Elmore Leonard Biography

Fast Facts

• Received the Grand Master Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 1992
• Studied English and philosophy at the University of Detroit
• First found success as a writer in 1951 after having his short story "Trail of the Apaches" published in the men's magazine Argosy
• His interest in writing began at a young age, and by fifth grade he had written a play inspired by the novel "All Quiet on the Western Front․"
• While working for the advertising agency Campbell Ewald, Leonard began writing novels on the side, beginning with Westerns
• Quote: "I think any writer is a fool if he doesn't do it for money․ There needs to be some kind of incentive in addition to the project․ It all goes together․ It's fun to sit there and think of characters and get them into action, then be paid for it․"
• Best known for writing multiple western, crime and suspense novels and short films that were adapted to films, including "Get Shorty," "Hombre" and "3:10 to Yuma․"
• Wrote the first drafts of his novels before transferring them with a typewriter, always refusing to use a word processor