Andrew Vachss - Writings

Writings

Andrew Vachss is the author of 25 novels and two collections of short stories, as well as poetry, plays, song lyrics, and graphic novels. As a novelist, he is perhaps best known for his Burke series of hardboiled mysteries; Another Life constituted the finale to the series.

Since completing the Burke series, Vachss has focused on stand-alone works. His 2009 novel, Haiku, focuses on the troubled lives of a band of homeless men in New York City. In 2010, Vachss published two books: his novel The Weight, is a noir romance involving a professional thief and a young widow in hiding. Heart Transplant, an illustrated novel in an experimental design, tells the story of an abused and bullied young boy who finds his inner strength with the help of an unexpected mentor. That's How I Roll, released in March 2012, chronicles the death-row narrative of a hired killer as he reveals the secrets of his past, both horrifying and tender. Vachss' latest work, Blackjack: A Cross Novel, which marks the start of a new series focused on the mercenary Cross and his crew, was released on July 10, 2012.

Vachss has collaborated on works with authors Jim Colbert (Cross, 1995) and Joe R. Lansdale (Veil's Visit, 1999). He has also created illustrated works with artists Frank Caruso (Heart Transplant, 2010) and Geof Darrow (Another Chance to Get It Right, 1993; Dead Reliable, 2012).

Vachss has also written non-fiction, including numerous articles and essays on child protection and a book on juvenile criminology. His books have been translated into 20 languages, and his shorter works have appeared in many publications, including Parade, Antaeus, Esquire, Playboy, and the New York Times. Vachss' literary awards include the Grand Prix de Littérature Policiére, for Strega ; the Falcon Award, Maltese Falcon Society of Japan, for Strega; the Deutsche Krimi Preis for Flood ; and the Raymond Chandler Award for his body of work.

Andrew Vachss is a member of PEN and the Writers Guild of America. His autobiographical essay was added by invitation to Contemporary Authors in 2003.