Elmore Leonard, R.I.P.

Otto Penzler, publisher, editor and owner of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York City wrote about his friend Elmore Leonard in National Review Online.

Leonard was the quintessential American crime writer, his prose matching the rhythms of American Jazz — that other uniquely American art form.

His ten rules of writing should be required reading for every student in an MFA program. Though he wrote tough books about tough guys, they were always compassionate; even the bad guys had hearts. This was a reflection of the man himself, a friend for so long, who never had a bad word to say about anyone (except Dustin Hoffman, who stood him up three times while they were trying to work out a movie deal).

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/356313/elmore-leonard-rip-otto-penzler

 

You can also read an earlier post on Elmore Leonard via the below link:

 

http://www.pauldavisoncrime.com/2013/08/return-to-elmoreland-look-back-at-great_20.html