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Monica Ferris
Monica Ferris spent the later part of her childhood and
early adult life in Wisconsin, graduating from high school
in Milwaukee. She was a journalist in the U.S. Navy for six
and a half years (two in London), and later attended the
University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is married to a
museum curator. Monica sold her first short story, “Pass the Word,” to
Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, in 1983, and has since
sold two dozen short stories to anthologies and magazines,
including some in Germany, England and France. She has two
stories each in the anthologies, The Mammoth Book of
Historical Detectives and The Mammoth Book of Historical
Whodunnits, and a story in Shakespearean Mysteries, Royal
Whodunnits, and Unholy Orders. Her first mystery novel, Murder at the War was nominated
for an Anthony as Best First Novel. The Unforgiving Minutes
and Ashes to Ashes followed in 1988; and in May of 1992
Original Sin and Show Stopper were sold. Berkley published six medieval mysteries Monica wrote in
collaboration with Margaret Frazer: The Novice’s Tale, The
Servant’s Tale (nominated for an Edgar® as Best
Original Paperback of 1993), The Outlaw’s Tale, The
Bishop’s Tale, The Boy’s Tale, and The Murderer’s Tale.
Margaret Frazer presently continues the series alone. In 1998 Monica began writing a new series for Berkley
featuring a needleworking sleuth. Crewel World, now in its
ninth printing, came out in March and was followed by
Framed in Lace, A Stitch in Time, Unraveled Sleeve, A
Murderous Yarn, and Hanging by A Thread. Cutwork is her
seventh novel and she is working on a Christmas hardcover
set at the Nashville Needlework Market. These light and
traditional novels are set in her home state of
Minnesota. Monica has taught courses on mystery writing to children
at North Hennepin Commnity College, gifted children in
District #287, and adults at one-evening seminars at
Hennepin and Ramsey County libraries. She does lectures and
signings, and has appeared on panels at mystery and science
fiction conventions. She has won a place on national and
local best-seller lists, including USA Today and the
independent mystery bookstore compilation. She is a member
of Sisters in Crime (a national organization that promotes
women who write mystery fiction), remains a paid speaker on
the life of a mystery author, and is a volunteer at
Westwood Nursing Home and in area public schools. Monica studies the medieval period as an amateur, and
does needlework. She is a lector and usher in The Cathedral
Church of St. Mark in Minneapolis. She collects exuberant
hats and is not afraid to wear them in public. A crafty series featuring needlecraft store owner,
Betsy Devonshire. Betsy’s got a knack for needlework and a
talent for unraveling crime.
Books:
 Thai Die, December 2009
Sew Far, So Good, December 2009
Blackwork, October 2009
Thai Die, December 2008
Knitting Bones, August 2008
Knitting Bones, December 2007
Sins and Needles, July 2007
Sins and Needles, July 2006
Embroidered Truths, June 2006
 Murder Most Crafty, April 2006
Crewel Yule, October 2005
Patterns Of Murder, July 2005
Embroidered Truths, June 2005
Murder Most Crafty, April 2005
Crewel Yule, October 2004
Cutwork, January 2004
Hanging by a Thread, January 2003
A Murderous Yarn, March 2002
Unraveled Sleeve, July 2001
A Stitch in Time, July 2000
Framed in Lace, October 1999
Crewel World, March 1999
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