VJ Books Presents Author Raymond Benson (aka David Michaels)!
 Raymond Benson was born on September 6, 1955, in Midland, Texas. He grew up in Odessa, Texas, and graduated with honors from Permian High School in 1973. Beginning from an early age, he was enthralled by a wide variety of artistic pursuits, and by James Bond. He earned a degree in Directing from the University of Texas in Austin. During his education, and following it, he directed or wrote music for numerous theatrical productions.
After a stint at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Benson moved to New York and made himself a part of the theater scene there. He co-founded the Empire Stage Players, and served on the Board of Directors. By day, he worked as a sales assistant and later a marketing services associate in the financial industry. He also began working on The James Bond Bedside Companion as a personal project. The book was published in 1984, and won a prestigious Edgar Award for Best Biographical/Critical Work. He has also served as vice president of the New York-based James Bond 007 Fan Club, and later served on the Board of Directors of The Ian Fleming Foundation.
Benson married his wife, and they moved back to Texas after welcoming their first child into the world. He began working as a video game designer/writer, and this career took him and his family to Maryland, and then Chicago, over the course of several years.
Benson was the official writer of James Bond novels from 1996-2003. He has also written a number of original novels including the Black Stiletto Saga, and he has written under the pen name "David Michaels," as the author of the New York Times best-selling books Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell and its sequel.
Benson has taught Interactive Scriptwriting, adult continuing education in Film, and currently teaches Film History at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. He was named the Joseph G. Astman Distinguished Conference Scholar in 2007 by Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. He is also a concert pianist, and an active member of International Thriller Writers Inc., The International Association of Media Tie-In Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and ASCAP.
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Cheating Death - Blog Post
Raymond Benson Bibliography
Black Stiletto Series
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The Black Stiletto - 2011
- The Black Stiletto's Autograph - 2011 (short story)
- The Black Stiletto: Black & White - 2012
- The Black Stiletto: Stars & Stripes - 2013
- The Black Stiletto: Secrets & Lies - 2014
- The Black Stiletto: Endings & Beginnings - 2014
James Bond Novels
- Zero Minus Ten - 1997
- The Facts of Death - 1998
- High Time to Kill - 1999
- Doubleshot - 2000
- Never Dream of Dying - 2001
- The Man With the Red Tattoo - 2002
- The Union Trilogy - 2008 (anthology)
- Choice of Weapons - 2010 (anthology)
James Bond Film Novelizations (based on the respective screenplays)
- Tomorrow Never Dies - 1997
- The World Is Not Enough - 1999
- Die Another Day - 2002
James Bond Short Stories
- Blast from the Past - 1997
- Midsummer Night's Doom - 1999
- Live at Five - 1999
Stand Alone Novels
- Evil Hours - 2001; revised 2004
- Face Blind - 2003
- Sweetie's Diamonds - 2006
- Torment - 2011
- Artifact of Evil - 2011
- The Secrets on Chicory Lane - 2017
- Blues in the Dark - 2019
Spike Berenger Rock 'n' Roll "hits"
- A Hard Day's Death - 2008
- Dark Side of the Morgue - 2009
- On the Threshold of a Death - 2009 (short story)
- The Rock 'n' Roll Detective's Greatest Hits - 2011 (anthology)
Janet Evanovich's Fox and O'Hare Novels
- The Mark - August 2018 (with Janet Evanovich)
Gabriel Hunt "Hunt for Adventure" Series
- Hunt Through Napoleon's Web by "Gabriel Hunt" - e-book 2010; print edition 2011
Tie-ins
- Hitman: Damnation - 2012
- Homefront--the Voice of Freedom - 2005 (with John Milius)
- Metal Gear Solid 1 - 2008
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty - 2009
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell - 2004 (David Michaels)
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Operation Barracuda - 2005 (as David Michaels)
Other Short Stories
- Ice Cold--Tales of Intrigue from the Cold War - 2014 (as editor, with Jeffery Deaver, also contains Benson's story Ghosts)
- The Plagiarist - 1986
- Thumbs Down - 1986
- Another Rock 'n' Roll Hit - 2006
- After the Gig - 2009
- The Devil Is a Gentleman - 2011
- Once Upon a Time in the Woods - 2013
Non-Fiction
- The James Bond Bedside Companion - 1984; revised 1988
- The Pocket Essential Guide to Jethro Tull - 2002
Raymond Benson Awards
- Editors' Choice Award, Newsweek Magazine ("Are You Afraid of the Dark?--the Tale of Orpheo's Curse," 1994)
- Best CD-Rom, Print's Digital Art & Design Annual ("The Indian in the Cupboard," 1995)
- Best Children's CD-Rom, Print's Digital Art & Design Annual ("The Indian in the Cupoard," 1995)
- Best Thriller, Lovey Readers Choice Award, Love is Murder Conference ("Sweetie's Diamonds," 2006)
- Joseph G. Astman Distinguished Conference Scholar Award, Hofstra University, 2007
- Best Sci-Fi/Paranormal/Horror Novel, Lovey Readers Choice Award, Love is Murder Conference ("Metal Gear Solid," 2008)
- Distinguished Former Odessan, Heritage of Odessa Foundation, 2009
- Best Sci-Fi/Paranormal/Horror Novel, Lovey Readers Choice Award, Love is Murder Conference ("Homefront: the Voice of Freedom," 2011)
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