,” and “Into The Dark,” were originally published between 1989 and 2002. Midnight Ink will reissue the crime novel series, which follows private eye Jack Grant, in trade paperback form. Schwartz said the main difference between trade paperbacks and mass-market paperbacks is that trade paperbacks have larger pages.

“It’s very fortunate that I’ve been able to get this kind of sale,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz also decided to step down after his wife, Judith Schwartz, was offered a job as director of the Lifelong Learning Institute in University College at Washington University in St. Louis. The institute offers not-for-credit courses for peer-learning group members who are 55 or older. She will begin her new job next year.

“I’ve had my dream job now for eight years,” he said. “Now it’s time for her to have her dream job.”

Schwartz, who will continue writing and teaching in the English department at MU, will travel between Columbia and St. Louis.

“Moving back and forth will be much easier for me to do as a faculty member than as an administrator,” he said.

Schwartz’s successor in the dean’s office has not been appointed yet.

Kenneth Dean, interim associate provost, said there will be a nationwide search to find Schwartz’s replacement. A committee will be put together and the search will begin as soon as possible, Dean said.

“We want to find the best person that we can for the position,” he said.

Schwartz has previously taught a fiction-writing class and said he looks forward to teaching more creative writing and literature classes.

“I haven’t been able to teach in my department as much as I’d like to because of administrative duties,” Schwartz said. “So I’m looking forward to being able to do that.”

Schwartz said he doesn’t know everything that will be involved in promoting his books, but he expects to do both interviews and book signings.

According to his publisher’s Web site, www.midnightinkbooks.com, Midnight Ink is a “fresh new voice in mystery fiction. Aiming to satisfy readers of all tastes, we are committed to publishing suspenseful tales of all types.”