Kathleen Newberg

Reading has been an integral part of my life since I was a child. After I became an adult, my interests turned primarily to non-fiction. However, in the late 1970's a co-worker (thanks, Marge) in New Jersey refused to take "no" for an answer when she pressed a copy of Agatha Christie's CURTAIN into my hands, and I was hooked. Since that day, I have read all of Christie's books, many of them three or four times each, and always marvel at her skill and craft. About a decade ago, I began to feel discouraged when I could not find modern fiction that did not include profanity, including books by cozy mystery authors. It seemed that each book I picked up off a book shelf contained a violation of the Third Commandment within the first few pages, so I promptly put it back. I reverted to reading the classics but missed the modern light fiction of the Christie style. Finally one day I decided to try my hand at writing a mystery myself. I was encouraged when I entered a local short-story contest and won second place. I also had a few essays accepted by The Upper Room Magazine. In 2002 I began to write my first mystery novel. The process felt like purgatory but when I finally discovered "who did it," it was exhilarating. Again, I was hooked. Once a murder pops into my imagination, I can't let it go until I find out who did it.

I have gained a few fans who share my tastes in reading, and I appreciate greatly each of them.