Trivia

After J.K. Rowling, she is the world's second best-selling female author.

Was a police reporter

On July 20, 1997, Cornwell coupled her Richmond, Va., book signing for Unnatural Exposure with a blood drive held by The Virginia Blood Services. The event raised 141 pints of blood, which is a record collection for a one-day drive.

Her first novel - "Postmortem" - was rejected seven times until it was eventually released in 1990.

Struggles with bipolar disorder.

A descendant of author Harriet Beecher Stowe.

In 1984 she took a job in the Virginia medical examiner's office and for six years she worked at the morgue, first as a technical writer, then as a computer analyst

Her first book was a biography of Ruth Bell Graham, whom she had befriended as a child, called A Time for Remembering. It was published in 1983.

She helped establish the Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine

Her former spouse, Charles Cornwell, edited her book "Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper, Case Closed".

As of 2008, she is the most successful crime writer in the world.

Graduated in 1979 with a degree in literature

Attended the final exam for the crime scene investigators at the National Forensic Academy in Tennessee. (July 2005)

Likes to play drums

Counts spouses Billy Graham and Ruth Bell Graham as her personal mentors.

Is the keynote speaker at the Markle Symposium in New Haven, Connecticut. (March 2005)

Moved to Montreat, North Carolina at age seven, with her mother and siblings.

In 1980, she won an investigative reporting award from the North Carolina Press Association. The award was for a series she did on prostitution for the Charlotte Observer newspaper.

In the late '70s, she worked at the Charlotte Observer newspaper, inserting the daily television listings. She moved on to work in the newsroom, first as a clerk, and later as a police reporter.

Writing a serialization for the New York Times Magazine, called "At Risk". (February 2006)

When working at the Charlotte Observer, she wrote under the byline "Patsy Daniels".

Has one Boston Terrier and four English Bulldogs [2003]

Is a middle child with two brothers: Jim (one year older) and John (three years younger)

Owns several handguns.

Working on the 14th novel in the Scarpetta Series, which has the working title "Predator". (September 2004)

Born to Marilyn and Sam Daniels.

Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, Vol. 131, pages 74-78. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005.

Had a lecture and book signing at the Congress Centre in London on November 7th. (November 2005)