Stephen Coonts is an American author primarily known for writing thrillers.
His best-known work follows the life and career of Jake "Cool Hand" Grafton, a naval aviator who gets caught up in international intrigue while in service to his country. This series underwent a significant Genre Shift, having begun as an examination of an aviator's experiences during the Vietnam War before transforming into Spy Fiction with tinges of Science Fiction.
With this shift came the introduction of Tommy Carmellini, a lawyer cum burglar cum CIA operative, who became a deuteragonist in later Jake Grafton novels before taking the spotlight in his own series, with Grafton stepping back to become a supporting character.
Prior to becoming a full-time author, Coonts was a A-6 Intruder pilot who served in combat during the Vietnam War and also worked as a cab driver and lawyer before deciding to commit himself to his passion for writing.
His first novel, Flight of the Intruder, was adapted into a film in 1991, which wasn't well-received, as well as into a video game.
