David Housewright is an accomplished American author, well-known for his contributions to the crime fiction and mystery genres. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1955, and grew up in a wealthy family with a successful businessman father, Eugene Housewright, Sr., and a mother named Lagevin Housewright. As a student at Cretin High School, Housewright's passion for writing and reading led him to become the editor of the school newspaper, although he was later fired due to his oppositional views on the Vietnam War. He pursued his love for writing at the University of St. Thomas, where he earned a degree in journalism.
Before becoming a novelist, Housewright worked as a copywriter for several advertising agencies in the Twin Cities and as a journalist for publications such as the Minneapolis Tribune, Albert Lea Evening Tribune, and Grand Forks Herald. He has since written two successful novel series, the Mac McKenzie series and the Holland Taylor series, which together comprise 15 novels. Housewright's writing is often compared to that of famous crime writers like Ross MacDonald and Raymond Chandler. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America and several Minnesota Book awards. In 2014, he was elected as the President of the American association of Private Eye Writers.
Housewright has had a successful writing career and now lives happily in Roseville, Minnesota, with his wife, Renee Marie Valois, who is also a writer and theater critic. In addition to his novels, Housewright has contributed short stories to 15 anthologies and other publications. He has taught writing courses at the University of Minnesota and the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. His name and face have been added to "Minnesota Writers on the Map" by the Minnesota Historical Society and Friends of the St. Paul Public Library. His 28th crime novel, "In A Hard Wind," was published in June 2023 by St. Martin’s Minotaur.