[close] Donald Edwin Westlake was an American writer, with over a hundred novels and non-fiction books to his credit. He specialized in crime fiction, especially comic capers with an occasional foray into science fiction. He was a three-time Edgar Award winner, one of only two writers (the other is Joe Gores) to win Edgars in three different categories (1968, Best Novel, God Save the Mark; 1990, Best Short Story, "Too Many Crooks"; 1991, Best Motion Picture Screenplay, The Grifters). In 1993, the Mystery Writers of America named Westlake a Grand Master, the highest honor bestowed by the society. He was also an occasional contributor to science fiction fanzines such as Xero.

Westlake was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended Champlain College and Harpur College in Binghamton, New York. He spent two years in the United States Air Force, an experience that would later influence his fiction (several of his novels' protagonists, notably Parker and the protagonist of 361, are ex-military men). He was married to Abigail Westlake (also known as Abby Adams Westlake and Abby Adams), a writer of nonfiction (her two published books are An Uncommon Scold and The Gardener's Gripe Book). The couple lived in upstate New York. Abby Westlake is a well-regarded gardener and the Westlake garden is frequently opened for public viewing in the summer. He died on December 31, 2008 in Mexico.

In addition to writing consistently under his own name, Westlake published under several pseudonyms[2].The best known continuing pseudonym was that of Richard Stark. From 1962-1974, 20 novels about the relentless and remorseless professional thief Parker and his accomplices appeared and were credited to Richard Stark. "Stark" was then inactive until 1997, when Westlake once again began writing and publishing Parker novels under Stark's name.

Other Westlake pseudonyms:

John B. Allan (Elizabeth Taylor: A Fascinating Story of America's Most Talented Actress and the World's Most Beautiful Woman, 1961, biography);
Judson Jack Carmichael (The Scared Stiff, 2002, mystery; U.K. editions dropped the pseudonym);
Curt Clark (Anarchaos, 1967, science fiction);
Tucker Coe (mysteries featuring the character of Mitch Tobin: Kinds of Love, Kinds of Death, 1966; Murder Among Children, 1967; Wax Apple and A Jade in Aries, both 1970; Don't Lie to Me, 1972);
Timothy J. Culver (Ex Officio, 1970, thriller);
J. Morgan Cunningham (Comfort Station, 1971, humor);
Samuel Holt (mysteries featuring the character of Sam Holt: One of Us is Wrong and I Know a Trick Worth Two of That, both 1986; What I Tell You Three Times is False, 1987; The Fourth Dimension is Death, 1989); and
Sheldon Lord (paperback porn; two novels published in 1960 were co-authored by Lawrence Block and credited to Sheldon Lord and Alan Marshall: A Girl Called Honey, dedicated to Westlake and Block, and So Willing, dedicated to "Nedra and Loretta," Westlake and Block's wives);
Alan Marshall (or Alan Marsh) (paperback porn from 1959-64; titles include All My Lovers, Man Hungry, All About Annette, Sally, Virgin's Summer, Call Me Sinner, Off Limits, Man Hungry, and three featuring the character of Phil Crawford: Apprentice Virgin, All the Girls Were Willing, and Sin Prowl;
Edwin West (Brother and Sister, Campus Doll, Young and Innocent, all 1961; Strange Affair, 1962.) [close]