This Christopher Orr post reminds me that today is Elmore Leonard's birthday. Although some people discount him because he is "just a crime novelist," Leonard will be remembered as one of the great American writers of the twentieth century. If you haven't read any Leonard, I urge you to pick up, say, Maximum Bob as soon as you can. Also, Leonard's forthcoming Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing, an expansion of this New York Times essay, looks like it will be worth the wait.