Author Elmore Leonard has passed away at the age of 87. He wrote 45 books, including Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Freaky Deaky and the stories behind the TV series Justified.

Although best known for his crime stories, he'd been in the business long enough that he started out writing westerns such as Hondo and 3:10 to Yuma. His work was known for brilliant dialog and complex villains with realistic motivations, not just cardboard cutout bad guys. He was one of the very best and he'll be missed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23765850

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmore_Leonard

He was my favorite.

I just finished re-reading "The Hot Kid" over the weekend! Had not heard of his passing until this morning.

just finished his novel, "Bandits" the other day. This morning, I bought several Kindle books, the Raylan and Justified ones.
I have been enjoying Elmore's stuff for many years. He will be missed.

Get Shorty is one of my favorites. RIP Mr. Leonard.

He didn't write Hondo, Louis Lamore did. He did however, write Hombre.

RIP A great inspiration to me. I hope I make it to 87, the way things are going it'll be that long before my first novel is finished.

Just started reading Raylan when I saw he had passed on.
RIP Elmore

You're right, slip of the tongue on my part. I was thinking Hombre, wrote Hondo. Yesterday was that kind of day.

I met Elmore Leonard years ago at Universal Studios where he was in consultation re his feature script, Sinola. Universal later changed the name of the feature to Joe Kidd, starring Clint Eastwood.

I was working with a producer regarding a series idea I'd created. He knew Leonard and introduced me to him. I was a young writer and it was a thrill to meet Leonard as I admired his writing. He was a pleasant, friendly man with a wealth of knowledge about writing.

Speaking of writing, here are Leonard's "Ten Rules For Good Writing." Not bad advice in my opinion.

http://www.writingclasses.com/InformationPages/index.php/PageID/304

Here is a short You Tube video featuring Elmore Leonard speaking of writing and how he got into the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeZQl2nvnfM&feature=related

L.W.

His crime novels set in Detroit were really first rate. IMO his best was "City Primeval" about a couple of redneck thugs who get cross ways with Albanians who always settle out of court.

1B