Tess Gerritsen

Internationally acclaimed author Tess Gerritsen took an unusual route to a writing career. A graduate of Stanford University, Gerritsen went on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was awarded her M.D.

While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began to write fiction. In 1987, her first novel, "Call After Midnight," was published. This romantic thriller was the start of a successful writing career that included eight additional romantic suspense novels. She also wrote the screenplay for "Adrift," which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week, starring Kate Jackson. Gerritsen's transition into medical thrillers began with "Harvest" in 1996, marking her debut on the New York Times Bestseller List. Her bibliography includes notable titles such as "Life Support," "Bloodstream," "Gravity," and others leading up to "Last to Die" in 2012. Her books have been published in 40 countries and sold more than 25 million copies worldwide.

Gerritsen has earned considerable recognition in the literary world. Her novels "Vanish" and "The Surgeon" won the Nero Wolfe Award and the Rita Award, respectively, and "Vanish" was also a finalist for the Edgar Award. Her series of novels featuring homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles inspired the hit TNT television series "Rizzoli & Isles," starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander. Her upcoming book, "The Keeper of the Bride," continues her tradition of thrilling narratives. Gerritsen's speaking topics often explore her career transition from medicine to fiction writing, providing insights into the creative processes behind her novels.