Loren D. Estleman

Loren D. Estleman (born September 15, 1952 in Ann Arbor, Michigan) is an American writer of detective and Western fiction. He is known for a series of crime novels featuring the investigator Amos Walker.

Estleman graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1974 with a BA in English and journalism. In 2002, Eastern Michigan University presented him with an honorary doctorate in humane letters. He married the mystery writer Deborah Morgan in 1993. He writes with a manual typewriter.

Estleman published his first novel, The Oklahoma Punk in 1976, and published the first of his P.I. Amos Walker series, for which he is most famous, in 1980. Other series center on Old West marshal Page Murdock and hitman Peter Macklin. He has also written a series of novels about the history of crime in Detroit (also the setting of his Walker books), and a more recent series about Valentino, who tracks down lost films, and crimes related to them.His non-series works include Bloody Season, a fictional recreation of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and several novels and stories featuring Sherlock Holmes, as well as contributions to several books on how to write and sell stories and novels. Estleman's literary works have been recognized and highlighted by Michigan State University in their Michigan Writers Series.

Estleman has won many awards for his writing including American Mystery Awards, Golden Spurs, and three Western Heritage Awards. He has been honored by the Michigan Foundation of the Arts and the Michigan Library Association.

Wins

• 1985 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Novel, Sugartown
• 1986 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "Eight Mile and Dequindre"
• 1989 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "The Crooked Way"
• 2004 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "Lady on Ice"

Nominations

• 1983 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "Dead Soldier"
• 1984 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Novel, The Glass Highway
• 1984 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "Greektown"
• 1986 Anthony award, Best Short Story, "Eight Mile and Dequindre"
• 1987 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "I'm in the Book"
• 1988 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Novel, Lady Yesterday
• 1988 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "Bodyguards Shoot Second"
• 1991 Edgar Award, Best Mystery Novel, Whiskey River
• 1991 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "Cigarette Stop"
• 1992 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "The Man Who Loved Noir"
• 1993 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "Safe House"
• 1995 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "Slipstream"
• 2001 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Novel, A Smile on the Face of the Tiger
• 2007 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "Square One"
• 2008 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "Kill the Cat"
• 2008 Shamus Award, Best Private Eye Short Story, "Trust Me"