Skip Hollandsworth Books In Order

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

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Skip Hollandsworth is an American screenwriter, journalist, and author who made his name writing for Texas Monthly magazine. He has also made a ton of contributions to cinema and true crime literature. Over the years, he has built one of the most distinguished careers due to his keen eye for detail and his in-depth storytelling. Hollandsworth was born in Cabarrus, North Carolina, in 1957 but was brought up in Wichita Falls, Texas, where his family moved during his teenage years. He went to the Fort Worth-based Texas Christian University for his higher education, where he got a bachelor’s degree in English in 1979. During his time in college, he started working for The Daily Skiff as a sports reporter who covered the football team. His penchant for observation and storytelling was clear from very early on as, even as a reporter in sports, he often found human interest angles.

Following his graduation from college, Skip Hollandsworth moved to Dallas, where he was a columnist and reporter for several newspapers. During this time, he worked as a feature writer in addition to working as an investigative journalist. In 1989, he found a job with Texas Monthly where he would make his name as he rose through the ranks to become staff writer and ultimately executive editor. His time at the magazine was punctuated by popular articles in which he explored the complexities of Texas culture, notable personalities, and crime. His true crime writing has received much praise, in addition to being featured in anthologies such as Best American Magazine Writing and Best American Crime Writing. In 2010, the American Society of Magazine Editors feted him with the National Magazine Award. This was an award for his article chronicling the life of high school football player John McClamrock, who was paralyzed on the pitch and remained bedridden for years.

As a storyteller with multiple talents, Hollandsworth is also a screenwriter. One of his most notable contributions is Bernie, the 2011 film that he co-wrote with Richard Linklater. The black comedy was inspired by Midnight in the Garden of East Texas, the article he wrote for Texas Monthly in 1998. In the article, he explored the murder of Marjorie Nugent in 1996 in Carthage, Texas. The film, which got critical acclaim for its unique performances and narrative, starred Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, and Jack Black. Outside of his screenwriting and journalism, Hollandsworth is the author of a historical true crime book, The Midnight Assassin, which came out in 2016. It is a meticulously researched narrative providing insights into the cultural and social fabric of the time as it provides insights into lesser-known chapters of American criminal history.

Skip Hollandsworth’s writing is known for its deep empathy for subjects, engaging storytelling, and meticulous research. Whether unraveling complex crime stories or profiling celebrities, he writes with a nuanced perspective that has resonated with a broad audience. He is very good at humanizing his subjects as he explores the complexities of human behavior and has made his reputation as one of the most prominent figures in narrative journalism. In his personal life, he is a very private person, and the most information available is that he currently makes his home in Texas where he lives with his wife.

The Midnight Assassin is a work that Skip Hollandsworth published in 2016. It is an all-encompassing story of America’s first serial killer who terrorized Austin, Texas, in the late 19th century. It was a time when Austin was transitioning from an isolated western backwater into a truly cosmopolitan major city. But in 1884, the city experiences terror by some vicious killer who is even more diabolical than the infamous Jack the Ripper from London. For nearly a year, the man who has been nicknamed the Midnight Assassin has been moving across the city and using long steel rods, knives, and axes to rip apart any women he can find, regardless of class or race. During that time, the concept of a serial killer was unimaginable, even as the man became more brazen as he spread terror throughout the city. Before the killings came to a stop, at least six men would be taken into custody even as the newspapers exposed one of the most profound and extensive scandals in the city. Four years later, in 1888, when Jack the Ripper began to make a name for himself, the authorities could not help but wonder if the Austin killer had hopped over the pond to terrorize the English capital. With novel flair, historical flair, and artistic brilliance, Skip Hollandsworth brings the story to life.