Julie Kramer is a highly acclaimed American author, best known for her mystery and thriller novels. She has written a successful series featuring Riley Spartz, a character with whom she is famously associated. Kramer's first book in the Riley Spartz series, "Stalking Susan," was published in 2008, and she has since published several other books, including "Missing Mark," "Silencing Sam," "Killing Kate," and "Shunning Sarah."
Kramer's career as a journalist has greatly influenced her writing. Before becoming a novelist, she worked as a freelance news producer for NBC and CBS, as well as running the acclaimed WCCO-TV I-Team in Minneapolis. Her thrillers take readers inside the chaotic world of television news, providing a unique perspective on how newsrooms make decisions. Kramer's writing has been well-received by critics and readers alike, earning her numerous awards and accolades. She has won the Minnesota Book Award and the RT Book Review's Best First Mystery, and has been a finalist for the Anthony, Barry, Shamus, Mary Higgins Clark, Daphne du Maurier, and RT Best Amateur Sleuth Awards.
Beyond her career in journalism and writing, Kramer grew up along the Minnesota-Iowa state line, fourth generation of a family who raised cattle and farmed corn for over 130 years. Her favorite childhood days were spent waiting for the bookmobile to bring her another Phyllis A. Whitney novel. An avid reader, she was frustrated by the way fictional TV reporters were often portrayed as obnoxious secondary characters who could be killed off whenever the plot started dragging. As a result, she created a series featuring a reporter as the heroine, Riley Spartz. Kramer currently lives with her family in White Bear Lake, MN.