Elmore Leonard

Elmore John Leonard Jr. (born October 11, 1925 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a popular American , author, and screenwriter.

Related Topics:
October 11 - 1925 - New Orleans, Louisiana - American - Author - Screenwriter

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His father worked for General Motors (GM), as a site locator for GM facilities, which caused them to move a lot. Although born in New Orleans, Leonard did not live there long. The family moved often until he was nine, in 1934, after that they made Detroit, Michigan their home. About this time two major influences would occur that would show up in many of his works. Gangsters like Bonnie and Clyde and the Detroit Tigers were both making national headlines. In the early 1930?s Bonnie and Clyde were on their rampage, being killed in May of 1934. The Tigers made it to the World Series in 1934, and Detroit was alive with talk of the team that year. He would take these events into lifelong fascinations of both sports and guns.

Related Topics:
General Motors - 1934 - Detroit, Michigan - Gangsters - Bonnie and Clyde - Detroit Tigers - World Series

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Leonard got his first breaks in the fiction market during the 1950s regularly publishing pulp western novels. He has since forayed into mystery, crime, and more topical genres, as well as screenwriting. He has been commended by critics for his gritty realism and strong dialogue. His writing style, which takes liberties with proper grammar in exchange for flow, is also unique.

Related Topics:
1950s - Western - Mystery - Crime - Screenwriting - Writing - Style

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A number of his novels have been adapted as films, perhaps most notably Get Shorty in 1995 and Rum Punch as the 1997 film Jackie Brown.

Related Topics:
Get Shorty - Rum Punch - Jackie Brown

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Leonard now lives in Oakland County, Michigan, many of his more recent novels are set in Metro Detroit.

Related Topics:
Oakland County, Michigan - Metro Detroit

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