Michael Allan Mallory

Profile Information:

Hometown:
Minneapolis, Minnesota
About Me:
I'm an English Lit major who's worked with computer systems and networks for over twenty years. I read books on history, nature and animals, and fiction, mainly mysteries. I live with my wife, Cathy, and two cats---one who thinks he’s a dog and the other who thinks he’s a rooster.

I study and used to teach wing chun kung fu, and study Chen style tai chi chuan.

My debut mystery novel "Death Roll" (with Marilyn Victor) was published this year. It features the first zoologist sleuth in Lavender "Snake" Jones.
I Am A:
Writer
Website:
http://www.snakejones.com
Books And Authors I Like:
"Captain Blood" by Raphael Sabatini (1922) is one of my favorite books of all times. A swashbucker. Full of wit and adventure. I re-read it every few years.
"The Crooked Hinge" by John Dickson Carr (1938) My favorite book by one of the great mystery authors of all time. I have a fondness for the authors from the Golden Age. Carr is still my favorite mystery writer.
"Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie (1934). Brilliant concept, executed with style.
"The Maltest Falcon" by Dashiell Hammet (1930). The quintessential American P.I. novel.
"Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens. Powerful book written by one of the greats.
"Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand (2001). Perhaps the best book I've read in the last twenty years. Wonderfully written story about a fascinating group of men and an amazing horse who was one of the greatest atheletes of the Twentieth Century. Hillenbrand writes this history like a novel, putting you in the jockey's saddle with breathtaking prose. The movie didn't do the story justice.
"The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The master.
There are many contemporary authors whose works I enjoy but I hesitate to list some here for concern about omitting the works of acquaintences.
Movies And TV Shows I Like:
"The Maltese Falcon" with Humphrey Bogart. (1941. The perfect detective film.
"The Thin Man" with William Powell (1934) Another Hammet book made into an excellent film.
"The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) My favoirte movie of all time.
"The Guns of Navarone" (1961) Best WW II action movie ever made.

Comment Wall:

  • Dennis Venter

    Hi Michael, welcome to crimespace. Congrats and good luck with Death Roll, it looks like a lot of fun.

    Jul 9, 2007

  • Lee Lofland

    Welcome, Michael.

    If I can ever be of assistance please feel free to call on me.

    Jul 10, 2007

  • Evelyn David

    Hi Michael,

    Good to hear from you. Hope things are going well with Death Roll. Maybe I'll catch up with you and Marilyn at another conference soon.

    Rhonda
    aka The Southern Half of Evelyn David

    Jul 13, 2007

  • Elizabeth Zelvin

    Thanks for the congratulations, Michael. Death Will Get You Sober will be out next April--it's hard to wait! :)
    Liz

    Jul 20, 2007

  • Nikki Leigh

    Cape Cod is beautiful, but something about Cape Ann really captured my imagination when it came to writing the stories. I'm putting the final touches on Book Promo and I am very happy with it. It will be out in the next month or two. I will certainly share the news when its completed :)

    Nikki Leigh

    Jul 25, 2007

  • Kelli Stanley

    Hi, Michael, thanks for the comment. I was glad to see that Death Roll is in its second printing--I think it's on a roll, too. ;)

    Take care, and see you on the FSF!

    Kelli

    Jul 27, 2007

  • Eric Stone

    Thanks. Things do seem to be moving along. Congratulations on your book coming out this year. It's beginning to look like I'll be in Minneapolis on my book tour - probably around October 22 or thereabouts. I'll let you know when I'm about to show up.

    Jul 28, 2007

  • Jeff Markowitz

    Michael -

    I had a great time talking in Waterville. Continued success.

    Jeff

    Aug 8, 2007

  • Lyn LeJeune

    I'm going to your website because I love thriller with animals. I'm reading Water for Elephants Now and it makes you cry in places about how circus people have treated animals. My cause, though, is libraries. My book, The Beatitudes, is a paranormal thriller set in New Orleans. It will be out in the fall and I am donating all royalties directly to the New Orleans Public Library Foundation. Libraries support the infrastructure of a great city, so I have started The Beatitudes Network to promote awareness of the importance of public libraries in NOLA.
    The blogsite www.beatitudesinneworleans.blogspot.com describes the Network, has excerpts from The Beatitudes, recipes, and more. Merci mille fois. Lyn Lejeune.
    Writers, please pass the word…..it’s for a good cause….don’t let the libraries of New Orleans or the US go the way of The Great Library of Alexandria.

    Aug 9, 2007

  • Gemma Halliday

    Thanks, Michael! I'd love to say I had anything to do with my covers, but it's all my publisher. :)
    Nice to meet you!

    ~Gemma

    Aug 19, 2007

  • Julie Hyzy

    Hi Michael - I recognized your name from the Five Star Yahoo board. Sounds like you're having a great time with DEATH ROLL. Congrats!

    Aug 22, 2007

  • Eddie Vincent

    Hi Michael,
    I was at Waterville for author day, I came with the designers of your book cover. It was a nice time, but it was hot out.
    I hope you were happy with you cover.

    Eddie

    Nov 7, 2007

  • Mari Sloan

    Actually I wasn't in Austrailia, just here in SoCal. I was fudging on time zones since Crimespace is run by an Austrailian. I WISH I could have had that exciting a New Years! Sue Ann Rocks! i'm in the last couple of chapters of Holy Pail right now and I'm glad that I know Odelia has to be around for another book. She is just too human for words! I keep fussing at her--every chapter reminding her that there is a police department for a reason! She is WAY too trusting!

    It's great meeting you and having the opportunity to get to know you. My father was a veternarian and I love animals, probably my favorite pet so far being my Maine Coon cat, the brightest animal who has ever owned me. Spooky talks, comes when he's called, follows directions, (when he forgets he is supposed to be coy) and in many ways is more like the typical dog with CAT kewl. He is a good animal who tries to do what we ask of him and copes with being a big cat in a studio apartment pretty well. My husband and I adore him. He has his own page on our webpage, if you get a chance, take a look. www.beaufortfalls.com .He's probably not full blooded--we found him as a kitten, but he typlifies the breed extremely well. I have hundreds of pictures of him and he has a major role as a character in my sequel, so you know I'm a doting parent...and a strange writer. LOL. Anyway, sorry to ramble....
    :-) Mari

    Jan 3, 2008