About the Author
Max Allan Collins was hailed in 2004 by Publishers Weekly as “a new breed of writer.” A frequent Mystery Writers of America Edgar nominee, he has earned an unprecedented fourteen Private Eye Writers of America Shamus nominations for his historical thrillers, winning for his Nathan Heller novels, True Detective (1983) and Stolen Away (1991).
His graphic novel Road to Perdition is the basis of the Academy Award — winning film starring Tom Hanks, directed by Sam Mendes. His many comics credits include the syndicated strip Dick Tracy; his own Ms. Tree; Batman; and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, based on the hit TV series for which he has also written video games, jigsaw puzzles, and a USA Today—bestselling series of novels.
An independent filmmaker, he wrote and directed the Lifetime movie Mommy (1996) and a 1997 sequel, Mommy’s Day. He wrote The Expert, a 1995 HBO World Premiere, and wrote and directed the innovative made-for-DVD feature, “Real Time: Siege at Lucas Street Market” (2000). “Shades of Noir” (2004), an anthology of his short films, includes his award-winning documentary, Mike Hammer’s Mickey Spillane.
His other credits include film criticism, short fiction, songwriting, trading-card sets, and movie/TV tie-in novels, including the New York Times bestseller Saving Private Ryan. His one-man show, Eliot Ness: An Untouchable Life, was nominated for an Edgar for Best Play of 2004 by the Mystery Writers of America; a film version, written and directed by Collins, is currently in post-production.
Collins lives in Muscatine, Iowa, with his wife, writer Barbara Collins; and their son, Nathan. He and Barbara have collaborated on numerous short stories and several novels, sometimes writing as “Barbara Allan.”