Conwell, Kent

PERSONAL:

Born in Wheeler, TX. Education: Earned B.S., M.Ed., and Ph.D.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Port Neches, TX. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Retired teacher, writer.

WRITINGS:

"TONY BOUDREAUX" SERIES

Galveston, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Skeletons of the Atchafalaya, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Death in the Distillery, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Vicksburg, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2005.

The Ying on Triad, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Extracurricular Murder, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2006.

WESTERNS; EXCEPT AS NOTED

Panhandle Gold, Avalon Books (New York, NY) 1991.

Cattle Drive to Dodge, Thomas Bouregy (New York, NY), 1992.

Ringgold, Thomas Bouregy (New York, NY), 1993.

Wild Rose Pass, Thomas Bouregy (New York, NY), 1994.

Buster Adams and the Ragamuffin Gang, Thomas Bouregy (New York, NY), 1994.

Jim Wells, Thomas Bouregy (New York, NY), 1995.

Laughing Girl Creek, Thomas Bouregy (New York, NY), 1996.

Bumpo Bill and the Girls, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Valley of Gold, Thomas Bouregy (New York, NY), 1997.

Painted Comanche Tree, Thomas Bouregy (New York, NY), 1997.

The Ghost of Blue Bone Mesa, Thomas Bouregy (New York, NY), 1998.

Texas Orphan Train, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 1998.

The Man from Arizona, Brannon & Baker Publishing (Lexington, KY), 1998.

Blood Brothers, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 1999.

The Gold of Black Mountain, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 1999.

Glitter of Gold, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 1999.

The Alamo Trail, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Sidetrip to Sand Springs, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2000.

A Wagon Train for Brides, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Friday's Station, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Red River Crossing, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2002.

The Gambling Man, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2003.

A Hanging in Hidetown, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2003.

The Riddle of Mystery Inn (mystery), Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Gunfight at Frio Canyon, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2004.

An Eye for an Eye, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Bowie's Silver, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Angelina Showdown, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Palo Duro Shootout, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2005.

Chimney of Gold, Leisure Books (New York, NY), 2005.

Promise to a Dead Man, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Junction Flats Drifter, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2007.

The Swamps of Bayou Teche, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2007.

Atascocita Gold, Avalon Books (New York, NY), 2007.

Last Way Station, Leisure Books (New York, NY) 2007.

SIDELIGHTS:

Retired educator Kent Conwell is the author of many Western novels and number of books featuring private detective Tony Boudreaux. The second in this series, Skeletons of the Atchafalaya, is a thriller that falls into the Southern gothic category. The killers and victims are all members of Tony's family, trapped in a house during a Louisiana hurricane. As they are cut off from the world, secrets surface and tension mounts. School Library Journal contributor Ted Westervelt wrote that the "novel is fun to read."

In Vicksburg, Tony agrees to take his friend Jack to the funeral of Jack's father in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Jack reveals that he thinks there might have been foul play and offers Tony double his usual fee to investigate his father's death. This story is also filled with quirky characters, including many family members. Booklist reviewer Mary Frances Wilkens concluded that this "accessible crime tale oozes southern charm even as it mocks it."

Tony's ex-wife, Diane, and girlfriend, Janice, complicate his life in The Ying on Triad, in which he works for mob boss Danny O'Banion, whose cousin is on death row for a crime Danny says he did not commit.

Janice has left Tony in Extracurricular Murder, but her new boyfriend appears to be a con man who preys on women. Tony also investigates the death of a school superintendent whose widow is being denied an insurance settlement because she is a suspect. Booklist contributor Sue O'Brien commented that "a likably persistent main character make[s] for an entertaining addition to this too-little-known series."

Conwell told CA: "I've written all my life. My first was a three-page mystery in a spiral notebook when I was ten.

"I enjoy both classical (William Shakespeare, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck) and contempory (Stephen King, Elmer Kelton, Mickey Spillane) writers, but in all my work, I try to maintain the morality and strength of the settlers of our country.

"I sit down and write four hours a day, every day.

" I would like to say that what surprised me most was that readers liked what I was writing. I didn't think they would, but I wrote what I liked to read, and to my suprise, a lot of others liked the same thing."

When asked which of his books are his favorites, Conwell said: "They're all my favorites. When I go through the creative process for a western, mysteries are my favorite. When I'm working on mysteries, the western becomes my favorite.

"If readers can move into another world for a few hours, exercise their imaginations, and come away content, I'm happy. Oh, yes, and if they're unable to figure out my mysteries until the end, I'm pleased."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, May 1, 2005, Mary Frances Wilkens, review of Vicksburg, p. 1517; October 15, 2005, Wes Lukowsky, review of Palo Duro Shootout, p. 39; February 1, 2006, Jenny McLarin, review of The Ying on Triad, p. 32; August 1, 2006, Sue O'Brien, review of Extracurricular Murder, p. 48.

Library Journal, December 1, 2003, Rex E. Klett, review of Skeletons of the Atchafalaya, p. 171.

School Library Journal, January 1, 2004, Ted Westervelt, review of Skeletons of the Atchafalaya, p. 163.