Sue Grafton's life seemed destined for storytelling, surrounded as she was by a family that fostered both creative and intellectual exploration. Despite a challenging family dynamic, she emerged from her formative years with a sense of freedom and a love for reading. Her journey from a budding writer in Kentucky to a celebrated author unfolded through determination and creative reinvention.

Early Life and Education

Sue Taylor Grafton entered the world on April 24, 1940, in Louisville, Kentucky. Her father, Cornelius Warren "Chip" Grafton, was a practicing attorney who also penned mystery novels, while her mother, Vivian (Harnsberger) Grafton, was a former high school teacher. Their affinity for books deeply influenced Sue, who recalls a childhood abundant in intellectual liberty despite the challenges posed by her parents' struggles with alcoholism and familial dysfunction.

Grafton’s initial foray into writing came during her high school years, where she contributed poems and articles to the school newspaper. At eighteen, she ventured into writing short stories and pursued an English major at the University of Louisville, graduating in 1961. During her college years, she experienced the complexities of early adulthood, marrying and having a daughter, only to divorce while expecting a son. Her first daughter was raised by her ex-husband. Eager to hone her craft, Grafton enrolled in a creative writing course at the University of California, Los Angeles, where her instructor, Robert Kirsh—book editor at the Los Angeles Times—saw promise in her work and encouraged her to explore novel writing. Despite this encouragement, Grafton was not yet convinced that writing could be her career path. She found herself remarried at twenty-two to Al Schmidt, and they welcomed another daughter together.

Early Career and Personal Struggles

Seeking stability through marriage, Grafton continued writing amidst various jobs in the medical field, where she held positions as a secretary, cashier, and admissions clerk. However, these roles did little to satisfy her creative aspirations. Eventually, she published several short stories and her debut novel, Keziah Dane, in 1967, which explored life in Appalachia. This was followed by her second novel, The Lolly-Madonna War, in 1969. The sale of film rights to her second novel marked a turning point, allowing her to relocate to Los Angeles with her son and younger daughter to pursue screenwriting. Her personal life, meanwhile, grew tumultuous with an intense custody dispute over her children. In the midst of this turmoil, she channelled her frustration and anger into writing “A” Is for Alibi (1982), the inaugural book of her renowned Kinsey Millhone series. Imagining her former husband’s demise in various ways, including poisoning, served as a creative outlet rather than a literal plan of action.

Hollywood Experiences and Shift to Mystery Writing

During the five-year journey to complete her first mystery novel, Grafton found love again with Stephen F. Humphrey, whom she married in 1978. She continued to work in Hollywood, writing for television series and adapting books for TV movies, often collaborating with her husband. Although she achieved success, winning a Christopher Award for Walking Through the Fire in 1979, Grafton’s experiences in the film industry left her disillusioned. The collaborative nature of screenwriting frustrated her desire for creative independence, prompting her to seek fulfillment elsewhere.

The Birth of the Kinsey Millhone Series

Transitioning back to mystery novels, Grafton found her niche in a genre that allowed for solitary creativity, echoing her father's literary pursuits. Inspired by the alphabet, she devised the Kinsey Millhone series, with each book title beginning with a successive letter. “A” Is for Alibi garnered positive reviews and won the Mysterious Stranger Award, cementing her place in...