T. Jefferson Parker is a mystery writer from Southern California known for his crime novels set in the region. He began his writing career in the late 1970s as a newspaper reporter before publishing his first novel, Laguna Heat, in 1985. The novel was a critical and commercial success and led to Parker establishing a successful career as a novelist. He is best known for his Charlie Hood series of novels set along the California-Mexico border. Parker remains actively involved in his writing career through book tours, conferences and maintaining an online presence.

1. Introducing…
Kelly Swinney
ENG240
March 18, 2013

2. 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

3. 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."

4. 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.

5. 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 (1985)
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. California classic....Laguna Heat will linger in
—Los Angeles Times the memory long after all the puzzle's pieces
A dandy detective yarn...the author has a are finally in place.
flair for intricate plotting, swift pacing, and —The Washington Post
well-drawn characters that jump off the Red-hot reading...Hypnotic.
page.
—Columbus Dispatch
—Dallas Morning News

6. (1988) (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 (1998) (1999)

7. 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
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.

8. 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

9. 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.

10. (2006) (2007
Click book for an
excerpt reading

11. (2008) (2009) (2010) (2011)
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.
(2012)

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

13. Newer Marketing Ideas-You Tube video and musical scores
YouTube – The Jaguar intro
(2012) (2013)
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)

14. 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) 366-2205
Christine.Ball@us.penguingroup.com

15. APRIL 2013 Monday, April 22nd
Discussion and Book Signing 6:30 PM
Thursday, April 18th Murder by the Book
Discussion and Book Signing 7:30PM 2342 Bissonett Street
Warwicks Houston, TX 77005
7812 Girard Ave
La Jolla, CA 92037 Tuesday, April 23rd
Discussion and Book Signing 7:00PM
Friday, April 19th, 11:00 AM Poisoned Pen
Featured Author 4014 N Goldwater Blvd
Newport/Mesa ProLiteracy Ste 101
6th Annual Gift of Literacy Luncheon Scottsdale, AZ 85251-4327
Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club
1601 Bayside Drive Friday, April 26th
Corona del Mar, CA Discussion and Book Signing 7:00PM
www.newportbeachlibrary.org/literacy Mysterious Galaxy
TICKETED EVENT 7051 Claremont Mesa Blvd., Ste 302
San Diego, CA 92111
Friday, April 19th
Fallbrook’s Writers Read Saturday, April 27th
Program and Book Signing 6:00-7:30PM Discussion and Book Signing 4PM
The Café des Artistes Vroman’s Bookstore
(760) 728-3350 695 E. Colorado Blvd.
103 S. Main, Pasadena, CA 91101
Fallbrook, CA 92028
www.fallbrookartsalliance.org/calendar/view/1009778.html Sunday, April 28th
**If dining, reservations required Discussion and Book Signing 2:00PM to 3:30PM
Mystery Ink Bookstore
Saturday and Sunday, April 20th & 21st 8907 Warner Avenue, #135
LA Times Festival of Books Huntington Beach, CA 92647
University of Southern California Campus
More Information Coming Soon!
http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/

16. MAY 2013 JUNE 2013
Saturday, May 4th Sunday, June 23rd
Discussion and Book Signing 2:30PM California Crime Writers Conference
Mysterious Galaxy Panel: Outlining v. Seat-of-the-Pantsing 3:30PM to 4:45PM
2810 Artesia Blvd. The Hilton Pasadena
Redondo Beach, CA 90278 168 S. Los Robles Avenue
Pasadena, CA
Tuesday, May 7th www.ccwconference.org
Pen on Fire Writers Salon
7:00PM to 8:00PM JULY 2013
An Evening with T Jefferson Parker in
Conversation with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett Wednesday, July 10th – Saturday July 13th
Scape Gallery Spotlight Author
2859 E. Coast Highway ThrillerFest VIII
Corona del Mar, CA 92625 and
www.barbarademarcobarrett.com Participating Instructor
TICKETED EVENT CraftFest VIII
Grand Hyatt Hotel New York
Saturday, May 11th 109 East 42nd Street at Grand Central Terminal
Discussion and Book Signing 2:00PM New York, New York 10017
Book Carnival www.thrillerfest.com
348 S. Tustin Avenue
Orange, CA 92866

17. 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
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.
Credit: Marion Ettlinger

18. References
Dovetailstudio1. (2009, October 1). Iron River - T. Jefferson Parker. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=De48dT3fjoc&feature=endscreen
CDBaby.com. ( ). Digital Downloads. Retrieved from
https://www.cdbaby.com/MyAccount/Downloads.aspx
Dovetailstudio.com. ( ). T. Jefferson Parker. Retrieved from
http://www.tjeffersonparker.com/index.htm