McKINZIE, Clinton 1969-

PERSONAL:

Born June 7, 1969, in Los Angeles, CA; son of Carl Wayne (an attorney) and Rena (a teacher; maiden name, Williams) McKinzie; married Justine Kaufman, September 21, 1997; children: Colin Williams. Education: Attended Santa Monica College, 1989-91; Millsaps College, B.A., 1993; University of Wyoming, J.D., 1997. Hobbies and other interests: Rock climbing.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Denver, CO. Agent—John Talbot, John Talbot Agency, 540 West Boston Post Rd., P.M.B. 266, Mamaroneck, NY 10534-3437. E-mail—cmkn2@earthink.net.

CAREER:

Attorney and novelist. Eighteenth Judicial District, Englewood, CA, deputy district attorney for Arapahoe and Douglas counties, 1997-2000; attorney in private practice and writer, 2000—.

WRITINGS:

FICTION

The Edge of Justice, Delacorte Press (New York, NY), 2002.

Point of Law, Delacorte Press (New York, NY), 2003.

Trial by Ice and Fire, Delacorte Press (New York, NY), 2003.

Crossing the Line, Delacorte Press (New York, NY), 2004.

SIDELIGHTS:

Clinton McKinzie told CA: "My primary motivation for writing is pleasure. I love daydreaming my way through scenes, characters, and plots. It allows me to live multiple lives, and in more than one world.

"I draw on my experience as a deputy district attorney and passionate rock climber to try and provide the reader with a vicarious thrill. It's my goal to make readers feel like they're on the rock with 1,000 feet of air beneath their heels, or as if they're in the courtroom awaiting a crucial verdict. James Ellroy, Michael Connolly, and Jon Krakauer are among my contemporary literary heroes.

"I write at all hours of the day and night. When an idea grips me I have no choice. I work on a portable laptop computer, on legal pads, and on torn scraps of napkins—anything at all I can put words on. Between writing sessions I do the business stuff or, preferably, go climbing.

"I write about the two greatest adrenaline kicks I have known: alpine climbing and prosecuting criminals. Both are topics I'm passionate about, and years spent in both pursuits have provided me with a wealth of stories to tell."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2002, review of The Edge of Justice, p. 447.

Library Journal, May 1, 2002, Joel W. Tscherne, review of The Edge of Justice, p. 134.

Publishers Weekly, March 18, 2002, review of The Edge of Justice, p. 73.