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M. William Phelps

Crime expert, lecturer and acclaimed investigative journalist M. William Phelps is the national bestselling, award-winning author of sixteen nonfiction books. Winner of 2008 New England Book Festival Award for I’ll Be Watching You, Phelps has made dozens of television appearances, including CBS’s “Early Show," Court TV/truTV, Discovery Channel, Fox News Channel, ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Learning Channel, Biography Channel, History Channel, Montel Williams, Investigation Discovery, Geraldo At Large, Oxygen's "Snapped" and "Captured;" he’s been on USA Radio Network, Catholic Radio, Ava Maria Radio, ABC News Radio and Radio America, who calls him “the nation’s leading authority on the mind of the female murderer.” He’s written for the Providence Journal, Hartford Courant, New London Day, and consulted on the first season of the hit Showtime cable television series “Dexter.”

Profiled in such noted publications as Connecticut Magazine, Writer's Digest, NY Daily News, Newsday, Albany Times-Union, Hartford Courant, Advance for Nurses magazine, Forensic Nursing, and NY Post, Phelps lives in a small Connecticut farming community. Beyond his true-crime books, in 2008 he published a highly acclaimed narrative nonfiction biography of Revolutionary War patriot Nathan Hale, NATHAN HALE: The Life and Death of America’s First Spy (Thomas Dunne Books).

I have been busy! In March 2010, DEATH TRAP hit the shelves—and thanks to everyone for making it a huge success. April 1, 2010 brought a five-year project of mine to press: THE DEVIL’S ROOMING HOUSE: The True Story of America’s Deadliest Female Serial Killer. It was the first book about famed Windsor, Connecticut, serial killer Amy Archer-Gilligan, whose life story and 1916 arrest was the basis for the Broadway smash and Hollywood film Arsenic & Old Lace. The reviews were fantastic. Booklist called DEVIL’S “a delightfully cozy narrative [and] genteel true-crime excursion,” and Publishers Weekly raved, “Phelps amasses an abundance of research to complement his already-extant authority on female murderers … diligent research … a vivid portrait.” And that was just the beginning. I am completely humbled by all the great press and reader response to the book.

September 2010 brings KILL FOR ME to press. My 12th contemporary true-crime, it is an in-depth account of the lives (and a look into the twisted minds) of Ashley and Timothy "Tracey" Humphrey. KILL FOR ME completes a trilogy of books about couples who kill. Ashley and Tracey Humphrey were found guilty in the murder of Sandee Rozzo, in Pinellas Park, Florida.

The first of the six more “Deadly Women” episodes I filmed for Beyond Productions, along with several other crime shows for various networks, begins airing August 12, 2010, and will continue through 2011 (watch out for those DEADLY WOMEN marathons on Investigation Discovery channel!).

On the television front, I should have some major news to announce this fall!

My thriller series, introducing Boston PD Detective Jake Sundance Cooper, is in the pipeline, and closer to publication. I am also working on a book of religious history and a historical true-crime about John and Sam Colt, the Colt family legacy, and the tragedies that have befallen the family over the course of 100 years—and three more contemporary true-crime titles. When time permits, I continue to work on a Christmas story/literary murder-mystery.

March 2011 will bring the re-launch of my career with LOVE HER TO DEATH, a book about the Michael Roseboro case out of Denver, Pennsylvania, which was recently profiled on “48 Hours.” Lots of interesting things are being put into action surrounding the release of this title, which will feature an entire new look to my true-crime books. The cover for LOVE HER TO DEATH, in its final stages of development, is incredible. Nothing like you would expect. I am entirely indebted to the art department at Kensington and my long time editor Michaela Hamilton for spending so much time working on this cover.

Later in 2011, a second, contemporary true-crime will be published. The manuscript is finished, though we are still busy coming up with the perfect title. I can tell you that it is a book about the Sarah Kolb/Cory Gregory case in East Moline, Illinois. Kolb and Gregory were convicted of murder in the gruesome death and dismemberment of 16-year-old Adrianne Reynolds. I cracked this case open (big-time), with lots of new information being rolled out in the book. I was able to go deep into the world of the Quad City Juggalo movement (formerly Insane Clown Posse Kids), a culture that will shock some and anger others.

The third contemporary true-crime I am working on as we speak is about the Christine Paolilla case out of Clear Lake City, Texas. I am deeply immersed in my research and writing. If you have any info about this case, however little or big you think it might be, please email or call me.

All are welcome to join me on Facebook.

All are welcome to join me on Facebook.

  M. William Phelps

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I want to thank each and every one of my readers. I am grateful for every single one of you. I appreciate your continued support, sincere and courteous comments, emails, and letters. I read them all. With so many books to choose from these days, I am humbled that you continue to include mine on your reading lists. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for coming back for each book.

I am happy to announce that the Polish rights to Murder in the Heartland have been sold. So, to all of my Polish fans out there, soon you’ll be able to read the book in your own language!

I am glad to sign your books. Mail them (PO BOX 3215 Vernon, CT 06066) with a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope—being sure to include the proper amount of postage for returning the package to you) and a brief note on whom the book should be signed, and what you would like me to say. Or perhaps you just want a bookplate. In that case, send a SASE with a request for a bookplate and the inscription you desire.

Also, I will be including the first chapter (or prologue) to my next book in the back of the book before it.

Look for an exclusive excerpt from LOVE HER TO DEATH in the back of KILL FOR ME!

Please know that I am working hard behind the scenes to see that all of my books are available in the latest e-formats. I realize e-books are becoming more popular—although I hardly think the e-book will ever truly compete with the more traditional paper-and-ink formats—and want to provide my readers full access. If you don’t see a book from my list available to you as an e-book, please take a moment and write to me with your request and I will pass it along to the people in charge of such things. Authors do not decide which of their books are published as e-books; this is, like so many other things today, up to the publisher.

Please go to OPEN ROAD INTERGRATED MEDIA and view the various videos about my life and career—there are links to the e-books attached to all of the videos. I encourage everyone to share these videos on YouTube, Facebook and anywhere else you like.

Also, if you do not find that your local Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, drug store/grocery store, or any other local retailer that sells books and/or stocks my books, please tell the manager of that establishment that you’d like to see my books in the store, and also drop me a note with the name of the store, town, state. I want convenience for my readers. You should not have to go out of your way to purchase my books! They should be available to you wherever you shop.

Once again, thank you … I look forward to the years to come. I have so many great true-crime and history stories to tell!

My warmest and fondest wishes to all,

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