Fletcher Flora was born in Parsons, Kansas in 1914. He received an associate’s degree at Parson’s Junior College, a bachelor’s degree at Kansas State College and did graduate work at the University of Kansas. He and Betty Ogden married in 1940. Betty became a librarian, and they had three children: Harrison, Timothy and Susan.

Flora taught high school English and history, coached basketball and track, and served as assistant county clerk in Fulton County, Missouri until he was drafted into the U.S Army in 1943. He served in the 32nd Infantry Division in New Guinea, Leyte, and Luzon. After being honorably discharged in 1945, he became an Education Advisor of the United States Disciplinary Barracks in Leavenworth, Kansas until 1963.

Flora began writing soon after returning from World War II. His crime and mystery short stories and novels were published in magazines that included Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Mr., Cosmopolitan, and in Alfred Hitchcock’s mystery anthologies. He received the Cock Robin Mystery Award for his first hardcover novel, Killing Cousins, in 1960.

Flora wrote over 150 short stories and 13 novels during his writing career. Three of his works are published under the house name, Ellery Queen. Timothy Harrison was also a pseudonym for his work Hot Summer.