Don Winslow

Don Winslow is an American author most recognized for his crime and mystery novels. Many of his books are set in California. He has published a series of five novels that have a private investigator named Neal Carey as their main character. His most recent book, Savages has attracted critical acclaim, with the New York Times describing it as a "startling bid for attention".^[1]

Personal life

Winslow was born in New York, on Halloween night, 1953,^[2] but grew up in Perryville, a beach town near the village of Matunuck, Rhode Island.^[3][4][5] He credits his parents for preparing him to become a writer: his mother was a librarian, and his father was a non-commissioned officer in the United States Navy who told stories and invited Navy friends who told more. From them, Winslow was inspired to become a storyteller himself.^[4] He majored in African History at the University of Nebraska.^[2]

In the late 1970s, Winslow moved back to New York City, where he first worked managing a chain of movie theaters, then as a private investigator in movie theaters and the back alleys of Times Square. His career grew even more varied; he went back to school to earn a master's degree in Military History, and led safaris in Kenya and hiking trips in China's Sichuan province. His first published novel, A Cool Breeze on the Underground (1991) was written during this time. It was the first of a series of books about investigator Neil Carey, and was not very successful. Winslow's career as an investigator would repeatedly bring him to California, to look into arson cases; his storytelling skills helped in explaining cases to juries. In the mid 1990s, he moved to California with his wife Jean and their infant son, Thomas, and kept writing when he could. His thriller The Death and Life of Bobby Z (1997), was a success, and allowed him to become a full-time writer.^[4] They live in Julian, California.^[2][5]

Writing

Winslow says that he writes every day from 5:30 to 10:00 in the morning and then hikes six or seven miles before returning to work. He generally works on two books at a time, moving to the other when work on the first stalls. He says the longest he has gone without writing after a book is completed is five days; he calls it an addiction.^[5][2][6]

The time it takes him to write a book varies. The Death and Life of Bobby Z was written on the train between Dana Point, California and Los Angeles, one chapter per trip.^[4][2] The Power of the Dog took six years to research and write, including traveling to Mexico to interview people with similar experiences as its characters.^[7]

Winslow's novel Savages is set to be adapted into a film of the same name. Oliver Stone is directing.

Fiction

• 1991: A Cool Breeze on the Underground (Neal Carey Mysteries)
• 1992: The Trail to Buddha's Mirror (Neal Carey Mysteries)
• 1993: Way Down on the High Lonely (Neal Carey Mysteries)
• 1994: A Long Walk Up the Water Slide (Neal Carey Mysteries)
• 1996: While Drowning in the Desert (Neal Carey Mysteries)
• 1996: Isle of Joy
• 1997: Death and Life of Bobby Z
• 1999: California Fire and Life
• 2005: The Power of the Dog
• 2006: The Winter of Frankie Machine
• 2008: The Dawn Patrol
• 2009: The Gentlemen's Hour
• 2010: Savages ^[8]
• 2011: About Tommy Flynn
• 2011: Satori

Non-fiction

• 2004: Looking for a Hero (with Peter Maslowski), ISBN 978-0-8032-3244-0 ^[9]

Scripts and Screen Plays

• Alexander Hamilton: In Worlds Unknown — (script and film; New York Historical Society)
• The Full Ride

References

1. ^ Janet maslin (July 7, 2010). "Books of The Times - New-Wave Drug Dealers in Don Winslow's Savages". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/08/books/08book.html?hpw. Retrieved 08 July 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Hi. My name is Don Winslow, and I'm a writing addict", by John Wilkens, San Diego Union-Tribune, June 8, 2008. Retrieved July 07, 2010.
3. ^ "Bio", Don Winslow's Official Website. Retrieved July 07, 2010.
4. ^ ^{a b c d} "Surfing shamus", by Scott Timberg, June 09, 2008, Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 07, 2010.
5. ^ ^{a b c} "Don Winslow on Surf Noir, Appeal Of Crime Fiction", by Jeffrey A. Trachtenbert, May 23, 2008, Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 07, 2010.
6. ^ "Crime writer considers US war on drugs", Kerry O'Brien, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, broadcast 31/05/2007. Retrieved July 07, 2010.
7. ^ "Inside the war on drugs", by Regis Behe, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 8, 2005. Retrieved July 07, 2010.
8. ^ [1] Simon & Schuster.
9. ^ "Looking for a Hero" University of Nebraska press. Retrieved July 7, 2010.

External links

• Don Winslow's Website
• The Death And Life Of Bobby Z on amazon.com
• A Cool Breeze on the Underground (movie, in production) overview on imdb.com
• "When New-Wave Drug Dealers Run Afoul of an Old-Wave Cartel", Janet Maslin, The New York Times, 7 July 2010
• Don Winslow in Barcelona, speech and interview in Canal-L, channel of books and literature

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Name	Winslow, Don
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Date of birth	1953
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