Named for Edgar Allan Poe, the Edgar Awards honor the best in mystery writing. Ross' play was one of four nominated new works in the Edgars' Best Play category. All four nominees were produced outside of New York City. Nominees were the musical River's End by Cheryl Coons (book and lyrics) and Chuck Larkin (music) at Marin Theatre Company; Safe House by Paul Leeper at Tennessee Stage Company; Matter of Intent by Gary Earl Ross at Theater Loft; and Mating Dance of the Werewolf by Mark Stein at Rubicon Theatre.

Gary Earl Ross is a writing professor at the University at Buffalo EOC and the author of more than 160 published short stories, poems, articles, and public radio essays. He is represented by the Ellen Levine Literary Agency in New York City. When a novel he completed a few years ago began undergoing review for publication, Ross turned to writing plays. Sleepwalker: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari was staged in 2002 and Matter of Intent in 2005. His other works include two print-on-demand collections of previously published short stories — "The Wheel of Desire" (2000) and "Shimmerville" (2002) —and the children's tale "Dots" (2002).

A regular on-air essayist for NPR affiliate WBFO-FM, Ross won the 2003 New York State Broadcasters Award for "If Strom Thurmond Had Been Elected President" and was named Erie County Artist of the Year in 2003. He serves on the boards of the Just Buffalo Literary Center, Ujima Theater Company, and the Mid-Atlantic Popular/American Culture Association.

Ross is at work on a new play and is planning a novel based on Matter of Intent.

The 60th annual Edgars — named for American mystery writer Edgar Allan Poe — were given out at an April 27 banquet at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan. For further information contact www.mysterywriters.org.