Elmore Leonard

Elmore Leonard is a highly acclaimed American novelist and screenwriter, best known for his captivating crime fiction and suspense thrillers. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1925, Leonard spent his childhood in Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Memphis before settling in Detroit in 1935. After serving in the navy, he studied English literature at the University of Detroit, where he developed a passion for writing that would lead to a successful career spanning more than six decades.

Leonard's earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but he later became known for his masterful crime novels. His ability to paint vivid scenes of crime and suspense has earned him a reputation as one of the greatest crime writers of all time. Many of his novels, including "Mr. Majestyk," "Get Shorty," "Rum Punch," and "Be Cool," have been adapted into successful motion pictures.

Throughout his career, Leonard wrote forty-five novels and nearly as many western and crime short stories. Some of his bestsellers include "Road Dogs," "Up in Honey's Room," "The Hot Kid," "Mr. Paradise," "Tishomingo Blues," and the critically acclaimed collection of short stories "Fire in the Hole." He was also the inspiration for the hit series "Justified" on FX, which is based on his character Raylan Givens.

Leonard's contributions to American literature have been widely recognized. He was a recipient of the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the Lifetime Achievement Award from PEN USA, and the Grand Master Award of the Mystery Writers of America. Known to many as the 'Dickens of Detroit,' Leonard was a long-time resident of the Detroit area and passed away in 2013 at the age of 87. His legacy as a master of crime fiction and suspense continues to inspire and influence writers to this day.