Evil Woman, Kill the Messenger, The Devil's Heat, Over the Edge, A Dirty Way to Die
Manny Shepherd, P.I., Carrie Romanelli, Investigative Reporter
Private Investigator, Suspense, Thriller
Fiction entry from novel Bad Catholics (now The Devil’s Heat), Pg. 19 of 2005 Writers at Work Chapbook by the Chicago Chapter of the National Writers Union
THE BIG CHANGE, mystery/suspense, Over My Dead Body Magazine (print) Winter 1994 Issue: A twisted soul makes a woman cling to her virginity with deadly results.
Craft, Subject Expertise
? Led a fiction writer’s workshop in August 2004, by invitation from the University of Illinois Library at the 1st Annual Book Market at the Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana, IL and sponsored by a library consortium headed by the U of I Library. I was among over 30 writers, with several of us leading workshops. ? Among 40+ authors attending Kankakee Public Library Authors Fair, April 14, 2007 ? Invited and spoke as one of about 30 Illinois professional authors at Chicago’s Cultural Center by Illinois Women’s Press Association ? Interviewed and on You Tube through Ball State University on private eye mystery
Berkley/Jove/Putnam published J. Douglas Knauer’s Ecstasy Reclaimed, aka Brandy LaRue, sub-rights to five countries. Sold regional magazine articles including: • You Can Be An Unforgettable Breadmaker, (Making 6-loaf recipe; pictured in judo outfit) How-To Handbook, Times Mirror magazines. (Do not have proof of publication, just check stub.) • The Truth About 4-H Mothers, (Mother's role in son's prize-winning rabbit raising) Buckeye Farm News magazine. October 1977 • Mommy, Where Do Calves Come From? (Magazine’s title for article on written from interviewing the man who performed artificial insemination of the family cow), Countryside Magazine. October 1978; script on “Avoiding Strangers” for IL District 8 schools in the mid 1980's, acted by Jr. Hi. CARES Clowns to early Grades, which is used to present day.. Award-winning Central Illinois journalist 1988-1995, the Fairbury (IL) Blade, 13 awards, including eight from Illinois Press Association. As newspaper reporter/editor/photographer/manager was asked to judge for Illinois Press Association college student feature story contest, 1993; and Judge for National Newspaper Association/Georgia Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Humorous Column contest, 1995 Attendee, panelist, and/or moderator at 31 writer conferences in 10 states and D.C. Held book signings at Indianapolis Borders; Rockford, IL Barnes & Noble; Chicago Bouchercon, Love is Murder, Magna cum Murder; signed books to sell at Flagstaff, AZ Barnes & Noble; signed and sold novels at local community sale day and Buy Locally day; and hosted a three-Saturday Author’s Open House & Book Sale at our home. College: English Composition I & II; Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation; Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, International Business; Desktop Publishing; Sisters In Crime Forensic University in St. Louis; participated in a Writers’ Police Academy; Certificate for 12 hrs. Continuing Education NE Wisconsin Tech Gang Conference (only writer) law enforcement training in Green Bay, WS. Member of Sinc, MWA and Fairbury, IL Area Chamber of Commerce. Member of founding Board of Fairbury Boys & Girls Club. Married to Dennis Knauer 50 years. We have two sons, two daughters, five grandchildren and one Havanese, Maggie. We live on four wooded acres about 50 miles southwest of Chicago.