The Official
Elmore Leonard Website

Monday, August 05, 2013

Susan Whitall
The Detroit News
5 Comments

Crime writer Elmore Leonard suffered a stroke a week ago and remains hospitalized at an undisclosed Detroit area hospital, his longtime researcher Gregg Sutter confirmed today.

“Elmore had a stroke; it happened a week ago, last Monday,” Sutter said. “He’s doing better every day, and the family is guardedly optimistic. He’s showing great spirit. He’s a fighter, and we’re glad to see that.”

With 45 novels under his belt, if Leonard, 87, had slowed down his writing schedule prior to the stroke, it’s only compared to his prolific earlier days. He’s been working on his latest book.

“He’s very much into his 46th novel,” Sutter said, “working very hard.”

Last November, the National Book Foundation honored Leonard with its medallion, an award saluting lifetime achievement.

With his knack for snappy dialogue, many of Leonard’s works have been turned into movies, including “Hombre” (starring Paul Newman), “Get Shorty,” “Out of Sight” and “Jackie Brown” (based upon his “Rum Punch”).

Leonard particularly enjoyed the hit F/X series “Justified,” based on his novella “Fire in the Hole,” and was inspired to write a novel, “Raylan,” in 2012, about the title character.

A longtime Bloomfield Township resident, Leonard could have moved to Hollywood or somewhere equally glamorous years ago, but he stayed, and Detroit has been the gift that keeps on giving in his fiction.

“I like it,” Leonard said in 2012. “Great music ... lot of poverty. I wouldn’t move anywhere else. Now, it’s too late. I’d never be able to drive in San Francisco or Los Angeles.”

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From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130805/ENT06/308050096#ixzz2b87CVpDQ