Elmore John Leonard, Jr. (October 11, 1925 – August 20, 2013) was an American novelist and screenwriter. His earliest novels, published in the 1950s, were Westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.Among his best-known works are Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Hombre, Mr. Majestyk, and Rum Punch (adapted for the movie Jackie Brown). Leonard's writings include short stories that became the films 3:10 to Yuma and The Tall T, as well as the FX television series Justified.
October 11, 1925, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died
August 20, 2013, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, United States
Place Of Birth
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Profession
Writer, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew
Education
University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, University of Detroit Mercy
Nationality
American
Spouse
Christine Kent, Joan Leanne Lancaster, Beverly Claire Cline
Children
Peter Leonard, Bill Leonard, Chris Leonard, Jane Leonard, Kate Leonard
Parents
Flora Amelia, Elmore John Leonard Sr.
Awards
Edgar Award for Best Novel, Cartier Diamond Dagger
Nominations
Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original
Movies
Jackie Brown, Out of Sight, Life of Crime, Get Shorty
TV Shows
Karen Sisco, Fire in the Hole
Star Sign
Libra
#
Trademark
1
Spends the first half of a novel setting up various unrelated characters, then in the second half has them all interact, providing completely unpredictable consequences
2
Major characters in his novels tend to have a checkered past. Their criminal tendencies gives Leonard the option of having his central figures tap into negative or positive traits for surprising end twist.
The bad guys are the fun guys. The only people I have trouble with are the so-called normal types. Their language isn't very colorful, and they don't talk with any certain sound.
2
[re villains' brevity of speech] You never tell the guy what could happen to him. Let him use his imagination, he'll think of something worse. In other words, don't talk when you don't have to.
3
[on the process of writing] There isn't any secret. You sit down and you start and that's it.
4
[on film versions of his work] I don't remember all the bad ones. I know "The Big Bounce" was bad, though, and they made it twice. It wasn't bad enough the first time [The Big Bounce (1969)]. I don't think anybody in the picture knew what they were doing. The second time they made it [The Big Bounce (2004)], they shot it in Hawaii. They would cut to surfers when they ran out of ideas.
5
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. I can't believe it when writers tell me, "I don't want to show my work to anybody". Well, what are you doing it for?
6
If work was a good thing, the rich would have it all and not let you do it.
7
[about the adaptation of his book "Get Shorty"] All the adaptations of my books all sucked. This one [Get Shorty (1995)] got it right for once.
8
[his first rule of writing dialog] If it sounds written, it's wrong.
The author's "10 Rules of Writing" have attained near gospel status for both established and aspiring writers alike:
1. Never open a book with weather. - 2. Avoid prologues. - 3. Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue. - 4. Never use an adverb to modify the verb "said". . .he admonished gravely. - 5. Keep your exclamation points under control. You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose. - 6. Never use the words "suddenly" or "all hell broke loose." - 7. Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly. - 8. Avoid detailed descriptions of characters. - 9. Don't go into great detail describing places and things. - 10. Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.
3
His many awards include the Hammett Prize from the International Association of Crime Writers, the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America, the Diamond Dagger Award from the Crime Writers' Association of Great Britain and, an honorary U.S. National Book Award for lifetime achievement (2012).
4
Said to have been influenced by the writings of Ernest Hemingway.
5
Worked as an advertising writer in the 1950's, initially only sidelining as an author of western fiction.
6
Attended the University of Detroit, studying English and philosophy.
7
Served with the Seabees in the U.S. Navy, 1943-45.
8
His father, an executive with General Motors, moved the family to Detroit when he was nine years old. After graduating from high school in 1943, he spent two years in the Navy, graduated from the University of Detroit in 1950 and then became a copywriter for a local advertising agency.
9
His first story was published in Argosy magazine in 1951, and in the following 60 years, Leonrd wrote a book every year, with his 45th, "Raylan," being published in 2012.
10
Universal bought the rights to his novel "LaBrava" before it was published, but never produced it as a movie.
11
Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, Vol. 133, pp. 307-315. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005.
12
In nearly every film made from his books, there is a scene where at least one person gets locked in the trunk of a car.
13
Appeared in American Express print ads in the late 1980s. The photo, by Annie Leibovitz, appears on the back of the hardcover version of "Freaky Deaky".
14
Refuses to use a word processor. He writes all his first drafts in longhand, then rewrites on a typewriter.
15
Secretly wrote his earliest novels while working at an advertising agency. He kept paper in a desk drawer and wrote with his arm stuck in the drawer. When somebody came by his desk, he closed the drawer. He took his writings home every night and rewrote them.
16
Currently resides in suburban Oakland County, Michigan. Many of his novels are set in Detroit and the surrounding suburbs.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Justified
TV Series based on the short story "Fire in the Hole" by - 36 episodes, 2010 - 2015 based on the short story 'Fire in the Hole' by - 24 episodes, 2012 - 2013 short story "Fire in the Hole" - 14 episodes, 2014 - 2015 story - 4 episodes, 2011 - 2013 based on the short story "Fire in the Hole" - 4 episodes, 2011
The Arrangement
2013
TV Movie story "When the Women Come Out to Dance"
Life of Crime
2013
based on the book "The Switch" written by
Freaky Deaky
2012
novel
Sparks
2009/I
Short based on a story by
Killshot
2008
novel
The Tonto Woman
2008
Short story
The 2007 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Live Action
2008
3:10 to Yuma
2007
short story
Be Cool
2005
novel
Karen Sisco
TV Series characters - 1 episode, 2004 story - 1 episode, 2003
$100,000
