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Nebraska Author Harley Jane Kozak
A list of works by Nebraska mystery author
Harley Jane Kozak
Although born in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Harley Jane Kozak spent most of her formative years growing up in Lincoln, NE. Her father died when she was only one, and her mother eventually resettled the family in Lincoln so that she could teach at UN-L. Kozak is perhaps best known as a television, film and theater actress, prior to her budding writing career. She made her stage debut at age 5, and appeared regularly in a variety of different productions throughout elementary and Junior and Senior High School (she attended Lincoln High).
At age 19, she moved to New York City, where she attended the School of Performing Arts. Her first filmed role was in the TV series Texas, (1981-82) and her first movie was The House on Sorority Row (1983). She appeared in the soap operas Guiding Light and Santa Barbara, and since moving to California in the early 1980s has appeared in numerous feature films (including Parenthood, Arachnaphobia, Necessary Roughness, All I Want for Christmas and Dark Planet) and television series (including Harts of the West, Bringing Up Jack and Charlie Grace). as well as TV-movies and stage productions. Kozak has even occasionally returned to Lincoln to appear in productions with the Nebraska Reperatory Theater, re-connecting with her Nebraska roots.
Happily married now and residing in California with her husband, three children and assorted animals, Kozak launched her literary career auspiciously. Although it took her 10 years to finish her first novel — the romantic mystery novel Dating Dead Men [2004] — it has gained her widespread acclaim and numerous awards. It is just the first in a series featuring her plucky, independent heroine, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, a.k.a. Wollie Shelley.
Additional information about Harley Jane Kozak can be found at the following Web sites:
Dating Dead Men
[2004]
First in the “Wollie Shelley” series. Kozak’s premiere novel won the following awards:
>> 2005 Nebraska Book Award for Best Fiction
>> Agatha Award for Best First Mystery Novel
>> Anthony Award for Best First Mystery Novel
>> Macavity Award for Best First Mystery Novel
>> Romantic Times Award for Best Humorous Mystery
>> Bookspan: Favorite Insider Discovery.
Dating is Murder
[2005]
2nd in the “Wollie Shelley” series.
Dead Ex
[2007]
3rd in the “Wollie Shelley” series.
A Date You Can’t Refuse
[2009]
4th in the “Wollie Shelley” series.
The Keeper of the Moon
[2013]
Book 2 in the “L.A. Keepers” series — other books are by other authors.
Anthologies containing stories by Harley Jane Kozak
LAndmarked for Murder
[2006]
Mystery anthology c0-edited by Kozak.
Mystery Muses
[2006]
Includes a Kozak essay about Katherine Neville’s “The Eight”.
This is Chick Lit
[2006]
Includes the Kozak story “The Infidelity Diet”.
A Hell of a Woman
[2007]
Includes an essay by Kozak.
Crimes by Moonlight
[2010]
Includes the Kozak story “Madeeda”.
Butcher Knives and Body Counts: Essays on the Formula, Frights and Fun of the Slasher Film
[2010]
Includes the Kozak essay “The House on Sorority Row”.
The Rich and the Dead
[2011]
Edited by Nelson DeMille. Includes the Kozak story “Lamborghini Mommy”.
For the Sake of the Game
[2018]
Sherlock Holmes anthology edited by Laurie R. King. Includes the Kozak story “The Walk-In”