Shutter Island

Dennis Lehane grew up in the Dorchester section of Boston's inner-city.

Before becoming a full-time writer, he worked as a counsellor with mentally handicapped and abused children, waited tables, parked cars, drove limos, worked in bookstores, and loaded tractor-trailers. His one regret is that no one ever gave him a chance to tend bar.

He has an MFA from Florida International University, and is the writer-in-residence at Eckerd College in St Petersburg, Florida, where he runs the Writers in Paradise Writers' Conference.

He and his wife divide their time between St. Petersburg and Boston.

For more information on Dennis Lehane and his novels, visit his website: www.dennislehanebooks.com