Philip R. Craig
Philip R. Craig, born on December 10, 1933, in Santa Monica, California, is a notable American author best known for his mystery novels set on Martha's Vineyard. Growing up on a ranch in Colorado, Craig developed an early passion for reading and writing, which led him to pursue a career in literature. He earned a degree in religion and philosophy from Boston University before obtaining an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Iowa. His writing career includes the publication of his first novel, "Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn," in 1969, and the launch of a successful mystery series featuring sleuths J.W. and Zee Jackson, beginning with "A Beautiful Place to Die" in 1989.
Craig’s work has garnered recognition, with titles selected by the Mystery Guild and nominations for awards such as the Shamus Award. Beyond fiction, he has also written about historical events from the Old West and contributed recipes to various cookbooks. In addition to his writing, Craig was involved in the literary community as a member of the Mystery Writers of America and has participated in numerous workshops and panels. He and his wife, Shirley, raised two children and lived in Edgartown, where they nurtured their shared interests in travel and culture.
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Philip R. Craig
Fiction Writer
- Born: December 10, 1933
- Birthplace: Santa Monica, California
- Died: May 8, 2007
Biography
Philip R. Craig was born December 10, 1933, in Santa Monica, California, but grew up on a ranch near Durango, Colorado. As a child he attended a one-room schoolhouse, read every book in the school’s small library—which specialized in Edgar Rice Burrough’s Tarzan series and Campfire Girls novels—and made his first fledgling attempts at writing. During the summers, he participated in the family’s annual cattle drives.
In 1951, Craig enrolled at Boston University to study for the ministry. He became an All-American fencer, and though he eventually earned a degree in religion and philosophy (1957), by the time of his graduation, his interests had shifted to literature and writing.
Craig earned an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop in 1962, enabling him to teach English and journalism at Endicott Junior College in Beverly, Massachusetts, from 1962 to 1965. From 1965 until his retirement in 1999 as professor of English, he taught at Wheelock College in Boston. During the 1960’s, he also wrote features for Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod newspapers.
Craig wrote his first novel while working summers at a package liquor store in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts: Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn (1969). Though he regularly wrote and submitted novels for publication, it was twenty years before the appearance of his second novel, A Beautiful Place to Die (1989), the debut of a series of mysteries set on Martha’s Vineyard. The nineteenth entry in the series featuring sleuths J. W. and Zee Jackson, Vineyard Prey, was released in 2005. Craig has also coauthored two mysteries with fellow novelist William G. Tappley (creator of “Brady Coyne”): First Light (2002) and Second Sight (2005).
Many of Craig’s Martha’s Vineyard novels were alternative selections of the Mystery Guild. A Shoot on Martha’s Vineyard (1998) was nominated for the Shamus Award. A Vineyard Killing (2003) was a Good Morning Americabook club selection.
In addition to mysteries, Craig has also written about true historical incidents from the Old West: his monographs on the Cox-Truby Feud and the death of Ike Stockton are archived, respectively, in the Center for Southwestern Studies in Colorado and in a library in Farmington, New Mexico. The author’s recipes, featuring fish, have been featured in several cookbooks: As You Like It, Words to Eat By, and A Taste of Murder. Craig has served on the board of directors of the New England chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, been on the Edgar Award selection committee, participated in panels at many mystery conferences, taught workshops on writing, and guest lectured at several institutions of higher learning.
Philip Craig and his wife since 1957, Shirley, were the parents of two children, Kimberlie and James. The elder Craigs—who recently collaborated on a cookbook—lived year-round in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard. They traveled widely, especially to visit ancient sites, such as Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, and journeyed to more than thirty foreign countries.