James Carlos Blake facts for kids

James Carlos Blake (born May 26, 1943 – died January 11, 2025) was an American writer. He wrote novels, short stories, and essays. His books were well-liked by critics and won several awards. People called him a great storyteller of American "outlaw" life. This means he wrote about people who lived outside the law. He was also known as a brave and original writer.

Life and Career

James Carlos Blake wrote about his childhood in an essay called “The Outsider.” He was born in Tampico, Mexico, on May 26, 1943. His family had roots in America, England, Ireland, and Spain. He became an American citizen later in life.

Early Life and Education

His father, Carlos Sebastian Blake Hernandez, was an engineer from Mexico City. His mother, Estrella Maria Lozano Cano, grew up on a horse ranch. James went to elementary school at St. Joseph's Academy in Brownsville, Texas. He finished high school in Miami, Florida.

After high school, James served in the U.S. Army Airborne. He then went to college. He earned two degrees from the University of South Florida Tampa Bay. He also got a Master of Fine Arts degree from Bowling Green State University.

Different Jobs and Teaching

Before becoming a full-time writer, James Carlos Blake had many interesting jobs. He worked as a snake-catcher and a Volkswagen mechanic. He also cleaned swimming pools and worked as a county jail officer.

His main job for many years was teaching at colleges. He taught at several universities, including the University of South Florida. He even taught in Saudi Arabia. In 1997, he decided to stop teaching to focus only on writing.

Later Years

James Carlos Blake passed away on January 11, 2025. He was 81 years old. He died from pneumonia in Venice, Florida.

His Books and Stories

James Carlos Blake started writing seriously in the early 1980s. He published many short stories in different magazines.

First Novels

In 1995, he published his first novel, The Pistoleer. This book was about the famous Texas outlaw, John Wesley Hardin. The story was told by many different characters. Critics praised it as an amazing first novel. It was also a finalist for a "Best Novel of the West" award.

The Pistoleer explored themes that Blake would use often. These included violence as a form of art and how honor guides people's lives. It also showed how outlaws could become famous.

Award-Winning Works

Over the next ten years, Blake wrote eight more novels. He also published a collection of short stories and essays. In 1997, his third novel, In the Rogue Blood, became very popular. It won the prestigious Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction.

In the Rogue Blood tells the story of two American brothers. Their adventures happen during the Mexican–American War in the 1840s. Many people consider it a powerful book about how violence shaped U.S. history.

Historical Figures in His Books

Most of Blake's novels are set between the mid-1800s and the late 1930s. Many of them feature real historical figures as main characters.

• The Friends of Pancho Villa is about Pancho Villa, a Mexican revolutionary.
• Red Grass River features John Ashley, a criminal from early 1900s Florida.
• Wildwood Boys tells the story of Bloody Bill Anderson, a Civil War guerrilla leader.
• Handsome Harry is about Harry Pierpont, a 1930s gangster who worked with John Dillinger.
• The Killings of Stanley Ketchel is about Stanley Ketchel, a boxing champion.

Even in his books with made-up characters, real people often appear.

Recent Works

Blake's more recent books are set in modern times. These include The Rules of Wolfe (2013), The House of Wolfe (2015), The Ways of Wolfe (2017), and The Bones of Wolfe (2020).

Impact and Influence

Many of James Carlos Blake's books have been published in other countries. Some of his stories have also been considered for movies.

For example, The Killings of Stanley Ketchel was optioned by Terence Winter. He was a writer for famous TV shows like The Sopranos. There were also plans for a movie based on The Friends of Pancho Villa. Director Emir Kusturica was involved, and Johnny Depp was considered for the main role. However, the movie did not happen.

Director Martin Koolhoven said Blake's novel In the Rogue Blood influenced his movie Brimstone. Koolhoven explained that reading Blake's book helped him decide to tell a Western story from a female point of view.

Awards and Recognition

James Carlos Blake received many awards for his writing.

• 1991 – Quarterly West Novella Prize for “I, Fierro”
• 1993 – Authors in the Park National Short Story Competition Award for “Under the Sierras”
• 1997 – Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction for In the Rogue Blood
• 1999 – Southwest Book Award for Borderlands
• 1999 – Chautauqua South Book Award for Red Grass River
• 2005 – Japan Adventure Fiction Association Prize for A World of Thieves
• 2007 – Maltese Falcon Award (Japan) for Under the Skin
• 2013 – French Grand Prix du Roman Noir Étranger for Red Grass River
• 2020 – French Prix de Beaune for Best Foreign Novel for Handsome Harry

Other Honors

Blake's books were also recognized in other ways.

• 1995 – Finalist, Best Novel of the West for The Pistoleer
• 2004 – Entertainment Weekly named Handsome Harry one of the "Best Books of 2004"
• 2013 – The Rules of Wolfe was a finalist for Best Western Long Novel
• 2013 – The Rules of Wolfe was listed as a "Best Book for Men" by Men's Journal
• 2013 – Booklist and Deadly Pleasures named The Rules of Wolfe one of the "Best Crime Novels of the Year"
• 2015 – The Rules of Wolfe was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award in the UK
• 2018 – The Guardian (UK) listed The Rules of Wolfe in its "Top Ten Books About Gangsters"