<br><strong>Richard J. Cass</strong> graduated from Colby College in Maine and earned an MA in Writing from the University of New Hampshire. His short fiction was won prizes from <em>Redbook</em>, <em>Writers</em><em>’ </em><em>Digest</em>, and <em>Playboy</em>. He’s published six mystery novels in the Elder Darrow jazz mystery series and a book of short stories called <em>Gleam of Bone</em>. <em>Solo Act</em> was a finalist for the Maine Literary Award in Crime Fiction in 2017, and <em>In Solo Time</em> won that award in 2018.<br>Cass studied with Thomas Williams, Jr. and Joseph Monninger at the University of New Hampshire. He has also studied with Ernest Hebert, Ursula K. LeGuin, and Molly Gloss. He has been an Individual Artist’s Fellow for the State of New Hampshire and a Fellow at the Fishtrap Writers’ Conference in Oregon. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in <em>Playboy</em>, <em>Gray</em><em>’</em><em>s Sporting Journal</em>, <em>ZZYZVA</em>, and <em>Best Short Stories of the American West</em>. Cass serves on the board of Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance. He lives in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.<br> <br>
