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Al Blanchard's bio |
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Al Blanchard is the
author of numerous short stories and two mystery series, one featuring
eighth grade history teacher Steve Asher, and the other James Callahan,
a Boston Homicide Detective. Mystery writer William Tapply stated
Blanchard's first novel was "an intriguing puzzle and an insightful
commentary on human nature." Al got his start by rewriting Matlock and Murder She Wrote episodes in his head. As a kid he was fascinated by Perry Mason and devoured each of Agatha Christie's novels. He wrote a Science Fiction short story when he was ten. The story was lost long ago, but Blanchard still remembers the plot. Before becoming a full time writer Al owned an art gallery, a music store, a restaurant, taught computer literacy to blind adults and geography to seventh graders in a public school. Blanchard started writing short stories during the nineties and decided to expand his storytelling to longer venues, thus the birth of his two mystery series. Music has always inspired Al as a writer. He listens to Dylan, Springsteen, Tom Petty, Jimmy Buffet and other "musicians who paint stories with their songs." Blanchard's favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Lawrence Block and "Anyone who has a knack for storytelling and surprises me. It's all about getting lost in the story and not wanting to come out." Blanchard has lived his entire life in Massachusetts. He has traveled widely, once driving across the United States on Route Twenty. He has visited Europe numerous times. His dream is to reside on a Caribbean island and write, eat lots of fish and sample as many rum drinks as he can, not necessarily in that order. Al lives in Massachusetts with a music collection that has grown to alarming proportions. Al continues to write short stories while putting the finishing touches on another Steve Asher novel. His next project will be a new James Callahan novel. "Writing two series characters keeps me fresh," Blanchard said. "At least I hope it does." Al currently serves as the President of the New England Chapter of Mystery Writer's of America.
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