Leland E. Hale

Leland E. Hale was born in Seattle, Washington, and now resides in rural Kitsap Peninsula, across the Puget Sound from Seattle. A serious writer since his teens, his first published work was "Butcher, Baker," the true-crime story of Alaska serial murderer Robert Hansen (which inspired the 2013 movie "Frozen Ground," starring Nicolas Cage and John Cusack). "Butcher, Baker" was recently published as a Kindle edition by Open Road Press (and is now offered in an Audible version). Mr. Hale's most recent book is "What Happened in Craig," the true-crime story of Alaska's worst unsolved mass murder. Set in the Alaska of the early eighties, it takes a deep dive into the mysterious murder of eight people on board a fishing boat in Craig, Alaska. Hale also has novel, "Huck Finn Is Dead," the comic adventure story of a teenage runaway who embarks on a cross-country journey to find his estranged mother. Mr. Hale grew up in an artistic family. His mother was a concert flutist, his father a talented illustrator who, as a child of the Great Depression, ultimately pursued a career as a dairy scientist. His kids still remember the huge cowboy mural he painted on their childhood bedroom wall. Book writing is his true passion, but Mr. Hale wishes he were more prolific. His first book took eight years to finish; his second more than a decade. Both books were written twice, with major differences between the two versions. He latest book continues that trend... Educated at Seattle University (B.A.) and the University of Washington (M.S.), Mr. Hale has enjoyed several careers, having worked in politics, energy, aerospace and the software industries. In short, his writerly skills have taken him many places. He once testified before the U.S. Congress on Pacific Northwest energy policies. He won't do that again (but... never say never).