Novel "Murder on Skid Row" Wins International Apex Award

July 2, 2010 - PRLog -- Writer Charlene Wexler has won an international Apex Award of Excellence for her first novel, "Murder on Skid Row," in the Books and E-Books competition of the 2010 international Apex Awards competition, sponsored by Communications Concepts, a writing think-tank based outside Washington, DC.

Based on a true story, "Murder on Skid Row" is set on Chicago’s Madison St. Skid Row in the 1960s, home to hustlers, winos, addicts, bums, lost souls, ripoffs, and kickbacks. Into this shady society steps main character Dr. Mel Greenberg, who opens his new dental office “to help the downtrodden,” he says.

Instead, he finds himself in a world for which his working-class upbringing never prepared him, where a day might bring anything from a philosophy-quoting patient to a knife held at his neck. Eventually, he finds himself a suspect in murder.

This year’s Apex competition was the 22nd annual.

"Apex Awards are based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content, and the ability to achieve overall communications excellence," said John De Lellis, one of the Apex judges. "With more than 3,700 entries, competition was exceptionally intense.”

Wexler was one of only five winners in the Books and E-Books category.

“Every year the quality and effectiveness of Apex entries go up a notch,” DeLillis said.
“I’m extremely proud for my work to have been honored by such a prestigious competition,” Wexler said. “Apex judges are leading writers and editors, and their recognition of the quality of our work means a lot to all Apex winners.”

Apex is an international competition, and this year other winners have come from Canada, Great Britain, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Okinawa, Singapore, and South Africa, as well as the United States. For more information, log on to www.apexawards.com.

"Murder on Skid Row" is available through Amazon.com and bookstores and book sales websites everywhere. Published in 2010 by Author House, the book sells for $21.49 hardcover and $10.99 paperback.

About the author
Native Chicagoan Charlene Wexler is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She has worked as a teacher and dental office bookkeeper and as “a wife, mom, and grandmother,” she said. In recent years, Wexler’s lifelong passion for writing has led her to create numerous essays as well as fiction, as well as her award-winning novel "Murder on Skid Row."

Her work has appeared in several publications, including "North Shore Magazine," the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry’s "Vision" magazine, "Alpha Omegan" magazine, and the Gazette newspaper of Chicago.

“I have always used writing as therapy,” Wexler said. “Now I have the time and opportunity to pursue it as a career.”

Wexler has dedicated "Murder on Skid Row," her first novel, “to the three dentists in my life,” she said—her husband, Sam; son Mike; and Sam’s business partner, Lew.
Wexler is active with the Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity, Children’s Memorial Hospital philanthropy, Lungevity (an organization that fights lung cancer), the McHenry Bicycle Club, the National Council of Jewish Women, the Jewish United Fund, and the University of Illinois Alumni Association.

Her advice for other aspiring writers—even grandmothers like herself—is to “follow your dream. You can do it, and it’s never too late.”
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Note: Wexler is available for media interviews. Media copies of "Murder on Skid Row" are available upon request. E-mail billbike@anbcommunications.com. Wexler’s website is at www.charlenewexler.com.

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