Here is the person biography:
Donald Mills Pearce was born in 1928 in Croydon, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a troubled home, with his parents divorcing when he was eleven. At fifteen, he dropped out of school and tried joining the merchant marine, but was refused due to his age. He later joined the Army, but was discharged for false enlistment. After a stint in the merchant marine, Pearce turned to a life of crime, becoming involved in the European black market and eventually getting caught and imprisoned in France.
After being released from prison, Pearce continued his life of crime, becoming a safecracker and burglar. He was eventually caught and sentenced to five years hard labor in the Florida State Penitentiary at Raiford. While in prison, Pearce began writing, and after his release, he continued to write, eventually publishing his first novel, "Cool Hand Luke", in 1965.
The novel was well-received, but the movie adaptation, starring Paul Newman, overshadowed the book and made Pearce a relatively unknown figure. Despite this, Pearce continued to write, publishing several more novels and stories, but struggling to make a living. He worked as a process server, bail bondsman, and private investigator to support himself and his family.
In recent years, Pearce has returned to writing, publishing the acclaimed novel "Nobody Comes Back" in 2004. Despite his struggles with health and finances, Pearce remains a prolific writer, and his latest novel is due to be published in 2009.
