DWIGHT HOLING: AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Dwight Holing is the author of twenty books, including two bestselling mystery series: the multiple award-winning Nick Drake Novels and the Jack McCoul Capers. His ten-book-and-counting Nick Drake mystery series has won widespread acclaim and a dedicated fanbase for its deft portrayal of richly developed characters, cinematic settings, multiple intricate storylines, and unrelenting pace. Reviewers frequently laud Holing’s philosophical insights, which bring added depth to his principal characters, as well as his respectful incorporation of indigenous cultural history.

His novels have earned numerous prestigious accolades, including the CLUE Grand Prize for Best Thriller & Suspense, the Silver Falchion and Laramie awards for Best Western, and the IABC Silver Medal for Mystery & Thriller. Beyond his novels, Holing is the author of two short story collections, California Works and Over Our Heads Under Our Feet. Many of these pieces were originally published in literary journals and earned distinct honors, including the Arts & Letters Prize for Fiction.

Background and Journalism Career

Before turning to fiction, Holing earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon and began his writing career as a freelancer. His assignments took him across the globe, from Alaska to Zanzibar. His feature articles on adventure travel, conservation, natural history, and environmental issues have appeared in major publications such as Audubon, Los Angeles Times, Newsday, Outside, San Francisco Chronicle, Sierra, and Travel & Leisure. He has also written and edited books on these subjects for prominent publishers, including Smithsonian Books, Time-Life, and Animal Planet.

Professional Affiliations and Personal Life

An active member of the literary community, Holing belongs to the Mystery Writers of America and the Western Writers of America. He also serves on the board of directors for the Capitol Crimes chapter of Sisters in Crime.

Dwight lives beside a scenic coastal river in California with his wife and their two dogs—both of whom, he notes, would much rather swim than walk.

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AWARDS

Novels

2026, Silver Falchion Award, Killer Nashville, Best Western Novel, The Thunder Head

2026, IPPY Gold Medal, Best Suspense/Thriller Novel, The Broken Blood

2026, IBPA Silver Medal, Best Mystery & Thriller Novel, The Thunder Head

2025, CLUE Award, Grand Prize & First Place, Best Mystery & Suspense Novel, The Thunder Head

2025, Laramie Award, First Place, Best Americana Novel, The Broken Blood

2025, Silver Falchion Award, Killer Nashville, Best Western Novel, The Broken Blood

Short Stories & Collections

2012, Selena McDonal Kennedy Fiction Award, California Works: Stories

2011, Phoebe, Spines

2011, Cutthroat Journal of the Arts Short Fiction Prize, Longboard

2011, Arts & Letters Prize for Fiction, Gallopers

2011, Writers Workshop of Ashville Prize, What He Knows and Doesn’t

2010, Cutthroat Journal of the Arts Short Fiction Prize, Matterhorn

2010, Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition, Salt