Watch, Listen, Read! KILLING KATE FINALIST FOR BEST AMATEUR SLEUTH! KILLING KATE has been nominated for Best Amateur Sleuth in the RT Book Reviewers' Choice Awards. The winner will be named at the RT Booklovers Convention in Chicago, April 11-14. KILLING KATE received a 4 1/2 star review from RT Book Reviews: "This is the best book yet in the Riley Spartz series; it's also the darkest. Kramer skillfully weaves several stories together in this fourth outing, with chapters from the serial killer's POV interspersed with Riley's first-person narration of events. The technique is so effective, you'll want to warn Riley that the killer is nearby! As usual, there's a nice amount of Midwestern lore and delicious insidery info about the TV news biz." TWO MORE THRILLERS ON THE WAY! I've signed to write two additional Riley Spartz novels for my publisher, Atria Books. One to be published in 2012; the next in 2013. I better get busy. MY FIRST ASSOCIATED PRESS REVIEW! AND IT RAN COAST TO COAST! "The fourth Riley Spartz mystery by Minnesota author Julie Kramer is her best yet...The writing is so crisp, it will keep readers turning the pages. TV reporter-investigative journalist Spartz is at her feistiest, the dialogue is at its sharpest and the main plot is chillingly suspenseful. There's plenty of action and a jaw-dropping penultimate scene that sets up the potential for another book in the series."    —Associated Press SILENCING SAM FINALIST FOR MINNESOTA BOOK AWARD SILENCING SAM—a thriller about the murder of a gossip columnist—was a finalist for the 2011 Minnesota Book Award for genre fiction. MISSING MARK FINALIST FOR A DAPHNE! MISSING MARK was a finalist for the 2010 Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence in mystery/suspense by the RWA Kiss of Death Chapter. The Daphnes are named after the acclaimed suspense author of REBECCA, one of my all time favorite books. STARRED REVIEW Julie Kramer's SILENCING SAM landed a coveted starred review from Library Journal: "Best-selling author Kramer has delivered her finest Spartz novel to date; fiction readers will love this riveting, action-packed journey into television news investigations." AUTHOR RACES 30 SECONDS Julie Kramer kicks off a new author segment on ALMANAC, Twin Cities Public Television's acclaimed public affairs program. Watch as she gives a 30 second elevator pitch while host Cathy Wurzer is armed with a stopwatch.   RILEY SPARTZ GOES TO THE UK Here's a look at the covers for STALKING SUSAN, and MISSING MARK. Both will be published by Piatkus Books in the United Kingdom. My debut, STALKING SUSAN, will be released February 4 and the sequel, MISSING MARK, on June 3. If you want a copy, check out Amazon UK: Stalking Susan (UK) Missing Mark (UK)   PEOPLE MAGAZINE REVIEWS MISSING MARK "Smart dialogue and a fleet pace make this second outing in Kramer's fledgling series (after 2008's Stalking Susan) a crowd-pleaser."    —People Magazine   AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR! Julie Kramer's debut, STALKING SUSAN, won two fabulous fiction awards and was nominated for four others. 2009 Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction 2008 Best First Mystery for RT Reviewers Choice Awards RT Book Reviews made STALKING SUSAN a Top Pick, giving it four-and-a-half stars. "Great characters and a well-constructed, chilling plot make this a thoroughly satisfying novel. Riley is a character you will love, and this page-turner is difficult to put down. It ranks as one of the best debut novels I've encountered." 2009 Mary Higgins Clark Award Finalist The award is given to the book most closely written in the Mary Higgins Clark tradition. The protagonist is a nice young woman whose life is suddenly invaded. She's self-made and independent, with primarily good family relationships. She has an interesting job. She is not looking for trouble—she is doing exactly what she should be doing and something cuts across her bow. She solves her problem by her own courage and intelligence. The story has no on-scene violence The story has no strong four-letter words or explicit sex scenes. 2009 Anthony Award Nominee for Best First Novel 2009 Barry Award Nominee for Best First Novel 2009 Shamus Award Nominee for Best First PI Novel The honor is given by the Private Eye Writers of America for protagonists who are paid to do their own investigative legwork, but are not employed by the government. So while journalists like my heroine, Riley Spartz, are eligible, cops and amateur sleuths are not.   WATCH JULIE New author segment on ALMANAC (Twin Cities Public Television) Suburban Community Channels: Julie Talks to Northeast Journal Barbara Vey's PW Thrillerfest Drive by Video Showcase Minnesota's Corbin Seitz talks news biz with Julie Julie shows WCCO-TV's Esme Murphy her target practice skills WCCO-TV's Caroline Lowe turns the camera on Julie LISTEN TO JULIE MPR's Cathy Wurzer and Julie talk about finding inspiration for thrillers in the want ads KAXE Public Radio's Heidi Holton talks with Julie about news vs fiction MPR's Cathy Wurzer does thriller talk with Julie READ ABOUT JULIE The Big Thrill: MISSING MARK Minneapolis Star Tribune: Sequel MISSING MARK is a hit Murderati: The Drama of a Dress Kill Zone: Writing What You Know: Missing People White Bear Press: 'Slick' Mystery Sequel Set in White Bear Lake Twin Cities Business Magazine: Julie Kramer's Newest Mystery Novel Catholic Spirit: Finding Faith in Fiction Metro Magazine: Artists We Love McGuire on Media: Two entertaining media novels for our times St. Paul Pioneer Press: Stalking Susan Author Draws on Real Life (PDF) MinnPost: Journalist Trades Truth for Fiction Woodbury News: Hot Summer Reads Laura Benedict's Notes from the Handbasket Bookbitch: NO, my protagonist is NOT named Susan Backstory: The Story Behind the Susans Working Stiffs: Stalking an Author Photo White Bear Press: Cold case inspires TV producer's first novel Austin Daily Herald: Adams Native Writes Thriller NEW TWIST IN SUSAN COLD CASES WCCO-TV reports that St. Paul's Cold Case Unit has used new forensics to test old evidence in the homicides of two women, both named Susan, strangled about 25 years ago. Police say DNA now shows that rather than a serial killer, the women were murdered by different killers. I first covered these homicides a decade ago as an investigative producer for the station. Some stories stick with journalists long after the newscast ends, and this one inspired me to write STALKING SUSAN. My debut novel is not their story. But in the world of fiction I was free to ask myself, what if? When I wrote STALKING SUSAN, I changed the victims' ages, appearances, occupations, and the time and locations of their deaths. I also changed their last names and considered changing their first names. But I decided to keep Susan because I never forgot them and I wanted others to remember them, too. Whenever I do media interviews, I always mention the names of Susan Ginger Petersen and Susan Jean Rheineck, and remind the audience that their cases are still open and the police still welcome tips. Click here for the real life story behind the Susans.