• 21
  • October
    2011

Many Denver readers have probably picked up a book by Elmore Leonard, the celebrated crime novelist. It was recently announced that Leonard his wife of 18 years are separating. The reasons behind the divorce are (of course) a mystery.

Over his 60-year career, Leonard has become familiar to readers and views alike. He has written dozen of crime bestsellers and several of his works, including "3:10 to Yuma" have been turned into hit movies. He has also written screenplays for the hit FOX TV show "Justified."

Evidently, Leonard and his wife Christine separated quietly earlier this year. In May, she filed for divorce and cited a breakdown of the marriage, but did not offer any specific reason. The Leonards are a very private couple, so news of their separation only became public recently, after a reporter came across records of the separation filed with Oakland Circuit Court in Michigan.

One interesting element of the divorce is that Christine Leonard has sought a restraining order against Elmore Leonard that would prevent him from making any big changes to the couple's assets, such as altering life insurance plans or transferring assets. She has asked that he continue to pay her living expenses as the two of them work out the divorce. She probably made this movie since Elmore Leonard's successful work provided most of the couple's marital assets.

Another intriguing detail is that the judge originally appointed to oversee the divorce had to withdraw himself, since he officiated the couple's wedding. The divorce has been reassigned to another judge.

Source: The Detroit News, "Author Elmore Leonard, wife to divorce," Mike Martindale, Oct. 20, 2011