Dorothy Stockbridge Tillett was born in 1896 in New York, where she lived for most of her life. She published poetry in various magazines in the late 1910's, which were compiled into a book in 1920. She was a playwright of one-acts, often performing in her own plays. In 1928 she began her mystery-writing career with her first novel for the newly formed Crime Club, *The Man Who Killed Fortescue*. She maintained the secret of her true identity through the 48 years she published her 22 mystery novels under the name John Stephen Strange, finally retiring from writing with the publication of her last novel, *The House on 9th Street* in 1976. Dorothy died in Connecticut in 1983. [link text][1] [1]: http://www.JSStrangeMysteryNovels.info