Orrie Edwin Hitt | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 27, 1916 Colchester, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 8, 1975 (aged 59) Montrose, New York, U.S. |
| Occupations | Novelist, writer |
| Writing career | |
| Pen name | Kay Addams, Joe Black, Roger Normandie, Charles Verne & Nicky Weaver |
| Period | 1953–1970 |
| Genres | Mid-Century Erotica, Crime fiction |
Orrie Hitt (October 27, 1916 – December 8, 1975) was a prolific American author of over 150 books, mostly mid-century erotica, but including some crime novels early in his career. It has been said he wrote a book every two weeks at the prime of his career, sitting at his dining room table, fueled by large glasses of iced coffee and cigarettes. His first two books, I'll Call Every Monday and Love in the Arctic were hardcover books published by Red Lantern, but his career would ultimately be made writing paperback originals.
As a paperback writer, many of his books were written as "work for hire" and the copyright held by the publishing company who, anticipating a very short shelf life, never bothered to renew the copyright or return the rights to the author. The fact that all of his books, prior to 1964, are in the public domain has been beneficial to the legacy of Orrie Hitt, in that it has made them more readily available to contemporary readers.
Original Orrie Hitt paperbacks are collectible not only among aficionados of 1950s and 1960s cover art, but also among readers of mid-century erotica and crime novels, who find them superior to those of other "hack" writers of the time.
