John Straley is an accomplished American author, best known for his crime fiction novels and the Cecil Younger series. Born in 1953, Straley grew up in Washington State and attended high school in New York City before moving on to Grinnell College and the University of Washington for his writing degree. After completing his education, he moved to Alaska in 1977, where he has since made his home and found inspiration for his writing.
In addition to his work as a novelist, Straley has had a varied career, including stints as a secretary, horseshoer, wilderness guide, trail crew foreman, millworker, machinist, and private investigator. These experiences have provided him with a wealth of knowledge and insight into the human condition, which he has used to great effect in his writing. Straley's novels are known for their vivid characters, engaging plots, and richly detailed settings, which often reflect his own experiences and observations of life in Alaska.
Straley is married to Jan Straley, a prominent marine biologist known for her extensive studies of humpback whales. Together, they live in a bright green house on the beach in Sitka, Alaska, where Straley works as a criminal defense investigator by day and indulges in his passions for writing, music, and humor whenever he can. He is the recipient of the Shamus Award for his novel "The Curious Eat Themselves" and was appointed the Writer Laureate of Alaska in 2006. With his unique background, diverse experiences, and deep appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the world around him, Straley continues to captivate readers with his compelling stories and memorable characters.