Will Thomas

Will Thomas is an accomplished American novelist, best known for his historical mystery series featuring the characters Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn. Set in the 1880s, the Barker and Llewelyn novels draw from historical events, people, and movements of the Victorian era. The series is known for its recurring theme of martial combat, which is inspired by Thomas' own interests and expertise in the Victorian martial arts of Bartitsu and Hung Gar.

Before becoming a full-time author, Thomas was a librarian for the Tulsa City-County Library System and wrote essays for Sherlock Holmes society publications. He also gave lectures on Victorian-era crime fiction. Thomas's background in the Victorian era, as well as his experience as a librarian, have been instrumental in his success as a historical fiction author.

Thomas's work has gained recognition in the literary world, with his first novel, "Some Danger Involved," being nominated for multiple awards and winning the Oklahoma Book Award in 2005. In 2015, he won the Oklahoma Book Award a second time for "Fatal Enquiry." He has been featured on the cover of Library Journal and was the Toastmaster at the 2007 Great Manhattan Mystery Conclave in Manhattan, Kansas. Thomas is married to fellow author Julia Bryan Thomas.

In addition to his writing, Thomas is also an avid practitioner of the Victorian martial arts Bartitsu and Hung Gar, which he frequently incorporates into his work. He currently resides in Oklahoma with his family, where he continues to write and teach martial arts.