Jimmy Fox's hometown is Alexandria, Louisiana, a dynamic city on the Red River in the center of the state. Louisiana's many distinct cultures have left their marks here; some have managed to thrive into modern times. As Fox was growing up in this interesting microcosm of the state at large, in this beautiful recreational wonderland, he was fortunate to have parents who emphasized ideas and their expression, creativity, and self-determination.

At Tulane University (B.A., English major, 1977) and at Louisiana State University (M.A., English, 1980), Fox discovered the real value of a good liberal-arts education: learning how to learn. Later, for more than a decade, he worked at the Alexandria NBC television affiliate, in various creative and managerial capacities. Here, he honed his writing skills under the pressure of constant deadlines.

He's been writing, in one way or another, all of his adult life. When he discovered the wonders of genealogy, he knew he was onto something that could be the stuff of great mystery fiction. Fox continues to study extensively in the field of family history, both in a personal quest to trace his roots and in an effort to enhance the authenticity of his mysteries.