AUTHOR'S BIO:

LEE MOSSEL

NOVELIST

lee mossel was born in Eugene, Oregon, and raised in the small logging community of Noti, LOCATED in the coast range mountains about twenty miles west of Eugene.  After attending Elmira high school, he entered the university of Oregon graduating with bachelor's and master's degrees in geology. 

In 1967, he moved to Denver, Colorado, to begin a career in petroleum geology.  OVER THE NEXT 35 YEARS, HE WORKED FOR SEVERAL OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION COMPANIES IN POSITIONS OF INCREASING RESPONSIBILITY INCLUDING FOUNDING  TWO COMPANIES: ONE PUBLICLY HELD AND ONE PRIVATE.  in THE FINAL SIXTEEN YEARS OF HIS CAREER, HE SERVED AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ENSIGN OIL & GAS. 

SINCE RETIREMENT, HE HAS CONTRIBUTED ARTICLES, OP/ED COLUMNS, AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PIECES ON ENERGY AND POLITICAL ISSUES.  HE IS A FREQUENT SPEAKER ON ENERGY TOPICS AND ON HIS SECOND CAREER AS A NOVELIST AND SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHOR.

WITH THE PUBLICATION OF HIS FIRST NOVEL, THE MURDER PROSPECT, IN 2012, HE HAS SUCCESSFULLY ENTERED THE WORLD OF WRITING AND SELF-PUBLISHING.  HIS FIRST BOOK WAS FOLLOWED, IN 2013, BY THE TALUS SLOPE AND IN 2014 BY MORE THAN 100% DEAD.  THE BOOKS FEATURE CORTLANDT SCOTT, A DENVER PETROLEUM GEOLOGIST WHO, WHILE SUCCESSFUL IN THE OIL AND GAS BUSINESS, FINDS HIMSELF BURNT OUT.  HE MAKES A JAW DROPPING DECISION TO MAKE A CAREER CHANGE AND BECOME A PRIVATE DETECTIVE CONCENTRATING ON OILFIELD RELATED CRIMES AND INVESTIGATIONS.

THE CORT SCOTT NOVELS DRAW FROM THE "REAL WORLD" CHARACTERS AND STORIES FROM THE OIL BUSINESS WHICH ARE OFTEN STRANGER THAN FICTION AND BIGGER THAN LIFE.  THEY EASILY LEND THEMSELVES TO FICTIONALIZATION AND STORY TELLING.

MORE THAN 100% DEAD  WAS A FINALIST IN GENRE FICTION FOR THE 2015 COLORADO AUTHORS' LEAGUE BOOK AWARDS.

BED OF THORNS , IS A SAGA OF A YOUNG WOMAN'S BAD CHOICES AND LIVING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.  SET AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY, IT IS NOVEL OF TOUGH TIMES AND TOUGH PEOPLE.

FRACKED TO DEATH , THE FOURTH CORTLANDT SCOTT CRIME THRILLER, IS RIPPED FROM TODAY'S HEADLINES AND INVOLVES HYDRAULIC FRACTURING OF OIL WELLS, RADICAL ENVIRONMENTALISM, CRIMINAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.

A VINTAGE REVENGE  TAKES CORT SCOTT BACK  TO OREGON TO INVESTIGATE THE MURDER OF THE RICHEST MAN IN CORT'S TINY HOMETOWN.  HE SOON DISCOVERS THAT AFTER THIRTY YEARS AWAY--THINGS CHANGE!