About the Author
Zoltan James
The pen name of ZJ Czupor — writer of mysteries and thrillers — is proudly represented by Terrie Wolf, founder and owner of AKA Literary Management.
His novels Elrod and The Hunt for Shooter #5 are out on submission, along with a nonfiction work on the lives of select mystery authors.
He's the author of The Big Weird: Haikus in Times of Pandemic and Chaos, a collection of sublime poetry about his observations of the pandemic. More of his haiku poems are featured in Stop the World: Snapshots from a Pandemic (Thalia Press), which includes authors, poets, and essayists from around the world.
His noir short story, The Man in the Corner, is featured in Crossing Colfax, by Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.
Awards & Recognition
His novel excerpts have been winners or finalists in the following competitions. A screenplay was a finalist for the Bogart Noir Short Film Competition in Miami.
- Claymore Award — Best Mystery category and a Top Pick in the Thriller category
- Freddie Award for Writing Excellence — Florida Chapter, Mystery Writers of America
- Southeastern Writers
- Whodunit Mystery Writing — Mystery Fest Key West
- Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
- Bogart Noir Short Film Competition — screenplay finalist, Miami
Community & Memberships
ZJ is a past president of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and an active member of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers.
The Journey
ZJ was born in Osterode, Germany, to Hungarian parents who fled their homeland at the end of WWII to avoid living under communist rule. When he was 20 months old, he and his parents immigrated to Lawrence, Kansas, and became proud U.S. citizens.
He graduated from Lawrence High School — where, years later, he was inducted into the school's Hall of Honor — earned his bachelor's degree in journalism and public relations from the University of Kansas, and a master's degree in communications from the University of Denver.
After working for several years in nonprofit, corporate, and agency public relations, he and his wife, Marta, co-founded The InterPro Group, one of Denver's leading public relations agencies. He now writes full time.
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