Hime, James 1954-

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HIME, James 1954-

PERSONAL:

Born February 1, 1954 in Magnolia, AK; son of Paul and Pat Hime; married Paulette Toellner, 1974; children: Travis, Josh. Education: Attended University of Texas, 1971-74; J.D, 1976. Hobbies and other interests: Marathon running.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Houston, TX. Agent—c/o Author Mail, St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Tax attorney and author. Baker & Botts (law firm), Houston, TX, associate, beginning 1976, became partner, established Washington, DC office, 1985-90, and New York, NY office, 1992-95; Gerald Hines, Houston, fund manager, beginning 1995; venture capitalist.

WRITINGS:

The Night of the Dance, Minotaur (New York, NY), 2003.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

Three Thousand Bridges, inspired by his 9/11 experience; Scared Money, a sequel to The Night of the Dance.

SIDELIGHTS:

A former tax attorney and investment manager with a penchant for overachieving, James Hime weathered twenty rejection letters before publishing his first novel, The Night of the Dance. Utilizing a combination of people and experiences from his own life, Hime's debut novel was praised by Wes Lukowsky in Booklist as "one of the most impressive mystery debuts in years." Calling the novel "rangy, shrewd, and heartfelt," a Kirkus Reviews contributor added that Hime serves up "an oversized debut stuffed with so many subplots it could only have come out of Texas."

The Night of the Dance begins when the body of Sissy Fletcher, a preacher's daughter who disappeared ten years ago at a rodeo dance, is discovered by oil drillers. While local county sheriff Dewey Sharpe—under pressure due to his upcoming reelection—deputy Clyde Thomas, and retired Texas ranger Jeremiah Spur are determined to get to the bottom of the case as soon as possible, the murderer's trail has gone cold. Meanwhile, the deceased victim's brother, Martin Fletcher, is up to no good, believing that he is on a mission from God to create trouble. Martin is dead set on creating havoc in his small town; in addition to robbing liquor stores, he is also in the process of planning a bombing. When Spur's lesbian daughter, who is now dying from cancer, is discovered to have been the last person to see the murdered woman alive, further complications ensue. Hime's use of the present tense was praised by critics for its ability to engage readers, as was his skill in creating realistic protagonists. "Hime stokes the embers of Lone Star crime to white hot intensity, while ladling the grill with his distinctive home-brewed dressing," commented a reviewer for Publishers Weekly, while in Library Journal Rex Klett dubbed The Night of the Dance a "choice first crime novel … full of plot complexities … and compelling detail."

After finishing his first novel Hime was employed as an investment manager. Attending a business meeting in New York City on the 66th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, he witnessed, first hand, as the American Airlines plane slammed into the North Tower. This experience changed his life, and also provided inspiration for his second novel, tentatively titled Three Thousand Bridges. Living in Houston, Texas with his wife and their golden retriever, Hime continues his writing, and plans a sequel to The Night of the Dance.