Michael Jecks

Michael Jecks is a prolific international novelist with over forty titles published; thirty two of them are in his best selling Templar crime series. In addition he has written six collaborative novels, and many contributions to anthologies. Lee Child said of his best seller Act of Vengeance (Endeavour, 2016): “An instant classic British spy novel – mature, thoughtful, and intelligent … but also raw enough for our modern times. Highly recommended.” His Death Ship of Dartmouth (Headline, 2006) was short-listed for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. More recently he has written the Vintener trilogy about the Hundred Years War, and has embarked on a Tudor crime series with Rebellion’s Message (Creme de la Crime, 2016). His work has been celebrated by the fountain pen manufacturers Conway Stewart and Visconti.

The founder of Medieval Murderers, he has served on the committee of the Historical Writers’ Association and as Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association. He has worked with the British Council and at universities and festivals all over America and Europe from Anchorage to Piacenza. In 2014 he was invited to be Grand Marshall of the year’s first parade in the New Orleans Mardi Gras, and the International Guest of Honour at the Bloody Words festival in Toronto.

A passionate supporter of new writing, Michael organised the CWA Debut Dagger and has judged a variety of prizes such as the Paddon Award at Exeter University, the Impress Prize and the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger. He runs workshops at the Swanwick writers’ summer school and has tutored students at Exeter University with the Royal Literary Fund.

In spare moments he interviews interesting authors for BBC Radio Devon, drinks beer, walks his dogs and dances with Tinners’ Morris in north Dartmoor.

Michael lives on Dartmoor with his wife and children.