James Carlos Blake is a renowned American author, known for his historical crime fiction and western novels. He was born in Mexico in 1947, to a Mexican mother and an American father of English and Irish descent. Blake's family had a rich history, with his ancestry tracing back to a British pirate who was executed in Mexico. Growing up, Blake's family moved frequently, living in various towns along the border and coast before finally settling in Texas when he was six years old.
Blake's early life was marked by his love for reading and writing, which he would later turn into a successful career. After serving in the U.S. Army Airborne, Blake went on to earn his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of South Florida, Tampa Bay, and his M.F.A. from Bowling Green State University. Prior to writing full-time in 1997, Blake worked a variety of jobs, including college instructor, snake-catcher, Volkswagen mechanic, pool maintenance man, and county jail properties officer.
Blake's writing has received extensive critical acclaim, earning him several notable awards and a reputation as one of America's greatest chroniclers of the mythical outlaw life. His first novel, "The Pistoleer," was published in 1995 and was met with widespread praise for its unique format and engaging storytelling. Since then, Blake has written eight novels and one collection of stories, most of which explore the lives of real-life characters from the American West. He currently lives and works in Arizona.