Biogs I to L

Jecks, Michael.
Born in 1960 in Surrey, he holidayed often in the West Country. Originally he trained as an Actuary, changed career to become a computer salesman for thirteen years until he became unemployed. With the support of his family, he decided to try to write the novel, which soon became THE LAST TEMPLAR. It was finished in March 1994, and Headline bought it, commissioning two more in the series. Michael and his wife now live in his beloved Devon with their daughter, new baby son and Bernese Mountain Dog.

Joh Rowland, Laura.
Granddaughter of Chinese and Korean immigrants, grew up in Michigan and graduated with a B.S. in microbiology and a Master of Public Health at the State University. She currently lives in New Orleans with her husband. She has worked as a chemist, microbiologist, sanitary inspector and quality engineer.

Knight, Bernard.
Writing since before 1963, when his first crime novel was published. Since then, he has written about thirty books, including contemporary crime fiction, historical novels about Wales, biography, non-fiction popular works on forensic medicine, twelve medico-legal textbooks and the current highly-acclaimed CROWNER JOHN series of 12th century historical mysteries for Simon & Schuster UK Ltd. Also many scripts for radio and television dramas and documentaries, including the well-known forensic series THE EXPERT starring Marius Goring, back in the '70s

Levack, Simon.
Brought up in Kent and living in North East London, Simon had a career in law - as a solicitor and working for the General Council of the Bar - until the publication of his first two books set in the Aztec Empire. Since then he’s returned to law but balances this with his writing career.

Lovesey, Peter.
Peter Lovesey was born in Whitton, Middlesex. He was educated at Hampton Grammar School and read English at Reading University. He graduated in 1958 and completed three years National Service in the RAF. In 1961 Lovesey was appointed a lecturer in English at Thurrock Technical College, Essex. He became interested in Victorian sport and in 1968 his first book The Kings of Distance was published, dealing with the careers and personalities of five outstanding runners of the past. In 1969 he was made head of the General Education Department at Hammersmith College for Further Education. He held this position until he became a full-time writer in 1975. In 1970, he created 'Sergeant Cribb' and in 1991 he created 'Peter Diamond', an ex-policeman in Bath. In 2000, he received the Diamond Dagger Award for a lifetime achievement in crime writing. His son Phil Lovesey also writes crime novels.