During his career, Floren had over 1,000 short stories and 130 novels published, including many international editions. Some of his books appeared in England, Spain and Norway before being published in the United States.

Although Floren has written in almost every genre, his 'first love' was westerns. He was born on his father’s ranch near Hinsdale Montana and grew up at a time when being a cowboy was still a way of life.

On graduation from California State University (University of California) at Santa Barbara, Floren turned writing seriously. He wrote eight western short stories before he sold his first story ‘Born to the Badge’, published in Red Seal Western magazine (1939). He worked extensively for pulps, sometimes writing all stories in an issue under a different pen name.

He wrote briefly for Archie Publications in 1944.

He had his first novel Boot Hill Buckaroo published in 1943 and became a full-time freelance writer in 1945. His best known character, circuit-riding Judge Lemanuel Bates, featured in 35 books. Floren generally wrote 12 novels a year, with an exhausting record year in 1955 when he wrote 18 novels.

Floren also worked as a reporter on the Glasco Montana Tribune, and later taught high school students and short story courses.