Scott Phillips (writer)
Encyclopedia
Scott Phillips is an American
writer of crime fiction
in the noir tradition. He was born in Wichita, Kansas
, and lived for several years in France
, working as a translator and photographer; then in California
as a screenwriter
, co-writing a 1996 straight-to-video thriller called Crosscut.
His first novel, The Ice Harvest
, was published in 2000, and won the California Book Award, as well as being nominated for the Edgar Award
and Hammett Prize
, and shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association
Gold Dagger
Award. A black comic noir thriller set in the low-rent world of sleazy Wichita strip clubs on Christmas Eve 1979, The Ice Harvest was adapted into a film of the same title
in 2005. He followed this in 2002 with The Walkaway, a prequel set largely in Wichita during the 1940s. His third novel, Cottonwood, set in Kansas and California during the Western
era, was published in 2003.
, Phillips lives in St. Louis, Missouri
, with his wife and daughter.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer of crime fiction
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
in the noir tradition. He was born in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, and lived for several years in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, working as a translator and photographer; then in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
as a screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, co-writing a 1996 straight-to-video thriller called Crosscut.
His first novel, The Ice Harvest
The Ice Harvest (novel)
The Ice Harvest is a debut novel by Scott Phillips. The story, set in 1979, was published to wide acclaim in 2000.- Plot summary :It is Christmas Eve in Wichita, Kansas and snowing steadily. The streets are deserted, traffic is light and most people have returned home for the start of the festivities...
, was published in 2000, and won the California Book Award, as well as being nominated for the Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
and Hammett Prize
Hammett Prize
The Hammett Prize is awarded annually by the International Association of Crime Writers, North American Branch to a Canadian or US citizen or permanent resident for a book in English in the field of crime writing...
, and shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association
Crime Writers' Association
The Crime Writers Association is a writers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by John Creasey in 1953, it is currently chaired by Peter James and claims 450+ members....
Gold Dagger
Gold Dagger
The Gold Dagger Award was an award given annually by the Crime Writers' Association for the best crime novel of the year.For its first five years, the organization's top honor was known as the Crossed Red Herring Award....
Award. A black comic noir thriller set in the low-rent world of sleazy Wichita strip clubs on Christmas Eve 1979, The Ice Harvest was adapted into a film of the same title
The Ice Harvest
The Ice Harvest is a 2005 dark comedy/drama film directed by Harold Ramis and written by Richard Russo and Robert Benton, based on the novel of the same name by Scott Phillips. It stars John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen, Randy Quaid, and Oliver Platt...
in 2005. He followed this in 2002 with The Walkaway, a prequel set largely in Wichita during the 1940s. His third novel, Cottonwood, set in Kansas and California during the Western
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
era, was published in 2003.
, Phillips lives in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, with his wife and daughter.