Bruce Holbert

State: Washington

Born in 1959 and raised in Coulee Dam, Washington, Bruce Holbert is an award-winning novelist and former high school English teacher. He earned his MFA at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and has published novels steeped in the rugged landscapes of Eastern Washington, including Lonesome Animals and the critically acclaimed The Hour of Lead, which earned the Washington State Book Award in 2015. Holbert’s work blends gritty realism with psychological insight, exploring themes of loss, redemption, and the moral complexities of rural life. His writing voice captures the quiet intensity of the Pacific Northwest, offering sharply drawn characters and landscapes that feel both specific and universal. After retiring from teaching in 2018, he continues to write and mentor emerging regional authors.

Genres: Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller

Audiences: Adult