Charles Salzberg is an accomplished American author, known for his works in nonfiction, fiction, and mystery genres. He was born and raised in New York City and attended the Barnard School for Boys in 1963. Later, he went on to study at Syracuse University, where he majored in English. Salzberg is particularly famous for his Henry Swann detective series, which has been well-received by critics and readers alike. The series includes "Swann's Last Song," "Swann Dives In," and "Swann's Lake of Despair," the latter of which is the most recent addition. The first book in the series, "Swann's Last Song," was even nominated for a Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel.
In addition to his Henry Swann series, Salzberg has also written a number of non-fiction books. These include "From Set Shot to Slam Dunk, An Oral History of the NBA," "On A Clear Day They Could See Seventh Place: Baseball’s 10 Worst Teams of the Century," and "Catch Them Being Good." He is also the co-author of "My Zany Life and Times, by Soupy Sales," "The Mad Fisherman," and "From Head Rush to Bottoms Up: The Official Pat O'Brien's Guide to Living, Loving, and yes, Drinking." Salzberg's work has been published in a variety of prestigious outlets, including Esquire, New York Magazine, GQ, Elle, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, The New York Times Arts and Leisure section, The New York Times Book Review, and the Los Angeles Times Book Review.
Salzberg has also had a successful career as a writing instructor, having taught at a number of prestigious institutions. He has been a Visiting Professor at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, and has taught writing at Sarah Lawrence College, Hunter College, the Writer's Voice, and the New York Writers Workshop, where he is a Founding Member. He is also a consulting editor at the webzine Ducts.org and co-host, with Jonathan Kravetz, of the reading series, Trumpet Fiction, at KGB in New York City. Salzberg's latest novel, "Swann's Lake of Despair," was released in 2016 and is the third book in the Henry Swann Detective Series. His previous novel, "Devil in the Hole," is a work of literary crime fiction based on the notorious John List murders, which was chosen by Suspense Magazine as one of the Best True Crime Novels of the Year.