Tom Franklin is a highly regarded American author, particularly known for his contributions to Southern literature and crime fiction. He was born and raised in Alabama, in a small town that is evenly divided between black and white residents. Franklin's upbringing was in a hunting household, but he himself did not participate in hunting. Instead, he developed a love for writing, reading, and drawing from a young age. He is the first member of his family to receive a higher education, having attended the University of South Alabama and the University of Arkansas, where he earned his B.A. and M.F.A., respectively.
Franklin's writing career was marked by various jobs he held while struggling to make it as a writer. He worked as a heavy-equipment operator in a grit factory, a construction inspector in a chemical plant, and a clerk in a hospital morgue. These experiences provided him with a rich background that he would later incorporate into his writing. In 1997, Franklin received his MFA from the University of Arkansas, and his first book, Poachers, was published in 1999. The book was named as a Best First Book of Fiction by Esquire, and Franklin received a 1999 Edgar Award for the title story.
Franklin has since published several novels, including Hell at the Breech and Smonk. He has received numerous accolades for his work, including the 2001 Guggenheim Fellowship. Currently, Franklin teaches in the University of Mississippi's MFA program and lives in Oxford, Mississippi, with his wife, the poet Beth Ann Fennelly, and their children. Franklin's writing is deeply rooted in his Southern upbringing and explores themes of crime, morality, and the human condition. His work has been praised for its vivid imagery, compelling characters, and gripping narratives.