title: Ralph Hayes (author)
text: # Ralph Hayes (author)
  
  Ralph Hayes is an American author of action-adventure, espionage, crime-fiction and western paperbacks. The magazines his work has appeared in include Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. The Michigan native has had nearly 100 books published over the course of five decades. Most of his literary work features exotic locations based on his international traveling. In a 2019 interview Hayes explained that his wife (now deceased) was a successful artist and her work was in exhibits throughout the U.S. and Europe. Following her artistic career, Hayes was able to visit South Africa, Morocco, Peru, Hong Kong and Egypt and used those experiences in his storytelling.
  
  ## Biography
  
  ### 1960s
  
  After departing from a law practice, Ralph Hayes began authoring stories and full-length novels in 1969. His earliest published work was a short story titled "The Gumdrop Affair", which was featured in a 1967 issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.
  
  ### 1970s
  
  Beginning in 1970, Ralph Hayes released the first of many western novels featuring protagonist O'Brien. Known as the "Buffalo Hunter" series, Hayes authored six installments in the 1970s. These were published by a combination of Belmont Tower, Lenox Hill and Manor. Hayes contributed installments in the "Nick Carter: Killmaster" series from 1972 to 1974. These books were authored under the house name Nick Carter. From 1974 to 1975, Hayes wrote the six-volume spy-fiction series titled "Agent of Cominsec" published by Belmont Tower. During the period of 1975–1976, Hayes authored the six-book team-combat series entitled "Check Force" for the Manor publishing house. Hayes wrote "The Hunter" vigilante series, often referred to as the name "John Yard", for Belmont Tower in 1975. Later, from 1976 to 1978, Hayes wrote the four-volume adventure series called "Stoner" for Manor. During the two-year period of 1977–1978, Hayes authored six novels in the military fiction series "Soldier of Fortune" for publisher Belmont Tower. These were written under the name Peter McCurtin, a prolific author of men's action-adventure novels, westerns and mystery-thrillers. In addition to the many series' he contributed to, Hayes also authored 15 stand-alone novels of crime-fiction and action-adventure for publishers such as Zebra, Jove and Leisure.
  
  ### 1980s
  
  Citing a publishing decline, Hayes reduced his literary output in the 1980s. Before returning full-time to his law practice, Hayes wrote 11 stand-alone novels for publishers like Leisure and Zebra between 1980 and 1984. He also authored one installment of the "Buffalo Hunter" series in 1984 as well as one volume of "Soldier of Fortune" in 1985.
  
  ### 1990s
  
  Returning to his writing career in the 1990s, Hayes focused solely on the western-fiction genre. He authored two stand-alone westerns between 1992 and 1993 for the publisher Pinnacle. He also contributed to the "Buffalo Hunter" series with one installment authored in 1992 for Pinnacle. As house name Dodge Tyler, Hayes wrote the first six volumes of the 12-book series "Daniel Boone: Lost Wilderness Tales" released by Leisure.
  
  ### 2000s
  
  Again, centralizing his writing within the western-fiction genre, Hayes authored three more installments of the "Buffalo Hunter" series from 2013 to 2015. He wrote six stand-alone western books between 2016 and 2019. All of Hayes' 2000s literary work has been solely published by the imprint Black Horse Westerns, owned by The Crowood Press.
  
  ## Influences
  
  In a 2019 Paperback Warrior interview, Hayes says lists his favorite writers as Ernest Hemingway, Jane Austen, John Le Carre and B. Traven.
  
  