Barbara Mertz, Barbara Michaels

Barbara Mertz (1927–2013) was an American author and PhD-holding Egyptologist from the University of Chicago. She achieved recognition for her mystery and suspense novels, most notably the Amelia Peabody series, written under the pseudonym Elizabeth Peters. Mertz also penned gothic and supernatural thrillers as Barbara Michaels, a name chosen to distinguish her fiction from her academic work. Her non-fiction books on ancient Egypt, such as "Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs" and "Red Land, Black Land," have remained in print since their initial publication. Mertz was a proponent of feminism, actively supporting women in the mystery writing community by founding "Malice Domestic" and establishing a scholarship. Her extensive writing career earned her numerous awards and accolades from the mystery writing world, including Grandmaster status from both the Anthony Awards and the Mystery Writers of America.

Barbara Mertz earned her PhD in Egyptology from the University of Chicago in 1952, having previously completed her bachelor's and master's degrees there. While she authored two well-regarded non-fiction books about ancient Egypt, "Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs" (1964) and "Red Land, Black Land" (1966), her primary focus became mystery and suspense fiction. She began publishing fiction in 1964. Mertz utilized multiple pseudonyms to manage her diverse literary output. As Elizabeth Peters, she created the popular Amelia Peabody historical mystery series, set during the "Golden Age" of Egyptology, which chronicled the adventures of an Egyptologist and her family. Under the name Barbara Michaels, she explored gothic and supernatural thriller themes. This dual approach allowed her to separate her fictional narratives from her scholarly contributions to Egyptology.

Beyond her literary achievements, Barbara Mertz was a committed feminist. This perspective often informed her fiction and was actively expressed in her professional life. She founded "Malice Domestic," an organization established to support women mystery writers, stemming from her belief that women deserved more recognition in the genre. Mertz also initiated a scholarship program at Hood College specifically for women pursuing writing careers. Her dedication to the field was further recognized through numerous awards, including Grandmaster titles from the Anthony Awards and the Mystery Writers of America. The Amelia Peabody Award, established at the Malice Domestic Convention, was named in honor of her most famous fictional creation, highlighting her lasting impact on the mystery writing community.