Lawrence Block is a highly respected mystery novel author. In addition, he has served as a fiction-writing instructor, leading a seminar and writing several books of advice and a steady column in Writer's Digest on the subject. He himself began writing at an early age, and, using a pseudonym, published his first book--a soft porn novel--while he was still a college student. In 1961, Block used his own name to write his first mystery novel, DEATH PULLS A DOUBLE CROSS. He is probably best known for three characters, each with his own series: the spy Evan Tanner, who can't sleep after an accident destroyed part of his brain, gentleman burglar/amateur sleuth Bernie Rhodenbarr, and troubled ex-cop Matt Scudder. He showed his darker side in a series of novels published under the name Paul Kavanaugh, and demonstrated his versatility with noir thrillers like SUCH MEN ARE DANGEROUS (1969). Block was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, and is only the third American to have received a Cartier Diamond Dagger Award from the British Crime Writers' Association. In addition, he has won two Shamus Awards, two Edgar Awards, and a Nero Wolfe Award.