C.W. Blackwell is an award-winning author from the Central Coast of California. His short stories have appeared with Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Shotgun Honey, Tough Magazine, Reckon Review, and Rock and a Hard Place Press. He is a 3x Derringer Award winner and an Anthony Award finalist. He was included on the Distinguished Author list in the 2024 and 2026 Best American Mystery and Suspense collection. His published works include the novellas Song of the Red Squire and Hard Mountain Clay, as well as the award-winning short story collection Whatever Kills the Pain. His historical crime novel, The Cold Dark Forever, released in 2026 to critical acclaim.