José Luis Olaizola practised as a lawyer for 15 years. His extensive literary career has won him numerous awards, such as the Ateneo de Sevilla and Planeta prizes in 1983 for his novel 'La guerra del general Escobar', considered 'the best novel about the Spanish Civil War.' In 1982 he won the Barco de Vapor prize for his novel 'Cucho', which in its French translation won the Grand Prix de l'Académie des Lectuers de Paris. In 1992 he was awarded the Prix Littéraire de Bourran for his novel 'El cazador urbano.'
He has published over 70 titles in a wide range of genres, selling over two million copies. From the age of 30 he has devoted himself to writing books, articles and giving lectures. He is the founder and president of the NGO' Somos Uno', which fights child prostitution.