Max McCoy is an award-winning novelist and journalist, an associate professor at Emporia State University, and director of the Tallgrass Writing Workshop. A three-time Spur Award winner and the recipient of the 2018 National Outdoor Book Award, his novels Of Grave Concern and Hellfire Canyon were both named Notable Books by the State Library of Kansas. In addition to writing dark, offbeat Westerns and historical fiction, he’s the author of thrillers, original Indiana Jones adventures, the novelization of Steven Spielberg’s epic miniseries Into the West," and the first three volumes in Wylde’s West, a paranormal mystery series. McCoy began his career in journalism at the Pittsburg Morning Sun and writing for pulp magazines such as True Detective and Front-Page Detective. As investigative writer for The Joplin Globe, he won two first-place awards in investigative journalism for his stories on serial killers and hate groups. Originally from Baxter Springs, Kansas, he lives in Emporia and can be found online at MaxMcCoy.com. is an award-winning novelist and journalist, an associate professor at Emporia State University, and director of the Tallgrass Writing Workshop. A three-time Spur Award winner and the recipient of the 2018 National Outdoor Book Award, his novels Of Grave Concern and Hellfire Canyon were both named Notable Books by the State Library of Kansas. In addition to writing dark, offbeat Westerns and historical fiction, he’s the author of thrillers, original Indiana Jones adventures, the novelization of Steven Spielberg’s epic miniseries Into the West," and the first three volumes in Wylde’s West, a paranormal mystery series. McCoy began his career in journalism at the Pittsburg Morning Sun and writing for pulp magazines such as True Detective and Front-Page Detective. As investigative writer for The Joplin Globe, he won two first-place awards in investigative journalism for his stories on serial killers and hate groups. Originally from Baxter Springs, Kansas, he lives in Emporia and can be found online at MaxMcCoy.com.