Paul D. Marks
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Paul D. Marks is a contemporary author of detective, noir and crime fiction, though not only genre fiction. His short stories have appeared in a number of publications, including the anthologies Dime, Murder on Sunset Boulevard, Hardluck Stories, Murder by Thirteen, Murder Across the Map and Fiction on the Run. They have also appeared in such magazines as Crimestalker Casebook, Futures, Penny-A-Liner, etc.
[edit] Background
Several of his stories have been nominated for various prizes and awards. His novel White Heat took second place in the SouthWest Writers Competition. Netiquette won first place in the Futures Short Story Contest. Dem Bones was a finalist in the Southern Writers Association contest.
One of the traits of much of Marks' work is a layering of themes. They don't simply work on one level. He has also written lighter fare, such as his story Graceland, P.I. and even some amusing poems about mystery subjects such as Sherlock Holmes.
Marks' character, Bobby Saxon, has appeared in three stories: Santa Claus Blues, (Futures), The Good Old Days (Murder Across the Map) and Sleepy Lagoon[1] Nocturne (in the upcoming anthology LAndmarked for Murder). Bobby is the only white musician in an otherwise all-black big band in 1940s Los Angeles. Bobby plays in the Booker Boom Boom Taylor Orchestra (big band), who play regularly at the famed Club Alabam on Los Angeles's Central Avenue. Bobby investigates a variety of mysteries in his spare time.
Marks' stories tackle issues in American society, from the psycho noir of 51-50 to the racial issues in the Bobby Saxon trio and Angels Flight to internet etiquette in Netiquette. In addition to noir-type stories, Marks also writes satire, such as in 911 and The Cubic Zirconia of Kubla Khan.
Major influences are Raymond Chandler, Ross MacDonald, David Goodis and James Ellroy.
Marks' background includes screenwriting and script doctoring. His non-fiction articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Daily News, The Los Angeles Times, The Los Angeles Herald Examiner, and American Premiere magazine. He was also a contributing editor to The Hollywood Gazette.
A Los Angeles city native, Marks now lives in a semi-rural area of Los Angeles County.
