Men from Boys

About the Authors

Mark Billingham is the author of a series of novels featuring London-based DI Tom Thorne, the latest of which is Lazybones. The second in the series, Scaredy Cat was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel of 2002. He has also worked for many years as a stand-up comedian which some regard as big and brave, while others think it just shows a child-like need for attention. Mark tells jokes for money far less frequently these days, as those that read the books are not usually drunk, and can’t throw things.

Visit his manly, yet also boyish website at: www.markbillingham.com.

Lawrence Block has never been a short-order cook, an over-the-road truck driver, or a professional prize fighter, nor has he gone to sea. He has written any number of books, the latest of which is Small Town, which, like its author, is set in New York City.

Andrew Coburn is the author of eleven novels. His work has been translated into nine languages, and three of his novels have been made into films noir in France. Grace Stassio, writing for Under Cover, says that while reading Coburn, ‘he goes down like neat Scotch, nice and smooth’. In real life Mr Coburn prefers skimmed milk stormed with Hershey Syrup, the harsher the Hershey the better. The New York Times says, ‘Coburn writes in a brilliant style of chilly elegance and is merciless in probing tormented characters.’ Mr Coburn is unlikely ever to disagree with this.

Michael Connelly was born in Philadelphia but grew to manhood while living in various parts of Florida, where his story in this volume is set. He has published thirteen crime novels and after a decade and a half living in Los Angeles has recently returned to Florida where he is busy regressing from man to boy with the aid of a fishing pole.

Former journalist, folk singer and attorney, Jeffery Deaver is the author of eighteen novels; he’s been nominated for five Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America as well as an Anthony Award, and is a two-time recipient of the Ellery Queen Readers’ Award for best Short Story of the Year. His most recent book is The Vanishing Man, a Lincoln Rhyme novel.

Readers can visit his website at: www.jefferydeaver.com.

He acknowledges the excellent book, Scarne’s Guide to Modern Poker, which was very helpful in writing the story in this collection.

John Harvey is the author of ten Charlie Resnick novels, the stand-alone In a True Light and four short stories featuring Jack Kiley, of which ‘Chance’ is the most recent. He has previously edited Blue Lightning, a collection of short fiction with musical themes. For more fax ’n’ info, check out www.mellotone.co.uk.

For those who want to chase it down, the Townes Van Zandt recording referred to in ‘Chance’ is A Far Cry From Dead and is available on Arista 07822-18888-2.

Reginald Hill has written a lot of books and hopes to write a lot more. He has won awards but can’t remember where he put them. He lives happily in the Lake District from which he can only be extracted by large sums of money or alien abduction. People with large sums of money, or aliens, should contact his agent.

Bill James has published nineteen crime novels featuring Assistant Chief Constable Desmond Isles and Detective Chief Superintendent Colin Harpur. Reviewers describe Isles variously as clinically mad, Satanic, terrifyingly violent and instantly recognisable as an A.C.C. Harpur’s wife was murdered and he longs to be remembered as an inspired single parent. ‘Like an Arrangement’ is taken from the twentieth Harpur and Isles book, The Girl With the Long Back, due out late 2003. James also published spy novels and another crime series set around Cardiff docks.

Dennis Lehane is the author of seven novels, including Mystic River and his latest, Shutter Island. He often sets his short stories in the American South, where he lived for eight years until he tired of people not getting his jokes and moved back to Boston. He continues to live in Boston with two English bulldogs, Marlon and Stella, who don’t get his jokes either.

Author-drummer Bill Moody has toured and recorded with Maynard Ferguson, Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines, Jon Hendricks and Lou Rawls. Looking for Chet Baker is the fifth in the Evan Horne mystery series. Moody lives in northern California, where he plays jazz and teaches at Sonoma State University.

George Pelecanos never fully made the transition from boy to man. For more on his books and other obsessions — Westerns, action films, soul and punk, blaxploitation, film noir, musclecars, ladies’ shoes, ladies’ feet, etc — go to www.georgepelecanos.com.

Peter Robinson is the author of the Inspector Banks series. His short story ‘Missing in Action’ won the Edgar Allan Poe Award in 2001. Though he thinks he’s a man, there are those who say he’ll always be a little boy at heart.

Jim Sallis is a poet, novelist and all-round literary hired gun. Author of the acclaimed Lew Griffin cycle, Jim has also published books on musicology, multiple collections of poems, stories and essays, a biography of Chester Himes and a translation of Raymond Queneau’s novel Saint Glinglin. His work appears regularly in literary journals such as The Georgia Review, in mystery and science fiction magazines (for one of which, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, he writes a books column), and in major US newspapers such as the Washington Post and Boston Globe. He loves Mozart, Hawaiian and steel guitar, French literature and, most of all, his wife, Karyn.

John Straley is a former private investigator who lives in Sitka, Alaska. His poems and essays have appeared in various journals in North America. He is the author of six novels featuring private investigator Cecil Younger.

Brian Thompson was born in Lambeth, London, read English at Cambridge and now lives in Oxford. His most recent works are Imperial Vanities (HarperCollins, 2003) and Nightmare of a Victorian Bestseller (Short Books, 2002).

Don Winslow has worked as a movie theatre manager, a production assistant on documentaries and a private investigator. In addition to being an author, he now works as an independent consultant on issues involving litigation arising from criminal behaviour. His novels include The Death and Life of Bobby Z and California Fire and Life.

Daniel Woodrell is the author of seven novels, has twice been a finalist for the Dashiell Hammett Award, and won the PEN Center West Award for the novel Tomato Red. He lives happily in the boonies of America, which is a region beyond the sticks, out past Podunk and way downriver from Nowheresville. His house has a bedroom and a half and a flush toilet, and he is not above bragging about either luxury to his neighbours. He figures Roy Rogers said it best, ‘When you take the boy out of the man, you haven’t got much left.’