Howard Browne

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Howard Browne was an American writer and editor whose career stretched across pulp fiction, mystery novels, science fiction, and television. Reliable sources agree that he wrote under several pen names and worked as an editor for Ziff-Davis magazines, including Amazing Stories and Fantastic Adventures.

He is especially remembered by crime readers for novels featuring private eye Paul Pine, including Kiss Me, Deadly and The Taste of Ashes. Alongside his fiction, he built a substantial screen career, writing for television series and films during the 1950s and later.

Some sources list his life dates as April 15, 1908 to October 28, 1999, while archival records also appear under 1907, so the birth year is occasionally reported differently. What comes through clearly is the range of his work: he was one of those writers who could succeed as both a sharp commercial novelist and a skilled editor behind the scenes.