James Lee Burke

James Lee Burke (born December 5, 1936) is an American author of mysteries, best known for his Dave Robicheaux series. He has won an Edgar Award for "Black Cherry Blues" (1990) and "Cimarron Rose" (1998), while the Robicheaux character has been portrayed twice on screen; by Alec Baldwin in the film "Heaven's Prisoners" (1996), and by Tommy Lee Jones in the upcoming "In the Electric Mist". Since 1997, Burke has also written four novels about Texas attorney Billy Bob Holland.

Biography

Burke was born in Houston, Texas, but spent most of his childhood on the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Missouri-Columbia, receiving a BA and MA from the latter. He has worked in a wide variety of industries over the years, including oil, journalism and social care. He taught for the creative writing program at Wichita State University during the 80's, shortly before resettling in Montana.

Personal life

Burke owns homes with his wife, Pearl, in Lolo, Montana and New Iberia, Louisiana. He has one daughter by her, Alafair Burke, who is also a prominent crime writer.

Bibliography

Dave Robicheaux

*"The Neon Rain" (1987)
*"Heaven's Prisoners" (1988)
*"Black Cherry Blues" (1989)
*"A Morning for Flamingos" (1990)
*"A Stained White Radiance" (1992)
*"In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead" (1993)
*"Dixie City Jam" (1994)
*"Burning Angel" (1995)
*"Cadillac Jukebox" (1996)
*"Sunset Limited" (1998)
*"Purple Cane Road" (2000)
*"Jolie Blon's Bounce" (2002)
*"Last Car to Elysian Fields" (2003)
*"Crusader's Cross" (2005)
*"Pegasus Descending" (2006)
*"The Tin Roof Blowdown" (2007)
*"Swan Peak" (2008)

Billy Bob Holland

*"Cimarron Rose" (1997)
*"Heartwood" (1999)
*"Bitteroot" (2001)
*"In the Moon of Red Ponies" (2004)

Miscellaneous

*"Half of Paradise" (1965)
*"To The Bright and Shining Sun" (1970)
*"Lay Down My Sword and Shield" (1971)
*"Two for Texas" (1982)
*"The Lost Get-Back Boogie" (1986)
*"White Doves at Morning" (2002)

hort Stories

*"The Convict" (1985)
*"Jesus Out to Sea" (2007)

External links

* [http://jamesleeburke.com/index.html James Lee Burke's Official Website]
* [http://www.lsu.edu/thesouthernreview/FeaturedItems/Winter05_Burke.pdf "Why Bugsy Siegel Was a Friend of Mine"] , short story by James Lee Burke, "The Southern Review", Winter 2005
* [http://www.reesefuller.com/words/20020605.html "The Man Behind Dave Robicheaux"] , James Lee Burke talks about violence, writing, littering, alcoholism, liberalism and bestsellers.