Lisa Lutz
Encyclopedia
Lisa Lutz is the American author of a series of novels about a family of private investigators, the Spellmans. She was born in Southern California in 1970. She attended UC Santa Cruz, UC Irvine, University of Leeds
in England and San Francisco State University
, all without attaining a degree. During the 1990s she had many low-paying jobs, including work as a private investigator, and spent a lot of time writing and re-writing a Mob comedy called Plan B. This was eventually made in 2000, and was described by Variety
as "torturously unfunny." In 2004 she started work in California on her first novel, The Spellman Files, which she finished holed up in New York while it was snowing. She returned to the west coast to write her second Spellman novel, and now lives in San Francisco.
Her series of novels are about the Spellmans, a family of private investigators, who, while very close knit, are also intensely suspicious and spend much time investigating each other. The Spellman Files becomes suspenseful when 14-year-old Rae Spellman is kidnapped.
In 2008 The Spellman Files was nominated for three awards for best first novel, the Anthony Award
, Macavity Award, and Barry award; was awarded an Alex Award
; was nominated for a Dilys Award
; and reached #27 on the New York Times Bestseller List
Paramount Pictures has optioned the film rights with Laura Ziskin
producing and Barry Sonnenfeld
directing.
Her second Spellman book, "Curse of the Spellmans," was nominated for a 2009 Edgar Award
by the Mystery Writers of America for best mystery novel.
Her fifth book in the Spellman series, "Trail of the Spellmans," is expected to be published in early 2012.
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
in England and San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
, all without attaining a degree. During the 1990s she had many low-paying jobs, including work as a private investigator, and spent a lot of time writing and re-writing a Mob comedy called Plan B. This was eventually made in 2000, and was described by Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
as "torturously unfunny." In 2004 she started work in California on her first novel, The Spellman Files, which she finished holed up in New York while it was snowing. She returned to the west coast to write her second Spellman novel, and now lives in San Francisco.
Her series of novels are about the Spellmans, a family of private investigators, who, while very close knit, are also intensely suspicious and spend much time investigating each other. The Spellman Files becomes suspenseful when 14-year-old Rae Spellman is kidnapped.
In 2008 The Spellman Files was nominated for three awards for best first novel, the Anthony Award
Anthony Award
The Anthony Awards are literary awards for mystery writers presented at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention since 1986. The awards are named for Anthony Boucher , one of the founders of the Mystery Writers of America....
, Macavity Award, and Barry award; was awarded an Alex Award
Alex Awards
The Alex Awards are also a separate award given for excellence in entertainment packaging.The Alex Awards is an annual event designed to commend and honor the ten books published for adults during the previous year, which have been also judged to have "special appeal" for young readers, primarily...
; was nominated for a Dilys Award
Dilys Award
The Dilys Award have been presented every year since 1992 by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. It is given to the mystery title of the year which the member booksellers have most enjoyed selling. The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association is an association of retail businesses...
; and reached #27 on the New York Times Bestseller List
Paramount Pictures has optioned the film rights with Laura Ziskin
Laura Ziskin
Laura Ellen Ziskin was an American film producer. In 1990, Ziskin was the sole executive producer of the hit comedy Pretty Woman...
producing and Barry Sonnenfeld
Barry Sonnenfeld
Barry Sonnenfeld is an American filmmaker and television director. He worked as cinematographer for the Coen brothers, then later he directed and produced big budget films such as Men in Black.-Life and career:...
directing.
Her second Spellman book, "Curse of the Spellmans," was nominated for a 2009 Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
by the Mystery Writers of America for best mystery novel.
Her fifth book in the Spellman series, "Trail of the Spellmans," is expected to be published in early 2012.
Novels
- The Spellman Files (2007)
- Curse of the Spellmans (2008)
- Revenge of the Spellmans (2009)
- The Spellmans Strike Again (2010)
- Heads You Lose (2011)
External links
- Official site
- Confessions of a Hollywood Sellout
- Review of The Spellman Files in USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
- Review of Revenge of the Spellmans in The Boston GlobeThe Boston GlobeThe Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
- Interview with Lisa Lutz in BookPage