C hris Crutcher was born on July 17, 1946, in Cascade, Idaho. He has a B. A. from Eastern Washington State College. He has worked in mental health care, frequently with abused children, with family problems, and with at-risk teen-agers. Currently he works on contract with Community Mental Health in Spokane, Washington, but his main occupation is writing fiction. His literary works reflect his interest in young people, in mental health, and in sports. All his books have been recognized by the American Library Association as Best Books for Young Adults. Crutcher has developed Running Loose into a screenplay and looks forward to its production. Another of his books, The Deep End (1991), a suspense story dealing with mental health issues and aimed at adults, has been bought for film release.

Some of the characters who appear in the novels also appear in Crutcher's collection of short...