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Elmore “Dutch” Leonard doesn’t have a bucket list. Never did. Dutch has al-

most always been doing exactly what he has wanted to do: tell stories. And

according to a few hundred million readers: the fella is awfully good at it.

Dutch’s history is well documented. Google his name and you get

480,000 hits for a man who still lives by pen and paper.

These days you’ll fi nd him in his favorite place at home, in his

den at his desk, with cigarette in hand. Endless sheets of paper, his ashtray,

an analog clock, an electric typewriter, a landline (no voicemail, no cell

phone), an address book, and the box where he tosses notes and phone

numbers are strewn about his desk. Many a journalist, fi lmmaker, family

member, or guest has sat next to that desk asking questions. Dutch recalls

all with unwavering enthusiasm, captivating his audience with his story-

telling ease.

The back offi ce stores all of his work, from his fi rst, Bounty

Hunters, a 1953 western, to everything since. A shelf holds a picture of

famed 1949 Cubs pitcher Emil John “Dutch” Leonard, from whom a child-

hood pal suggested they coin him the nickname.

Dutch wrote his fi rst play in the fi fth grade based on All Quiet on

the Western Front. His cast of fellow fi fth graders performed the play for an

audience of two. He wishes he still had that play. “It’d be worth a pretty

penny now.”

Fast forward to 44 books, 20 plus short stories, novelettes, maga-

zine stories, screenplays, nine television fi lms, three television series, and one

short fi lm all inspired by his writing.

Not to mention the 21 feature fi lms. Jackie Brown was his favor-

ite. And for Get Shorty, when John Travolta was brought up for the role of

Chili Palmer, he was against it, until he saw Travolta’s work in Pulp Fiction.

“Elmore was so gracious and validating of my work in Get Shorty, he re-

versed the fl ow of admiration I had for him,” said Travolta. “His writing, it’s

crisp, fresh, and smart, that is why I’m a fan of Elmore and his work.”

October marked the release of his 44th book: Djibouti. With

Djibouti, Dutch changes up from westerns and crimes in Detroit and

Miami to a more contemporary style. Besides the new book, Dutch is an

executive producer for Justifi ed, a TV series based on his short story Fire

in the Hole. Dutch didn’t see “much appeal” in writing for television until

television started developing programs with more character-driven roles.

“I’m a fan of Elmore Leonard’s because he’s an unrelentingly en-

tertaining writer. He’s surprising, shocking (I often have to read passages

twice — did he really just kill that character off?) and funny,” states Graham

Yost, Justifi ed writer. “And, he writes just about the best dialogue anywhere.”

Elmore recalls fl ying out to L.A. to meet the cast and crew. On set

he noticed that everyone was wearing ‘WWED’ bracelets. “I wanted some-

thing to remind me and the other writers that Elmore is the reason we’re

doing this show, and when in doubt,” explains Yost, “we simply must ask

FAMED MICHIGAN WRITER ELMORE LEONARD HONORED WITH FESTIVAL

LITERARYLEGEND

ourselves, ‘What would Elmore do?’”

November 10 kicks off the four-day Elmore Leonard Literary Arts

and Film Festival at the Birmingham Community House. “I told them that

they can’t call it a ‘literary arts’ festival because there’s nothing literary in it.

It’s all fi lm. They just haven’t changed it yet,” said Leonard.

“Elmore has graciously lent his name so that we can continue to

highlight our Michigan fi lm industry,” says Kathy Wilson, event co-chair.

“This is perfect timing to inspire young writers to see how their work can

be made into a fi lm or TV series.”

In typical Dutch form, “I’m going, but I shouldn’t be involved, I’m

getting more lifetime achievements this year. It’s a bad sign,” said Leonard

with a laugh. “I got one from PEN and two others. I just go and smile and

say, ‘Thank you.’”

At 85, Dutch shows no signs of retiring. He still keeps his sev-

en day a week writing schedule. “I don’t eat lunch.” His process hasn’t

changed. Get the fi rst 100 pages in, then outline, then a fi nal pass on his

IMB electric. His daughter Jane transcribes to digital. “I don’t own a com-

puter or cell phone. Easier that way.”

Elmore Leonard may not have a bucket list, but I have to admit ...

I do. And he was on it. – Jennifer A. Champagne

elmoreleonard.com

citizens

Elmore Leonard

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