Introducing…

Kelly SwinneyENG240March 18, 2013

Early days

• Born in Los Angeles – lived his entire life in Southern California• Went to school in Orange County public schools• Bachelor’s degree from UC Irvine in 1976• In 1992 received Distinguished Alumnus award

Writing Career

• Began writing in 1978 as a cub reporter on the weekly newspaper, The Newport Ensign• Reported on policy, city hall and cultural stories • Moved on to the Daily Pilot newspaper• Won three Orange County Press Club awards for his articles• “Tucked away” stories and information he would use in his first book, Laguna Heat

A Mystery Writer

T. Jefferson Parker’s novels deal with crime, life and death in sunny Southern California

His writing has been called "potent and irresistible" (L.A. Times) and "resonant, literate and powerful" (Kirkus).

The New York Times wrote that "T. Jefferson Parker is a powerhouse writer."

First Novel

• Laguna Heat (1985) – wrote in the evenings and weekends while working as a journalist.

• Published to rave reviews and made into an HBO movie starring Harry Hamlin, Jason Robards and Rip Torn.

• Paperback made the best seller list in 1986.

T. Jefferson Parker…This was a real labor of love. Five full drafts, five years of writing part-time while I did my newspaper job. Like a lot of young writers I was trying to copy my heroes. I ended up with a draft of bad Chandler, a draft of bad Hemingway, a draft of bad Tom McGuane, a draft of bad Garcia-Marquez.

So finally I sat down and wrote another draft in pure Jeff Parker. I remember struggling over that first sentence for hours. It finally came: "A perfect morning in a city of perfect mornings; an artist would have worked, a god would have rested." I was proud of that sentence. A little purple for a mystery, but so what? It's a young man's book and young men's books can be good things. It still holds up, I think, the story is strong.

Slick and elegant. —Los Angeles Times

A dandy detective yarn...the author has a flair for intricate plotting, swift pacing, and well-drawn characters that jump off the page.

—Dallas Morning News

California classic....Laguna Heat will linger in the memory long after all the puzzle's pieces are finally in place.

—The Washington Post Red-hot reading...Hypnotic.

—Columbus Dispatch

(1985)

(1998)

(1991) (1993) Washington Post reviewer, Carolyn See called The Triggerman’s Dance (1996) a masterpiece.

Where Serpent’s Lie (1998) and The Blue Hour (1999) appeared five weeks on the L.A. best seller list .

(1996

(1988)

(1999)

T. Jefferson Parker…I wanted a first-person tale here, something far away from the spare language of RED LIGHT. I also wanted to write a fresh hero. In crime fiction, it often seems to be the world-weary detective, going into the world to do battle. But I thought, hell, why not write someone young and fresh and full of strength and innocence? So I came up with Joe. A lot of things came together for this book: my fascination with the idea of ugliness hiding beauty, the idea of being brought up by an institution rather than by parents, the idea of clinging loyally to precepts that turn out to be faulty, untrue, or even dangerous. I also wanted to imagine my way into the hidden powers behind an affluent place like Orange County, California. This was an enjoyable book to write. Joe surprised and delighted me at times. It was great to write a straightforward love story that comes out right. It's a very different book for me, and different than most you'll find on the mystery/crime racks. I hope people like it.

Red Light (2000) and Silent Joe (2001) made the best seller list

Silent Joe (2001) won the Mystery Writer’s of America Edgar Award for Best Novel and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Mystery/Thriller

Black Water (2002)

Cold Pursuit (2003) – Judged Novel of the Year by the Southern California Bookseller’s Association

California Girl (2004) – Won his 2nd Best Novel Edgar award

A Detailed Researcher…

In researching his book, Black Water, the prime suspect gets shot in the head and the memory portion of his brain is destroyed. He no longer has an “emotional rudder” to guide his thoughts and actions.

For his research, Jeff attended a symposium where he learned about a chemical called luciferase which allows fireflies to produce light. It also allows scientists to see how your cells are responding to therapy.

“To the adult in me, this firefly idea seemed absolutely ingenious. Who'd even think of trying that. But to the boy in me—who captured fireflies on Grandma Mae's farm in Ohio and bottled them to make lanterns, (bio-lanterns?) it seemed like an obvious application.”

T. Jefferson Parker…I became interested in the brain and how it functions when my mother and my wife were both diagnosed with brain tumors just a few years apart. As I watched my two very loved ones go through the biological degeneration and the trauma of medical treatment for these cancers I saw the powers of their beautiful minds become confused, diffused, weakened, and finally, lost.

“Science and stories have one big thing in common, they're both about people,” said Parker.

(2006) (2007

Click book for an excerpt reading

(2009) (2011) (2010) (2008)

(2012)

Recent novels which feature protagonist Charlie Hood, a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department deputy "on loan" to a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms task force working the illegal gun trade along the U.S. Mexico border.

In Jeff's 2010 novel, IRON RIVER, Hood is running the California-Mexico border with the ATF, searching for the iron river the massive and illegal flow of handguns and automatic weapons that fuels the bloody cartel wars south of the border. Gunrunners by nature aren’t exactly ethical, but the lengths they’ll go to, and the innocent lives they’ll risk, are shocking even to Hood. Most shocking of all is the close personal connection Hood finds wrapped up in events south of the border a connection that shakes him to his core!

DovetailStudio1. (2009, October 1). Iron River-T. Jefferson Parker. Retrieved 3/18/13 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De48dT3fjoc&feature=youtu.be

(2013) (2012)

YouTube – The Jaguar intro

T_Jefferson_Posse_-_City_of_Gold_-_1.mp3

Album Download (T Jefferson Posse - City of Gold (feat. Carlos Murguia, Andrea DiLancelott, Tom Bagley, Peter Dobson, Chris Whynaught, Cesar Castro, Willie Acuno, T Jefferson Parker & Sue Cross)

Newer Marketing Ideas-You Tube video and musical scores

Publicist Christine Ball, Dutton….

Jeff Parker connects with his fans through his website at:- Tjeffersonparker.com- Online newsletter- Facebook

- Some of his books are under option by Hollywood. Announcements will be made through his website and newsletters

- Jeff Parker schedules many appearances through the local area

For more information, please contact: Christine Ball, Dutton(212) 366-2205Christine.Ball@us.penguingroup.com

APRIL 2013

Thursday, April 18thDiscussion and Book Signing 7:30PMWarwicks7812 Girard AveLa Jolla, CA 92037

Friday, April 19th, 11:00 AMFeatured AuthorNewport/Mesa ProLiteracy6th Annual Gift of Literacy LuncheonBahia Corinthian Yacht Club1601 Bayside DriveCorona del Mar, CA www.newportbeachlibrary.org/literacyTICKETED EVENT

Friday, April 19thFallbrook’s Writers ReadProgram and Book Signing 6:00-7:30PMThe Café des Artistes(760) 728-3350103 S. Main, Fallbrook, CA 92028www.fallbrookartsalliance.org/calendar/view/1009778.html**If dining, reservations required

Saturday and Sunday, April 20th & 21st LA Times Festival of BooksUniversity of Southern California CampusMore Information Coming Soon!http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/

Monday, April 22ndDiscussion and Book Signing 6:30 PMMurder by the Book2342 Bissonett StreetHouston, TX 77005

Tuesday, April 23rdDiscussion and Book Signing 7:00PMPoisoned Pen 4014 N Goldwater BlvdSte 101Scottsdale, AZ 85251-4327

Friday, April 26th Discussion and Book Signing 7:00PMMysterious Galaxy7051 Claremont Mesa Blvd., Ste 302San Diego, CA 92111

Saturday, April 27thDiscussion and Book Signing 4PMVroman’s Bookstore695 E. Colorado Blvd.Pasadena, CA 91101

Sunday, April 28thDiscussion and Book Signing 2:00PM to 3:30PM Mystery Ink Bookstore 8907 Warner Avenue, #135Huntington Beach, CA 92647

JUNE 2013

Sunday, June 23rd California Crime Writers ConferencePanel: Outlining v. Seat-of-the-Pantsing 3:30PM to 4:45PMThe Hilton Pasadena168 S. Los Robles AvenuePasadena, CAwww.ccwconference.org

JULY 2013

Wednesday, July 10th – Saturday July 13th Spotlight Author ThrillerFest VIIIandParticipating InstructorCraftFest VIIIGrand Hyatt Hotel New York109 East 42nd Street at Grand Central TerminalNew York, New York 10017www.thrillerfest.com

MAY 2013

Saturday, May 4th Discussion and Book Signing 2:30PMMysterious Galaxy2810 Artesia Blvd.Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Tuesday, May 7th Pen on Fire Writers Salon 7:00PM to 8:00PM An Evening with T Jefferson Parker in Conversation with Barbara DeMarco-BarrettScape Gallery2859 E. Coast HighwayCorona del Mar, CA 92625www.barbarademarcobarrett.comTICKETED EVENT

Saturday, May 11th Discussion and Book Signing 2:00PMBook Carnival348 S. Tustin AvenueOrange, CA 92866

In his spare time…• Likes to spend time with his family• Hiking, hunting and fishing and exercising his dogs• Rock hounding and the outdoors• Escapes to the desert in the spring and the fall – to hike the country and not

answer telephones

Credit: Marion Ettlinger

High aspirations of a mother…“What does the T stand for?

Not a thing. No, really. Nada. Zip. Jeff’s mom always explained it by saying she thought the T. would look good on the

President’s door.

CDBaby.com. ( ). Digital Downloads. Retrieved from https://www.cdbaby.com/MyAccount/Downloads.aspx

References

Dovetailstudio1. (2009, October 1). Iron River - T. Jefferson Parker. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=De48dT3fjoc&feature=endscreen

Dovetailstudio.com. ( ). T. Jefferson Parker. Retrieved from http://www.tjeffersonparker.com/index.htm