Daniel Woodrell is a highly respected American author, best known for his unique brand of crime fiction novels, which he has dubbed "country noir." Growing up in the Missouri Ozarks, Woodrell was deeply influenced by the works of Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, and other notable authors. His writing has been shaped by a diverse range of literary influences, including Hemingway, James Agee, Flannery O'Connor, and Seamus Heaney.
Woodrell was born on March 4, 1953, in Springfield, Missouri, and spent much of his childhood in the state's southwestern corner. He left high school early to enlist in the Marines and later completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Kansas University. He went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts from the Writers' Workshop of Iowa. In 2016, the Missouri University in Kansas City awarded Woodrell an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contributions to the literary world. He currently resides in the West Plains, Missouri, with his novelist wife, Katie Estill.
Woodrell's writing is deeply rooted in the landscapes and culture of the Missouri Ozarks, where he grew up. His novels often explore themes of crime and violence, set against the backdrop of the region's rural communities. He has written a total of nine novels and several short stories, with many of his books set in the Ozarks. Woodrell's 1996 novel, Give Us a Kiss, was so influential that he coined the term "country noir" to describe it. Since then, the term has been frequently used by critics to categorize his writing.
Woodrell's works have gained significant critical acclaim, with several of his novels being selected as New York Times Notable Books of the Year. His novel Tomato Red won the PEN West award for the novel in 1999, and his novel Winter's Bone was adapted into a highly acclaimed film in 2010. Woodrell's ability to create vivid and compelling stories about the people and places of the Ozarks has earned him a well-deserved reputation as a master of country noir.