Kathryn Casey

The Basics: My husband and I live in Houston with our Schnauzer, Max. We have two kids, but, as kids are prone to do, they grew up and moved out. I miss them but, hey, the upside is that I now have more room in the house for my clutter of files.

My Career: A late bloomer, I finished college in my early thirties, and I've spent nearly twenty years writing for magazines. It's been a lot of fun, and, in the process, I've contributed more than 100 articles to national magazines that include: Ladies' Home Journal, TV Guide, Rolling Stone, Texas Monthly, Seventeen, MORE, Town & Country, and Readers' Digest.

Although I travel often to do research, Texas is not only my home but my favorite subject. I began my career at the late-but-great Houston City Magazine. That's where I covered my first murder case, the incredible story of a love triangle in The Big Thicket, the wide expanse of pine forests that blends Texas into Louisiana. From that point on, I was hooked.

One of my favorite pieces appeared in Rolling Stone in March, 1988: "Blues and Bad Blood." It recounted the brutal murder of Texas folksinger John Vandiver and his girlfriend. Sad story but amazing tale, mixing music, drugs, and violence. I'm still pretty proud of that one. (Click on Bonus to read the article.)

After that, I concentrated on Texas socialites for two years, as the editor of Ultra, a state-wide, monthly magazine that catered to the well-heeled set. I was never really the diamonds-and-caviar type, so it was way out of my niche, but, hey, it was fun, and I went to the most extravagant parties. No doubt they cost more than I made those years.

Since then, I've written articles on everything from infertility to the McCaughey septuplets, interviewed celebrities including four first ladies and a president, and had more than my share of unforgettable experiences. In fact, I've covered many of the biggest stories in recent history, including interviewing victims in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and Oklahoma City days after the bombing. Not long after September 11, I traveled to New Jersey to talk with Lisa Beamer whose husband, Todd, uttered that famous battle cry "Let's Roll."

I was looking for a good subject for my first book in 1992 when I interviewed Linda Bergstrom for a magazine article. I knew immediately that I had found the right case. The result: "The Rapist's Wife." Following that, along came Susan White, Kent McGowen and "A Warrant to Kill." Then I was off to Austin to research "She Wanted It All." Back to Austin, to Richmond, VA, and my hometown, Houston, for "Die, My Love," on the Piper Rountree murder case.

Currently, I'm finishing up A DESCENT INTO HELL, on the Colton Pitonyak case, a gruesome Austin murder. This one, I have to say, is deeply troubling. Three college-age kids with the whole world ahead of them, and a terrible, terrible crime.

I'm incredibly excited about SINGULARITY, my first novel, being published by St. Martin's Minotaur series in July 2008. SINGULARITY introduces Lieutenant Sarah Armstrong, the Texas Rangers' lone profiler, as she hunts for a seriously strange killer. The case quickly takes over Armstrong's life and nearly destroys her.

I do enjoy the writing, and I sincerely hope you enjoy the reading!