At a Sisters in Crime mystery symposium this past Saturday, author Shobhan Bantwal called on writers to accomplish "the three Es" with all their work. "Enlighten, educate, and entertain."
Shoban told me she writes women's fiction with lots of suspense, not really crime novels. But what about us? Are we just here to entertain our readers, or do we have an obligation to educate and enlighten?
Excuse me while I go look up the difference...
EDUCATE: give intellectual, moral, and social instruction
ENLIGHTEN: give greater knowledge or understanding