Gregg Olsen | |
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| Born | March 5, 1959 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Genre | True crime, Thriller |
| Website | |
| greggolsen notorioususa | |
Gregg Olsen (born March 5, 1959, in Seattle, Washington) is an American author best known for his works in the true crime and thriller genres.
Olsen, born in Seattle, Washington, grew up in the Pacific Northwest. After earning a journalism degree from Western Washington University, where he served as the editor of the Kipsup Magazine, he published his first book in 1990.
Olsen worked as a magazine editor and has written 21 books on American politics and current affairs, 14 of which have topped bestseller lists. Often examining survival, justice, family trauma, and the psychology of crime, his books made the bestseller lists of The New York Times , USA Today , and the Wall Street Journal . Subjects of his true crime books include convicted child rapist and school teacher Mary Kay Letourneau, product tampering killer Stella Nickell, fasting specialist Linda Burfield Hazzard, and former Amishman and convicted murderer Eli Stutzman.
Olsen has received awards and acclaim for his writing. The Deep Dark: Disaster and Redemption in America's Richest Silver Mine was selected as Idaho Book of the Year in 2006 by the Idaho Libraries Association and was a finalist for a Spur Award for best contemporary historical nonfiction book by the Western Writers of America. In 2007, The Deep Dark was also selected by Boise State University as its first-year read for incoming freshmen. Starvation Heights was selected by the Washington State Library and the Washington Secretary of State for its annual Everybody Reads literary program for books that contribute to the culture of the state.
Starvation Heights, a crime novel, was adapted for the stage by Portland, Oregon, playwright Ginny Foster and debuted at the National New Play Festival in July 2008. It was announced in January 2009 that the book was optioned for a film adaptationby by producer Jason Fogelson and Pulitzer Prize-winner and screenwriter Tracy Letts. [1] It was also listed as a New York Times bestseller at number 7 on December 28, 2014, in e-book nonfiction. [2]
Olsen's novel, Envy, was selected by Washington State Library for the Pavilion of the States display at the 2012 National Book Festival. [3]
Olsen has appeared on Good Morning America , The Early Show , Court TV, Entertainment Tonight , CNN, FOX News, 48 Hours, and other US and international TV programs discussing criminal cases.
Globally, he appeared in 2012 as a presenter and panelist at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival and, the same year, at the Cheltenham Literature Festival in the United Kingdom. [4]
The Deep Dark – Winner, Idaho Book of the Year (2006). In 2007, the title was selected by Boise State University as its first year read for all incoming freshmen. Envy – Selected by the Washington State Library to represent the Evergreen State at the National Book Festival (2012). The Boy She Left Behind – Finalist, International Association of Thriller Writer’s Thriller Award for Best Young Adult Novel (2018). The Amish Wife – Finalist, Best Fact Crime Edgar Award, Mystery Writers of America (2025) [5]
Starvation Heights, originally published in 1997, reached number 9 on The New York Times bestseller list in the crime-and-punishment category on February 14, 2016. [6]
Victim Six debuted on USA Today's bestseller list on October 2, 2014, [7] with Closer Than Blood debuting the week of April 14, 2011, on USA Today's bestseller list, where it remained for three weeks.
Bodies of Evidence, the first in a book series titled Notorious USA, which Olsen wrote with co-author Rebecca Morris, debuted the week of September 22, 2013, at number 16 on The New York Times bestseller list in e-book nonfiction [8]
If Loving You is Wrong, one of Olsen's Crime Rant Classics releases, made The New York Times bestseller list in e-book nonfiction at number 4 the week of August 18, 2013, [9] and USA Today's bestseller list on August 8, 2013. [10] It also made The Wall Street Journal's list, debuting at number 7 in the nonfiction e-book category the week of August 8, 2013. [11]
A Shocking True Story, released in 2013, was number 9 for two weeks on The New York Times bestseller list in e-book nonfiction the weeks of June 5 and June 16, 2013. [12]
His first New York Times bestseller was Abandoned Prayers, which was number 11 for two weeks beginning the week of July 6, 2003, in paperback best sellers. [13]
Olsen and his wife, Claudia, a graphic designer, live in rural Olalla, Washington. The family owns and operates a historic general store, Olalla Bay Market and Landing, which features a museum that documents the story told in the author’s book, Starvation Heights. [14]
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