O'Neil de Noux is a prominent American author, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1950. Raised in a family of mixed French and Sicilian descent, de Noux was educated in Catholic schools and grew up with a strong Catholic background. His birthplace, New Orleans, would later become a significant influence on his writing, with many of his works set in the city.
De Noux has had a diverse career, with stints in various professions before becoming a full-time writer. After completing his education at Archbishop Rummel High School, Loyola University, and Troy University in Alabama, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in European History, he served in the US Army. He then worked as an FBI Clerk and with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, where he served in several divisions, eventually becoming a homicide detective. During his time with the Sheriff’s Office, he earned seven commendations and was named Homicide Detective of the Year. He is also a graduate of the Southern Police Institute of the University of Louisville.
After leaving the Sheriff’s Office, de Noux worked in private practice as a chief investigator with a New Orleans private investigative firm for eight years. He returned to law enforcement with the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office as a detective, then worked as a magazine editor and graphics designer. His career took a turn after Hurricane Katrina, when he relocated and worked as a police investigator at Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA.
De Noux's writing spans various genres, including crime fiction, historical fiction, children’s fiction, mystery, science-fiction, suspense, fantasy, horror, western, literary, religious, romance, humor, and erotica. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the UNITED KINGDOM SHORT STORY PRIZE, the SHAMUS AWARD, the DERRINGER AWARD, and POLICE BOOK of the YEAR. Two of his stories have been featured in the prestigious BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES annual anthology. In 2012, he received an Artist Services Career Advancement Award from the Louisiana Division of the Arts for his epic novel, BATTLE KISS. De Noux has also published several series, including the LaStanza Series, Beau Series, Caye Series, and Lucifer Secret Agent Spy Series, among others.