Joseph Heywood is an American author, best known for his Woods Cop Mysteries series, which are set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Heywood was born in Rhinebeck, New York, but grew up as an Air Force brat. He graduated from Rudyard High School in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in 1961 and went on to earn a B.A. in Journalism from Michigan State in 1965. After graduation, he spent five years in the U.S. Air Force, an experience that would later provide him with ample background for his Woods Cops series.
Heywood is not only an author but also a cartoonist, painter, poet, photographer, fisherman, and hiker. His love for the outdoors and his extensive experience in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are evident in his writing, as he accurately captures the unique landscape and way of life in the region. In addition to his Woods Cop Mysteries series, Heywood has also written a number of standalone novels and short story collections, all of which reflect his deep connection to the outdoors and his native Michigan.
Heywood is dedicated to ensuring the authenticity of his Woods Cop series and spends up to a month a year on patrol with Michigan conservation officers in the Upper Peninsula. This firsthand experience allows him to accurately portray the duties and challenges faced by conservation officers in the region, and it adds a level of realism to his writing that is often lacking in other mystery novels. Heywood's love for the Upper Peninsula and his commitment to accurately representing the region and its people make him a beloved and respected figure in the Michigan literary community.