Noah Hawley Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Noah Hawley was born on May 10, 1967 in New York City, New York. His mother Louise Armstrong was an acclaimed non-fiction writer and activist having penned many books on women’s issues, feminism and incest. His father, Tom Hawley was a businessman. He grew up on the streets of the city alongside his twin brother, Alexi. Hawley attended Sarah Lawrence College and graduated in 1989 with a degree in political science. Following his graduation, Hawley worked for the New York City Legal Aid Society working with cases that involved child abuse and neglect. It was then that he began writing, as a release from the confines and sadness of his job. Eventually he moved to San Francisco where worked as a paralegal and did computer programming work for a variety of law firms. There that he joined the “San Francisco Writers’ Grotto” and began taking his craft seriously. In 1998 he published his first novel, A Conspiracy of Tall Men.

A Conspiracy of Tall Men, is a suspenseful, well written thriller that follows the main character, Linus Owen. The character is a professor of conspiracy theory whose wife is mysteriously killed in a plane crash. In order to discover the truth behind her death, Linus Owen recruits two of his friends and they embark on cross country search for the truth. During the journey Linus reveals details of his failing marriage but that does not stop him in his pursuit for the circumstances surrounding the death of his wife. Along the way, the trio encounter many interesting people and it becomes evident to Linus that they are involved in a dangerous cover-up and the goal becomes to simply stay alive. The book became a Book of the Month Club selection and Hawley’s career as a writer was officially launched.

Hawley’s next novel , Other People’s Weddings, was also very successful. It was then that he made the decision to start writing for screen and television. Almost immediately he became an accomplished writer and producer for Fox and the hit TV show Bones. He also created The Unusuals for ABC, where he served as the executive producer and later My Generation, also for ABC. Meanwhile, his first screenplay sold to Summit Entertainment and the movie Lies and Alibis was released. The production featured Jerry O’Connell, Rebecca Romijn, Selma Blair and Sam Elliot. It was clear that Hawley was well on his way to becoming a very successful writer, screenwriter and producer.

After publishing two more novels, The Punch: A Novel and The Good Father, Hawley began his most challenging career move yet. He created a television version of the Coen brothers block buster movie, Fargo. Hawley managed to change the original characters and create his own vision while maintaining the sublime and strange feel of the original movie. The show aired in 2014 on FX Network to rave reviews. The program won the Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Mini-series and was nominated for a total of 113 awards internationally. The third season of Fargo will air in 2017. As creator, writer and show runner, Hawley has made his mark in the media world.

Hawley continues his working relationship with the FX Network. He created Legion, a science fiction television series that is based on a Marvel Comics character of the same name. FX has picked up the first 8 episodes of the series and it will air in 2017. He has another project with FX Productions that is currently in the works. Cat’s Cradle is based on Kurt Vonnegut’s novel of the same name. Not only will Hawley write the limited series adaptation but he will also be the executive producer. This production is part of the two year production deal that Hawley recently extended with FX Network.

Before the Fall is Hawley’s most recent novel. Another suspense filled thriller from this very talented writer that has been hailed by critics. It tells the story of 10 privileged people who are travelling by plane to Martha’s Vineyard for the weekend. 16 minutes into the flight, they crash and only two survive. The story is revealed through the back stories and histories of the characters and each character has a separate chapter. Sony Pictures has already bought the rights to the film production of this, his latest novel. It is expected that Hawley will write the screenplay, though it has not yet been confirmed.

20th Century Fox recently bought rights to a science fiction script called Man Alive. Noah Hawley will now put another feather into his hat as he will make his directorial debut and go behind the camera.

Understanding how Hawley is good at his show running skills was cleared even more when he spoke about Fargo, in an interview. Hawley while talking about Fargo stressed on that fact about how the world of Fargo always needed the elements of random, odd truths that are stranger than fiction. Since Fargo is not a story based on an actual event, Hawley feels the requirement of put some untidiness to keep the audience engaged. There is no linear story line and it is always a better dynamic in the relation between the show and the audience to leave a room of imagination and perplexity for them to be invested in.

Noah Hawley currently resides with his wife Kyle and their two children in both Austin, Texas and Los Angeles, California. It seems like everybody is keen is Hawley’s work in the Hollywood and wants a piece of him. Even though, the novelist is strictly a family man. In his interview with the Vanity Fair, Hawley admitted that even the most passionate story tellers cannot invent more hours in a day to give more time to his writing especially when he has young kids. He mentioned the importance of spending time with his family and how he intends to compromise as little time with his family than anymore needed.

Even the most passionate geniuses have days of doubts and when nothing seems to work. Hawley is deeply rooted to his skills as a writer yet he has shown quite the skill as a show runner but he admits to when things might just seem over the top even for him. He said there is no in between and that one is either good or not, at their work. Hawley does have his share of days where it does not seem to go like his way but then there are days when he feels absolutely good at writing and expresses how pleasurable and great it is to be suddenly feeling high spirited and passionate about what he is doing.