Jeri Westerson
Encyclopedia
Jeri Westerson is an American novelist of medieval mysteries and of gay mysteries under the pen name Haley Walsh.
. Her series is styled a “Medieval Noir” with a hardboiled protagonist set in the Middle Ages. Her debut medieval mystery with protagonists Crispin Guest, a disgraced knight turned detective, along with his cutpurse servant Jack Tucker, received a nomination for the Macavity Award (Sue Feder Historical Mystery Award) and the Shamus Award
for Best First Mystery, the first medieval mystery to be nominated for this PI award given by the Private Eye Writers of America.
The second Crispin Guest novel, Serpent In The Thorns, was released in 2009, and received nominations for the Bruce Alexander Historical Mystery Award and the Macavity Award (Sue Feder Historical Mystery Award). The third Crispin Guest novel, The Demon’s Parchment, was released in 2010 and also finaled for the Macavity Award and the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award.
In October 2011, Minotaur Books published her fourth medieval mystery entitled Troubled Bones.
In 2010, Jeri, writing as Haley Walsh, published the first in a series of gay romantic mysteries with high school English teacher and amateur sleuth Skyler Foxe, with the book Foxe Tail, published by MLR Press. The second in the series, Foxe Hunt, was released in September 2011.
In 2011, author Tim Hallinan asked Jeri to participate in a short story e-book anthology whose entire proceeds would raise money for Japan earthquake relief. The book, called Shaken: Stories for Japan, includes nineteen other authors, such as Brett Battles
and Ken Kuhlken
. Jeri offered her short story “The Noodle Girl” for inclusion in this Japanese themed book.
Jeri writes on a series of blogs. Her own is what she calls a magazine of history and mystery called Getting-Medieval. She also writes on a group blog with five other mystery authors, called Poe’s Deadly Daughters. Her medieval detective, Crispin Guest, also has his own blog, and finally she blogs as Haley Walsh for her Skyler Foxe Mysteries.
Jeri was the president of the Orange County California chapter of Sisters in Crime for two years. She was the newsletter editor and is currently on the board of directors for the Southern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America. She is also a member of the Private Eye Writers of America and the Historical Novel Society.
Career
Westerson, born and raised in Los Angeles, California, originally had designs on a career as an actress but changed her major in college to design. After graduating, she continued as a successful commercial artist in the Los Angeles area for fifteen years before semi-retiring to start a family. She began writing seriously for publication two years after that. She became a newspaper reporter for the next eight years, writing as a stringer for several local papers to hone her skills. After that, she had several part time jobs while continuing to write historical novels, including tasting host and tour guide for a local winery, choir director and soloist for a church, theology teacher, and secretary. She sold her first medieval mystery novel, Veil of Lies, in 2007 to St. Martin’s MinotaurSt. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City. Currently, St. Martin's Press is one of the United States' largest publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under eight imprints, which include St. Martin's Press , St...
. Her series is styled a “Medieval Noir” with a hardboiled protagonist set in the Middle Ages. Her debut medieval mystery with protagonists Crispin Guest, a disgraced knight turned detective, along with his cutpurse servant Jack Tucker, received a nomination for the Macavity Award (Sue Feder Historical Mystery Award) and the Shamus Award
Shamus Award
The Shamus Award is awarded by the Private Eye Writers of America for the best detective fiction genre novels and short stories of the year....
for Best First Mystery, the first medieval mystery to be nominated for this PI award given by the Private Eye Writers of America.
The second Crispin Guest novel, Serpent In The Thorns, was released in 2009, and received nominations for the Bruce Alexander Historical Mystery Award and the Macavity Award (Sue Feder Historical Mystery Award). The third Crispin Guest novel, The Demon’s Parchment, was released in 2010 and also finaled for the Macavity Award and the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award.
In October 2011, Minotaur Books published her fourth medieval mystery entitled Troubled Bones.
In 2010, Jeri, writing as Haley Walsh, published the first in a series of gay romantic mysteries with high school English teacher and amateur sleuth Skyler Foxe, with the book Foxe Tail, published by MLR Press. The second in the series, Foxe Hunt, was released in September 2011.
In 2011, author Tim Hallinan asked Jeri to participate in a short story e-book anthology whose entire proceeds would raise money for Japan earthquake relief. The book, called Shaken: Stories for Japan, includes nineteen other authors, such as Brett Battles
Brett Battles
Brett Battles is an American author from Los Angeles, California.-Publishing History:Brett Battles' first novel, The Cleaner , introduced recurring character Jonathan Quinn, freelance intelligence operative...
and Ken Kuhlken
Ken Kuhlken
Ken Kuhlken was born and grew up in San Diego, played semi-pro baseball in Tijuana, and attended San Diego State University, first as a philosophy and then as an English major...
. Jeri offered her short story “The Noodle Girl” for inclusion in this Japanese themed book.
Jeri writes on a series of blogs. Her own is what she calls a magazine of history and mystery called Getting-Medieval. She also writes on a group blog with five other mystery authors, called Poe’s Deadly Daughters. Her medieval detective, Crispin Guest, also has his own blog, and finally she blogs as Haley Walsh for her Skyler Foxe Mysteries.
Jeri was the president of the Orange County California chapter of Sisters in Crime for two years. She was the newsletter editor and is currently on the board of directors for the Southern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America. She is also a member of the Private Eye Writers of America and the Historical Novel Society.
The Crispin Guest Mysteries
- Veil of Lies (2008)
- Serpent In The Thorns (2009)
- The Demon’s Parchment (2010)
- Troubled Bones (2011)
- Blood Lance (2012)
- Shadow of the Alchemist (2013)
The Skyler Foxe Mysteries (writing as Haley Walsh)
- Foxe Tail (2010)
- Foxe Hunt (2011)
- Out-Foxed (2012)
Short Stories
- "Pax" in Kinesis Literary Magazine (1997)
- "The Tin Box" in St. Anthony Messenger Magazine (won second place in the Best Short Story Contest sponsored by the Catholic Press Association; 2003)
- "Catching Elijah" in St. Anthony Messenger Magazine (2004)
- "The Noodle Girl" in Shaken: Stories for Japan (2011)
External links
- http://skylerfoxemysteries.com/ Skyler Foxe Mysteries