C.W. Blackwell is an award-winning author from the Central Coast of California. His short stories have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Shotgun Honey, Rock and a Hard Place, Tough Magazine, and Reckon Review. He is a 3x Derringer Award winner and an Anthony Award finalist. He was included as a Distinguished Author 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 September 2026 by Shotgun Honey Books.