Grafton was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. After graduating from the University of Louisville with a degree in English Literature, she went to work as a hospital admissions clerk and medical secretary in California.
The Start of Grafton’s Writing Career
Sue Grafton use to be a struggling writer. At the age of 22, she finished her first novel. She went on to write 6 more manuscripts. Only 2 out of the 7 were published. Struggling as a novelist, Sue started writing screenplays to make ends meet. Fifteen years as a screenwriter taught her to develop strong dialogue and action sequences. However, she missed her first love, fiction novels.
The Alphabet Series is Born
Sue Grafton was fascinated by mysteries that had sequenced titles, for example John MacDonald had titles that reference colors. She had the desire to do the same thing, but did not know how she could accomplish it. Eventually, Grafton created an exercise that required her to write down a list of words related to crime.
Sue’s word building led to the successful alphabet series and made her a book lover’s favorite mystery novelist. Grafton also succeeded in making first person writing cool. Kinsey Millhone is a book lover’s favorite fictional P.I. heroine. The first book, A is for Alibi, was published in 1982. After G is for Gumshoe got published, Sue was able to quit her screenwriting job. Grafton’s latest work, V is for Vengeance, will release in mid-November. Z is for Zero will be the title of the last book in the series.
Alphabet Analysis
Grafton’s earlier works were definitely on point. Lately, her books seem to be a little off kilter. It appears that Grafton is running out of ideas, so it is a good thing that the series will end soon. It also appears that Sue is trying a new writing approach.
In U is for Undertow, there are long chunks of background information on fictional locations concerning the buildings or sites that Kinsey visits to follow a clue. At times, the background information was longer than a page. Grafton doesn’t have a strong history of writing descriptive detailed surroundings. Another indication of a new writing approach is the point of view transitions. Readers use to stay in Kinsey’s mind 98% of the time in Sue’s earlier works. In her last few books, readers are treated to the criminal’s point of view or third point of view. The writer smoothes out point of view transitions by starting new chapters.
Despite experiments in the last two books, Grafton engages the reader into the action packed life of Kinsey Millhone and the people she pursues. Sue has over 20 published works in the alphabet series. It is difficult to pick which one is the best because most of them are great mysteries.
Grafton’s Accomplishments
Becoming a top mystery novelist on the New York Times Bestsellers’ list is only one of Sue’s many accomplishments. Grafton has won 3 Anthony Awards and 3 Shamus Awards. In 2008, Sue received the Cartier Dagger from the British Crime Writers’ Association. Sue also received the Grand Master Award from Mystery Writers of America in 2009.
Cheers to Sue Grafton on a successful lifetime career in writing. Devoted readers and upcoming writers appreciate your efforts and the entertainment you’ve provided all these years.
“Sue Grafton,” Wikipedia.