---
title: Renowned Crime Novelist Returns to the Scene
date: 2025-03-13T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/renowned-crime-novelist-returns-to-the-scene"
section: Articles
---
# Renowned Crime Novelist Returns to the Scene

*March 13, 2025* — by [John Tucker](/author/john-tucker)


> At Campus Event, George Pelecanos ’80 Discusses Writing Craft and UMD Memories

*Pelecanos George 03122025 DS 9424 1920x1080 — Ross Angelella (left), Jiménez-Porter Writers' House director and principal lecturer in the Department of English, moderated a discussion Wednesday at Tawes Hall with acclaimed crime novelist and co-producer of “The Wire” and other HBO series George Pelecanos ‘80, who spoke about the lives of cops and drug dealers and the importance of humanizing them.*

George Pelecanos ’80 struggled for a year as a University of Maryland student, until he took a course in crime writing. Inside Tawes Hall, his bearish, bearded professor waved paperbacks in the air while prowling up and down the aisles. Pelecanos was inspired by his smarts.

Now an acclaimed screenwriter, TV producer and author of 22 crime novels set largely in Washington, D.C., Pelecanos on Wednesday returned to Tawes Hall to discuss his writing process and career in front of a UMD audience of students, faculty, staff and alums.


*Pelecanos' University of Maryland student ID — George Pelecanos’ UMD student ID*




**Topics:** [Arts & Culture](https://today.umd.edu/tags/arts-culture), [People](https://today.umd.edu/tags/people)


**Tags:** [English](https://today.umd.edu/topic/english), [Arts](https://today.umd.edu/topic/arts)


**Units:** [College of Arts and Humanities](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-arts-and-humanities), [Department of Resident Life](https://today.umd.edu/topic/department-resident-life), [Division of Student Affairs](https://today.umd.edu/topic/division-student-affairs)