Jim Lynch (writer)
Encyclopedia
Jim Lynch is an American novelist and journalist. He was the recipient of a George Polk Award for environmental reporting with Karen Dorn Steele in 1995 and also received the Livingston Award
for young journalists in 1996. He is the author of The Highest Tide and Border Songs.
and went on to work for newspapers in Alaska and Washington, D.C., as well as The Spokesman-Review, The Seattle Times
and The Oregonian
. He wrote his first novel, The Highest Tide, while on a six-month sabbatical from The Oregonian
, inspired by the discovery of a rare, deep-sea ragfish
on the beach near his home outside Olympia, Washington. The book was sold to Bloomsbury
before it was completed, and Lynch resigned from the paper two days later. The Highest Tide received a Pacific Northwest Bookseller Award in 2006.
Lynch's second novel, Border Songs was inspired by his journalism about border security and marijuana smuggling. His research for the book included riding with The Border Patrol as they intercepted loads of marijuana from British Columbia, bound for major cities in the Western United States.
Livingston Award
The Livingston Awards are American journalism awards issued to media professionals under the age of 35 for local, national, and international reporting...
for young journalists in 1996. He is the author of The Highest Tide and Border Songs.
Life and work
Jim Lynch grew up near Seattle, Washington, where his father moved for its sailing waters. He studied English and creative writing at the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
and went on to work for newspapers in Alaska and Washington, D.C., as well as The Spokesman-Review, The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times is a newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, US. It is the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington. It has been, since the demise in 2009 of the printed version of the rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's only major daily print newspaper.-History:The Seattle Times...
and The Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
. He wrote his first novel, The Highest Tide, while on a six-month sabbatical from The Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
, inspired by the discovery of a rare, deep-sea ragfish
Ragfish
The ragfish, Icosteus aenigmaticus , is an odd ray-finned fish of the northern Pacific Ocean; although a perciform, its skeleton is mostly cartilage, and the larvae have pelvic fins that disappear as they mature...
on the beach near his home outside Olympia, Washington. The book was sold to Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
before it was completed, and Lynch resigned from the paper two days later. The Highest Tide received a Pacific Northwest Bookseller Award in 2006.
Lynch's second novel, Border Songs was inspired by his journalism about border security and marijuana smuggling. His research for the book included riding with The Border Patrol as they intercepted loads of marijuana from British Columbia, bound for major cities in the Western United States.
Books
- The Highest Tide (2005) Bloomsbury USA ISBN 978-1582346052
- Border Songs (2010) Vintage Books ISBN 978-0-307-45626-7