At-a-Glance
Latest book: Runner
Lives in: The Valley
Used to be: A commercial fisherman
Favorite restaurant: Spumante
Website: www.thomasperryauthor.com
Perry's work has covered a variety of fictional suspense starting with The Butcher's Boy, which received a 1983 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best First Novel, followed by Metzger's Dog, Big Fish, Island and Sleeping Dogs. He then launched the critically acclaimed Jane Whitefield five-part series: Vanishing Act (chosen as a "100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century" by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association), Dance for the Dead, Shadow Woman, The Face Changers and Blood Money. From this point, Perry has elected to develop a non-series list of mysteries with Death Benefits, Pursuit, Dead Aim, Night Life and Fidelity. Jane Whitefield makes a come-back in Perry's new book called Runner.
Perry was born in Tonawanda, New York. He received a B.A. from Cornell University in 1969 and his Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Rochester in 1974. Among other things, he was a television writer and producer ("Simon and Simon," "21 Jump Street," "Star Trek: The Next Generation"). He lives in Southern California with his wife and two daughters.
SoCal Book Scene Exclusive (Mini) Interview:
SCBS: What did you do before you “officially” became an author?
TP: I'm not one of those people who did something filled with danger and glamor when he was young, and then retired to write about it. I didn't have a secret career in espionage. As a student I worked as a state park maintenance man and a factory laborer. Later I was a commercial fisherman, a university administrator and teacher, and a writer/producer of prime time network television shows. I learned early that it's best not to call yourself a writer until you're too busy writing to do anything respectable that you can give as an answer to the dreaded "What do you do?"
SCBS: How do you spend your weekends?
TP: Weekends are like weekdays, because I like to write every day. I do make myself available to spend time with my family or a few friends when they're free.
SCBS: What’s your favorite restaurant in Southern California?
TP: What I remember are particular evenings I've spent happily in a restaurant, but wouldn't dare pretend to be a food critic. If you can't cook, you don't know enough, and my few forays into the kitchen are legendary for their toxic results. I can recall notable evenings at Patina in Disney Concert Hall, at Spumante in North Hollywood, and at Le Petit restaurant on Ventura Boulevard, among others.
Available now at your favorite local Southern California independent bookstore:
