Longneck,

The character was created by Elmore Leonard (my FAVORITE novelist of all-time). He also wrote GET SHORTY, OUT OF SIGHT, JACKIE BROWN (Rum Punch) and too many more novels to film to list.

Raylan Givens starred in two of Elmore's novels (PRONTO and RIDING THE RAP), and one short story (FIRE IN THE HOLE). So if you want his backstory, read them in the order that I listed them. The novels are especially well written. They take place in the Miami Beach area and center around Raylan trying to protect an old-time bookmaker on the run from the mob and from an opportunistic kidnapper. Great stuff!

I'm really excited about this show. I pm'd RonnieRocket about it over a month ago, but he never got back to me. And I thought he was a fellow Elmore Leonard fan .