Originally found under a cabbage leaf, Russ Hall came to be in Texas as a result of losing a raffle held by the Disenchanted Daughters of War Veterans. The first prize in that contest, by the way, was a men's room in Argentina. Russ spent much of his early academic career postulating the question of "Why?" and has only recently made the philosophical shift to the question of "Why Not?" His previous career experience was high-lighted by the national bestseller, Aunt Emily's How To Sex Cookbook, which was sixteen weeks on the bestseller list. His hobbies range from tripping the light fantastic on honky-tonk floors to staying home to listen to drain-pipe moanings.

Our Story So Far: Our hero sat outside in the wind holding a tall cold can of San Phil Deli Genuine Hairless Beer in his tired and rodeo-scarred hand. He had spent the previous evening relentlessly circling the local Chet's Chips & Chicken Lips stand where his erstwhile childhood sweetheart worked as a roller skating car hop. At last, out of gas and with the wheels worn past the rims, he had to stagger home in the beginnings of a clammy rain. On his chest there was a tattoo of the skip jack Mahatma going down beneath the parted ways intact with crew of two clenched between the jaws of a giant killer ochre marmoset. Still, each night he plucked a hair in memory of those with whom he had once upon the haggis dined. Let those who scoff at loyalty pause to show a blushed cheek here.

Half way up Mt. Rainier (Photo by Alin Botoman)

Bio Sketch #2

With over 20 years experience in publishing, including 17 years as an acquisitions editor for major publishing companies, Russ Hall moved to a cottage by a lake in the Central Hill Country of Texas to spend more time writing, and fishing.

He has had nine books published and the tenth on the way in 2006, has sold numerous short stories, and in 1997 won the Nancy Pickard Mystery Fiction Award. He is a member of Mystery Writers of America and the Western Writers of America.

In the past thirty years he has lived in:

Columbus, Ohio,

New Haven, Connecticut,

New York City,

State College, Pennsylvania,

Boca Raton, Florida,

and Austin, Texas.

He currently lives in Marble Falls, TX.