Walter Mosley

Walter Mosley (born January 12, 1952) is a prominent African-American novelist, most widely recognized for his crime fiction. His series of best-selling historical mysteries featuring the hard-boiled detective Easy Rawlins, a black private investigator and ex-World War II veteran living in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, is perhaps his most popular work.

Related Topics:
January 12 - 1952 - African-American - Crime fiction - Hard-boiled - Easy Rawlins - Private investigator - World War II - Watts - Los Angeles

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Mosley has written over twenty books in a variety of genres, including non-mystery fiction, science fiction and non-fiction politics, and has been translated into 21 languages. Two of his books have been made into films or television specials; his first published book, Devil in a Blue Dress, became a 1995 movie starring Denzel Washington. Mosley's fame increased in 1992 when then-President Bill Clinton, a fan of murder mysteries, named Mosley as one of his favorite authors.

Related Topics:
Science fiction - Devil in a Blue Dress - Denzel Washington - Bill Clinton

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Mosley is the winner of numerous awards, including the Anisfield Wolf Award, an honor given to works that increase the appreciation and understanding of race in America. He was a finalist for the NAACP Award in Fiction and won the 1996 Black Caucus of the American Library Association's Literary Award for RL's Dream. He was an O. Henry Award winner in 1996 (for a Socrates Fortlow story). In 2005 the Sundance Institute gave him a "Risktaker Award" for both his creative and activist efforts.

Related Topics:
NAACP - RL's Dream - O. Henry Award - Sundance Institute

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Mosley holds an honorary doctorate from The City College and has served on the board of directors of the National Book Awards. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he now lives in New York City.

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