Barbara D'Amato has written musical comedies, true crime, & mysteries featuring Malacai Black, a forensic patholgist, Cat Marsala, a freelance investigative journalist, Suze Figuero & Norm Bennis, Chicago cops, & Polly Kelly, Chicago Deputy Chief of Detectives. Before earning B.A. & M.A. degrees at Northwestern University, Barb worked as an assistant surgical orderly, a carpenter for stage magic illusions, an assistant tiger handler, & a criminal researcher. She was past president of Sisters in Crime, vice president of the Chicago regional chapter & national president of the Mystery Writers of America. Born in Grand Rapids, MI, Barb lives in Chicago. Also She was, along with Mark Richard Zubro, the first author we had at the store for a signing for C&S's Grand Opening, November 4, 1990.