Former 'CCO investigative producer Julie Kramer's crime novel Stalking Susan debuted this week and it seems it could be a big hit (at least here in Minnesota!). The book was released on Tuesday and already book stores all over the Twin Cities are selling out.
It was great fun seeing so many current and former 'CC0 colleagues who packed the Once Upon A Crime book store in Minneapolis on Tuesday night for Julie's first book signing. Several more were on hand the next day when Julie signed at the Barnes and Noble book store downtown, just a few blocks from the WCCO newsroom where the novel is based. My buddy and former KARE crime reporter Bernie Grace surprised Julie with a visit to the store, where we also ran into former 'CCO reporter Trish Van Pilsum.
It was so good to see Bernie who has been retired now for two years and looks great. I am sure he has a novel or two in him from more than thirty years on the crime beat.
Trish, former 'CCO reporter Kevyn Burger and I were interviewed for a fun Sunday piece on Julie in the Pioneer Press. I was pleased reporter Amy Carlson Gustafson used the article to also mention the unsolved murders of two women named Susan, which inspired Julie's novel. We worked on a story 10 years ago on the cold cases and hope all the "buzz" on Julie's book might stir up some leads for those killings. I'd sure love to report that story some day! One of the detectives who worked on the case, retired St. Paul police detective Rich Munoz, stopped by to buy a book and meet Julie on Tuesday. I know he's hoping the book gets people talking and maybe prompts someone to call the St. Paul police homicide office. To read the Pioneer Press article just click here.
Julie has lots more book signings planned over the next week and will be making more media appearances. You can catch her on Esme Murphy's radio show on WCCO radio at 8:00 Saturday night where I will also be a guest to talk about the murders which inspired her novel. The next day, Esme will have Julie on the Sunday 10 a.m. news here at WCCO TV. You can get a list of Julie's appearances on her website at www.juliekramerbooks.com
