George P. Pelecanos is a highly respected American novelist, particularly known for his contributions to the detective fiction genre. He was born in Washington D.C. in 1957 and began his writing career in 1992 with the publication of his first book, 'A Firing Offense.' This novel introduced the character of Nick Stefanos, a Greek resident of D.C. who works as a part-time private investigator. Pelecanos continued to feature Stefanos in his next three books, all of which were written in the first person and narrated through Stefanos' voice.
After the success of his initial novels, Pelecanos decided to expand his fiction scope and change his narration style. He began to write in the third person and introduced new characters, while still keeping Stefanos as a supporting character. This shift allowed Pelecanos to explore different communities and decades in Washington D.C., showcasing the changing population of the city. His D.C. Quartet books are particularly known for this expansive and inclusive approach.
In addition to his work as a novelist, Pelecanos is also an accomplished TV writer, TV producer, and film producer. He has worked on several feature films, including 'Caught,' 'Whatever,' and 'BlackMale.' He was also a producer, writer, and story editor for the critically acclaimed HBO series, 'The Wire,' which earned him an Emmy nomination for his writing. Pelecanos currently works as an executive producer and writer on David Simon's HBO series, 'Treme,' shot in New Orleans.
Pelecanos' work has been recognized with several awards, including the Raymond Chandler award in Italy, the Falcon award in Japan, and the Grand Prix du Roman Noir in France. His novels 'Hell to Pay' and 'Soul Circus' were awarded the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes in 2003 and 2004, respectively. His short fiction has been published in Esquire, Playboy, and various collections, and he has served as editor for the collections 'D.C. Noir' and 'D.C. Noir 2: The Classics.' Pelecanos is also an award-winning essayist who has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, GQ, Sight and Sound, Uncut, Mojo, and numerous other publications. He currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland, with his family.