Neil S. Plakcy

Neil S. Plakcy is a renowned author from the United States, who specializes in writing mystery, romance, thriller, and gay & lesbian novels. He is particularly famous for his Mahu Investigations series and the Golden Retriever mystery series. Plakcy has made a significant contribution to the world of gay literature and has been a finalist for the Lambda Award in the category of the Best Gay Mystery Novel. Many of his mystery novels are set in the exotic location of Hawaii.

Plakcy was born in Trenton, New Jersey, and completed his graduation from the Pennsylvania University with a degree in creative writing. During his time at the university, he was acquainted with famous novelists Carlos Fuentes and Philip Roth. Later, he joined the Columbia University and graduated from its business school with an MBA degree in real estate & operations management. After working for a game development company, Plakcy had the opportunity to study for an MFA in creative writing while working as a producer in South Florida. He earned his MFA from the Florida International University in 1992 and was a member of the first class to receive this degree. Plakcy's instructors included James W. Hall, Les Standiford, and Lynne Barrett, and his classmates included Christine Kling, Barbara Parker, Vicki Hendricks, and Dennis Lehane.

Plakcy is an animal lover and has written the Golden Retriever mystery series, which was inspired by his own goldens, Samwise, Brody, and Griffin. He enjoys writing cozy mysteries as well as gay mysteries, M/M romance, and gay erotica. Plakcy's first published novel was Mahu, which features a Honolulu homicide detective named Kimo Kanapa'aka. Plakcy has put a lot of himself into Kimo and has been writing about him for many years. Plakcy currently resides in Hollywood, Florida, with his partner and their golden retrievers.