Early life and education

James M. Kisner, Jr. was born on March 26, 1947, in Evansville, Indiana to Norma and James M. Kisner. He had one brother, Dan, and graduated from Bosse High School in 1965. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degree in English at Indiana University.

Career

Kisner began his career in advertising and wrote part time, eventually leaving advertising to write full time. His first novel, Nero's Vice, was published in 1981. He also published under the pseudonyms Martin James and Eric Flanders.

Marriage and children

Kisner married the former Carole Kleckner in 1969. The couple had fraternal twins, James M. Kisner, III and Jayne M. Kendall. Later in life, he married his second wife, Phyllis Kisner.

Death and afterward

James Kisner died at his home in Evansville due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.. His wife, Phyllis Kisner, age 59, also died in the accident.

Novels

• Nero's Vice, Beaufort, 1981
• Slice of Life , Zebra, 1982
• Strands, Leisure, 1988
• Night Glow (as Martin James), Pinnacle, 1989
• Zombie House (as Martin James), Pinnacle, 1990
• Poison Pen, Zebra, 1990
• Earth Blood, Zebra, 1990
• The Quagmire , Zebra, 1991
• The Forever Children (as Eric Flanders), Zebra, 1992
• Night Blood (as Eric Flanders), Zebra, 1993
• Tower of Evil, Leisure, 1994

Short stories

• "The Litter", Masques 2 (1987)
• "Manny Agonistes", Scare Care (1989)
• "The Willies" (1989)
• "Something Extra" (1990) (with J.N. Williamson)
• "The Defiance of the Ugly by the Merely Repulsive" (1993)
• "Ground Water", The Earth Strikes Back (1994)
• "God-Less Men" (1995)

Anthologies containing short stories by James Kisner:Masques 3 (1989)Urban Horrors (1990)Short Sharp Shocks (1990)Hotter Blood: More Tales of Erotic Horror (1991)Predators (1993)Vampire Detectives (1995)Southern Blood: Vampire Stories from the American South (1997)Vampire Slayers: Stories of Those Who Dare to Take Back the Night (1999)