Patricia Cornwell

"The Reason my books maintain a certain standard or level, I think, is that I work harder every year for the newest one. I don’t say, ‘Oh well, I’ve hit No.1 on the lists now I can take a vacation.’ If you are going to continue to enjoy what you do and to do a good job you have to work harder as time goes by. The research gets more intensive and more exhausting every year."

Patricia Cornwell

Born Patricia Daniels

June 9, 1956

in Miami, Florida —

is an acclaimed and

highly

successful

crime writer,

especially known for the

creation of her main

protangonist,

Dr. Kay Scarpetta,

Chief Medical Examiner

of Virginia

and consultant to the

FBI.

Cornwell has published eleven best selling books and her most recent, Point Of Origin, has just arrived at the book stands.

ornwell’s creativity has been globally recognized, receiving the Medallion Award for her biography of Ruth Bell Graham, A Time for Remembering, and also earning Britain’s prestigious Gold Dagger award. Postmortem, is the only novel ever to simultaneously win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony and Macavity Awards.

One compelling aspect of Cornwell’s novels is nail biting realism. The experience of reading a Cornwell novel produces an "edge of the seat" anticipation. Finding it impossible to close the book, readers will find themselves staying up all night anxiously turning the pages. Cornwell is often credited for her accuracy and expertise, an expertise acquired by working at the Virginia Chief Medical Examiners office, where she witnessed hundreds of autopsies. Cornwell also worked for three years as a Voluntary Police Officer and would often work an arduous midnight shift. She has undertaken intensive training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia and has run the "Yellow Brick Road" a grueling obstacle course for recruits, which is detailed in The Body Farm.

Life Imitating Art or Art Imitating Life?

One of the most interesting criminals to emerge from the pages of Cornwell’s novels is the remorseless killer, Temple Gault. Gault first appears in Cruel and Unusual. He abducts a small boy, Eddie Heath, who is riding his bicycle to a local grocery store. Gault cruelly murders the boy and then unusually places his clothes in a nice, neat pile beside the body. He then cuts away pieces of skin from Heath’s shoulders and thighs. Gault’s character and behavior are chillingly similar to real-life child serial killer John Joseph Joubert IV. Cornwell has never publicly admitted if Gault was based upon a real person. However, one of Jobert’s victims was a small boy who was abducted while riding his bicycle. When the police found his body, pieces of the boy’s flesh from his shoulder and calf muscle were missing. Another Jobert victim also had their clothes folded neatly and placed beside their body.

Film

The Chicago Tribune reported in 1992 that Columbia Pictures had purchased the rights to Cruel and Unusual for a seven-figure sum, and that the famous Hollywood actress Demi Moore had been contacted to star and produce the movie version of this successful novel. This project is yet to come to fruition. Many Cornwell fans have their own ideas as to who should play their favorite characters and there are numerous web pages and chat lines devoted to this discussion.

Television

Richmond Magazine reported in November of 1996 that Cornwell herself would be the creative producer for a new police drama called "ATF." The two-hour pilot is in the production stage and will feature Kathy Baker and Amy Brenneman as two agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

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Future Releases

Scarpetta’s Winter Table, the release date for this book is October 1998. Those familiar with the character of Dr. Kay Scarpetta, will know that when she’s not busy solving crimes, she’s busy concocting Italian dishes in her kitchen.

In Scarpetta’s Winter Table, Cornwell allows the reader a behind the scenes look at her three major characters, as they come together to celebrate December 26, and the impending New Year. It is illustrated with photographs that suggest the locales and activities of her characters. The book also includes the ingredients for all the dishes described in the story.