Craig Allen Johnson (born January 16, 1961) is an American author who writes mystery novels. He is best known for his Sheriff Walt Longmire novel series. The books are set in northern Wyoming, where Longmire is sheriff of the fictional county of Absaroka. The series debuted in 2004 and as of September 2021, Johnson has written 18 novels, two novellas, and many short stories featuring Longmire. Some of the novels have been on The New York Times Best Seller list. In 2012, Warner Horizon adapted the main characters and the Wyoming settings of the novels for a television series. Johnson lives at a ranch where he built a residence in the small town of Ucross, Wyoming—population 25.[1] Although he identified himself as a former New York police officer while promoting his early novels, a 2009 New York Times profile revealed this to be misleading.[2]
Craig Johnson | |
---|---|
Born | Craig Allen Johnson January 16, 1961 [citation needed] |
Occupation | Novelist, short story writer. |
Language | English |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Marshall University |
Genre | Mystery, Crime fiction, Detective fiction, Westerns |
Notable works | Walt Longmire series of novels |
Spouse | Judy Johnson |
Website | |
www |
Career
editBooks
editAs of September 2021, Johnson has authored 23 books featuring Sheriff Walt Longmire. They have been translated into 14 languages and have won numerous awards, including the Nouvel Observateur Prix du Roman Noir and the SNCF Mystery of the Year.[citation needed]
TV adaptations
editThe A&E TV series Longmire, based on Johnson's novels, premiered on June 3, 2012, with cast members Robert Taylor, Katee Sackhoff, Lou Diamond Phillips, Bailey Chase, Adam Bartley, A Martinez, Zahn McClarnon, and John Bishop.[3] Filmed in New Mexico,[4] Longmire debuted as A&E's number-one original-series premiere of all time with 4.1 million total viewers.[5] After the third season, A&E canceled the series and subsequently seasons four to six were made for Netflix.[6][7]
Influence
editThe success of Johnson's novels is celebrated in an annual festival, called Longmire Days, held in the small town of Buffalo, Wyoming, the real-life inspiration for the series' fictional setting. Close to 12,000 people attend the festival each year, including the author, many of the actors from the TV series, and (on occasion) the publishers and producers.[8]
Personal life
editCraig Johnson grew up in Huntington, West Virginia, and attended college at Marshall University.[9]
Johnson lives in Ucross, Wyoming, with his wife Judy.[10][11]
Bibliography
editWalt Longmire series
editTitle | Year | ISBN 1st Edition | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Cold Dish | 2004 | 9780143036425 | |
Death Without Company | 2006 | 9780143038382 | |
Kindness Goes Unpunished | 2007 | 9780143113133 | |
Another Man's Moccasins | 2008 | 9780143115526 | 2009 Spur Award for Best Western Short Novel[12] |
The Dark Horse | 2009 | 9780143117315 | |
Junkyard Dogs | 2010 | 9780143119531 | |
Hell Is Empty | 2011 | 9780143120988 | |
Divorce Horse | 2012 | 9781101592649 | eBook short story |
As the Crow Flies | 2012 | 9780143123293 | |
Christmas in Absaroka County | 2012 | 9781101623718 | four Christmas stories, eBook short stories |
Messenger | 2013 | 9780143127826 | eBook short story |
A Serpent's Tooth | 2013 | 9780670026456 | |
Spirit of Steamboat | 2013 | 9780143125877 | |
Any Other Name | 2014 | 9780143126973 | |
Wait for Signs | 2014 | 9780143127826 | 12 stories |
Dry Bones | 2015 | 9780525426936 | |
The Highwayman | 2016 | 9780735220904 | |
An Obvious Fact | 2016 | 9780143109129 | |
The Western Star | 2017 | 9780143109136 | |
Depth of Winter | 2018 | 9780525522478 | |
Land of Wolves | 2019 | 9780525522508 | |
Next to Last Stand | 2020 | 9780525522539 | |
Daughter of the Morning Star | 2021 | 9780593297254 | |
Hell and Back | 2022 | 9780593297285 | |
The Longmire Defense | 2023 | 9780593297315 | |
First Frost | 2024 | 9780593830673 |
References
edit- ^ "At Home with Craig Johnson". American Cowboy Western Lifestyle – Travel – People. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
- ^ Wadler, Joyce (2009-06-03). "In Wyoming, the Pieces Fall Into Place". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ Munn, Patrick (March 2012). "A&E's New Drama Series Longmire to Premier June 3". TVWise. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ^ Marifosque, Raphael (23 June 2015). "'Longmire' season 4 news: Production under way, series to pick up from events in the previous finale". Ecumenical News.
- ^ Seidman, Robert (June 4, 2012). "Network TV Press Releases: A&E's 'Longmire' Debuted as the Network's #1 Original Series Premiere of All Time with 4.1 Million Viewers + 'The Glades'". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ^ "Longmire Season 4 And Its Ups And Downs. Ten Things You Should Know About Its Epic Resurrection". yareah.com. Archived from the original on 2015-08-28. Retrieved 2017-01-06.
- ^ Gomez, Adrian (March 23, 2016). "New Mexico-filmed 'Longmire' to begin season 5 production". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- ^ Palmer, Aaron (May 17, 2016). "Buffalo Chamber Releases Schedule For Longmire Days Events". Sheridan Media. Archived from the original on May 19, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
The series is based on the Longmire series of books, written by local author Craig Johnson. The books take place in fictitious Durant, Absoraka County, Wyoming and are based on people and places in and around Buffalo and Johnson County.
- ^ Casto, James E. "Book review: Sheriff Walt Longmire tackles another case". Charleston Sunday Gazette-Mail. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
- ^ Hergett, Rachel. "Longmire, author Craig Johnson alike in many ways". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ Kustra, Bob. "Longmire Mystery Series Author Craig Johnson And 'The Western Star'". Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ "Winners". Western Writers of America. 2012-05-12. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
External links
editThis article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. (August 2019) |
- Official website
- "Craig Johnson makes crime pay". Los Angeles Times. July 20, 2008.
- "Le cow-boy du Wyoming". Le Nouvel Observateur. July 16, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2009.
- "Television series based on Craig Johnson's Wyoming sheriff in the works". The Buffalo Bulletin. July 26, 2010. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013.
- Schaffer, Rachel (2010). "With a Little Help from His Friends: The Functions of Diversity in Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire Series". Clues: A Journal of Detection. 28 (2): 95–104. doi:10.3172/CLU.28.2.95. Archived from the original on 2013-01-28.