The author of the Moriah Dru, Child Trace mystery series worked as a crime reporter for several years before turning to crime fiction. Gerrie Ferris Finger describes her background:
I grew up in Missouri, then moved south to join The Atlanta Journal-Constitution staff. I researched and edited the columns of humorist Lewis Grizzard and co-wrote a news column with another reporter for three years.
Lewis became my mentor, and when he passed away, I joined the newspapers’ Southern Task Force. As a reporter, I traveled the Tobacco Roads of Georgia, Virginia and Alabama, and the narrow, historic streets of New Orleans. I wrote about Natchez, Mississippi’s unique history, Florida’s diverse population, and the Outer Banks struggle to keep the Cape Hatteras light house from toppling into the sea. Also, I served on the National News Desk and on the City Desk’s City Life section.
Since I covered crime for the newspaper, I turned to crime fiction when I retired. In 2009, I won The Malice Domestic/St. Martin’s Minotaur Best First Traditional Novel Competition for The End Game, released by St. Martin’s Minotaur in 2010.
Real crime is sordid, with no romance or redeeming features. Justice often doesn’t prevail. Real people go back to miserable lives. In writing fiction, I can make the good guys winners and the bad guys get what they deserve.