Where were you born, and what was your childhood like?
My father was a foreman in a factory, and my mother a high school secretary. I grew up in a middle class neighborhood in the Mid-west, and we had a large extended family. Part of each summer was spent at a summer cottage on a lake, where I learned to swim. My father was continually trying to teach me to water ski, but I only got up on skis once, made it halfway around the lake, and plunged into the water. I tried again many times, but never quite got the hang of it. Most days, I walked to school with my best friend, my brothers and their friends. I loved school from day one. It was a pretty normal, fairly happy childhood. Our family had its challenges and some very hard times, but we made it through.
Do you have a simple childhood memory that you could never forget?
I inherited my love of books from my mother, but sometimes I'd become so involved in reading, even she'd worry. I'd be in my room, and she'd come in, arms folded across her chest, and give me a look I knew meant she wasn't happy. She'd frown and say, "Kathy, life will pass you by if you don't get your nose out of that book. Go out and play!" That memory makes me smile.
Did you always want to be a journalist?
No. I wanted to major in English and write fiction when I returned to college in my early thirties. But I thought I should be practical, so I majored in journalism. It turned out to be a wonderful decision. After graduation, I worked for magazines and traveled the country on assignments. I had so many extraordinary experiences. I interviewed presidents and first ladies, celebrities, and many regular people who had incredible and too often tragic things happen to them. I was in New York after 9/11 interviewing survivors and families of those who died in the World Trade Center. I covered infertility and the McCaughey septuplets. All types of human interest stories, including sensational crime cases. My career as a true crime writer began by writing articles on infamous cases for magazines. I wouldn't trade those years.
What are the best true crime books you've read?
My favorite Ann Rule book is "Small Sacrifices." I was in awe of Jack Olsen's "Son." And of course: Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood."
What were the key challenges you faced when writing your first book?
My first book was "Evil Beside Her," a true crime book. The hardest part was the organization. I'd done so much research that I literally had boxes of records, interviews, exhibits, etc. Working on that first book taught me how to boil everything down and turn it into an engaging narrative.
Which book took the longest to write in the Sarah Armstrong mystery series?
The first one took forever. I started it, put it to the side, picked it up again, and wrote other books in between. I'd never written a novel before, only non-fiction, and the process is quite different. I'm not sure how many years that first book took, but looking back it feels like it was germinating in my imagination for a very long time.
What are some differences between older crime fiction works, like Sherlock Holmes and modern crime fiction works?
Many of the books today are grittier and more graphic. There's often more violence.
Who inspired the character of Ana Trujillo in Possessed: The Infamous Texas Stiletto Murder"?
That's a true crime book, and Ana Trujillo is a real person. She committed a brutal Houston murder. I followed the case and pulled all the evidence together, conducted many, many interviews, then wrote her story.
What case got you interested in true crime and why?
Early in my career, I was a senior editor at the now defunct Houston City Magazine, and my editor assigned a piece on an East Texas murder. I covered it, dug up everything I could, and found it to be fascinating. I went to the trial, seven weeks in a small town where the courtroom was the center of the community and everyone was focused on the case as it played out. From that point forward, I was hooked.
What does it feel like to appear on Oprah Winfrey's Oxygen Network?
I've done a lot of TV over the years. It's not my favorite thing. I'd much rather ask than answer the questions. But it's a good way to reach out to folks and tell my stories.
What should everyone know about journalism?
That good journalists really do try to get to the truth.
What are some tips to becoming a successful journalist?
To work hard, do your best to be accurate, and to be fair to everyone involved.
If you could give one case for Sherlock Holmes to solve, what would it be?
The Texas Killing Fields cases from the 1980s in my book "Deliver Us."
What book are you working on?
Book five in the Sarah Armstrong mystery series.
How has your experience of being associated with AllAuthor been?
I don't have time to make up promo materials, and it's great to have that done for me. I appreciate the social media exposure. I've recommended AllAuthor to friends.
