In elementary school, Janet Dawson wrote mysteries in longhand on lined binder paper, influenced by those blue-backed Nancy Drew books she devoured. Now Janet writes about private investigator Jeri Howard. Her first book, Kindred Crimes, won the St. Martin's Press/Private Eye Writers of America contest for Best Private Eye Novel, and was nominated for Shamus, Anthony and Macavity awards. Other books include Till The Old Men Die, Take A Number, Don't Turn Your Back On The Ocean, Nobody's Child, A Credible Threat, Where The Bodies Are Buried, A Killing At The Track, and Bit Player. She also wrote a suspense novel, What You Wish For. Her latest book is Death Rides the Zephyr, a historical mystery set aboard a train, the streamliner known as the California Zephyr. She has just finished another Jeri Howard novel, titled Cold Trail, due out Spring 2015.Janet was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Colorado. With a journalism degree from the University of Colorado, she worked as a newspaper reporter, then joined the Navy. An enlisted journalist, she wrote news and features in public affairs offices in Guam and Pensacola, FL. As an officer, her duties took her to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she lives in Alameda. Now retired, she writes full time. Janet has a master's degree in history from California State University East Bay and can't think of anything she wants to study enough to go back to grad school. She enjoys gardening, cats, and climbing around on trains.