An Introduction and Brief Bio of Jack Kerley,
aka J. A. Kerley
I spent over twenty years as an advertising writer
before becoming a novelist. I prefer writing novels,
as it’s taken me from about three deadlines a day to
one a year. Instead of researching meat products and
eyewear and whatnot, I research serial killers and
dysfunctional minds.
The Manson Family was on its rampage when I was in
high school. I became riveted by how a group of
runaway kids could pledge their souls to a
five-foot-tall madman who bathed erratically. Thus
began my fascination with psychotics and sociopaths
and other grim and dangerous folks. In addition, I
like people who are harmless and just plain odd.
I live in Newport, Kentucky, on a swooping bend in
the Ohio River, where the Midwest meets the South,
and both butt up against Appalachia. I’ve spent a
lot of time in coastal Alabama, the setting for many
of the novels. I also have a cabin in the eastern
Kentucky mountains—a beautiful place to write—and
expect the setting will appear in a forthcoming
book.
I have two children, Amanda and John. They’re
smarter and better-looking than I am, so here’s a
big hurrah for evolution. My wife, Elaine, started
my second career by ordering me to quit advertising
and write novels. A big hurrah for her, too.
Three books of mine—The Hundredth Man, The Death
Collectors, and A Garden of Vipers (UK title:
The
Broken Souls) —were published in the US. They didn’t
sell in earth-shaking quantities here, and are no
longer available. My major market is the UK and
Australia. My books are also in ten languages and
over twenty countries, for which I’m grateful. In
the US, the books can be ordered from Houston’s
acclaimed Murder by the Book at
www.murderbooks.com.
My next Carson Ryder/Harry Nautilus book is In the
Blood, appearing in the UK on June 29. In late
October, the much-awaited tale, Little Girls Lost,
is due out. My sincere thanks to all the folks who
read and recommend my books and to the fine
bookstore personnel and librarians who’ve put them
in people’s hands.
Hurrah for you, too.
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