Author of an Award-Winning Amateur Sleuth Series
According to
the Chicago Tribune,
“Libby Fischer
Hellmann has joined an elite club: Chicago mystery writers who
not only inhabit the environment but also give it a unique
flavor.” They were referring to her award-winning amateur sleuth
series featuring
Chicago
video producer Ellie Foreman.
That series made its debut in 2002 with An Eye For Murder. Publishers Weekly called Eye a “masterful blend of politics, history, and suspense.” Kirkus Reviews called Ellie “the true stuff of working-mom sleuths.” The book was nominated for an Anthony Award for Best First and won the Readers’ Choice award for Best First at the Love is Murder conference. It was re-released as a trade paperback by Poisoned Pen Press in January, 2007.
The second Ellie Foreman novel, A Picture Of Guilt, was released July, 2003. It won the Reader’s Choice award for Best Traditional Series at the 2004 Love is Murder conference, and was a finalist in the Benjamin Franklin Awards (mystery-suspense category) given by Publishers Marketing Association. An Image Of Death, the third book in the series was released in February, 2004. Publishers Weekly called it “a powerful tale,” and the Chicago Sun-Times “recommends it highly, even if you don’t live in Illinois.” Her fourth novel, A Shot To Die For, was released in September, 2005. The Chicago Sun Times raved, saying “Hellmann reaches next level with latest mystery novel.” It won the Readers Choice Award for Best Traditional Novel at the Love is Murder conference.
Her fifth novel, a “spin-off” of her series, is Easy Innocence, a dark PI novel, featuring Georgia Davis, former cop and newly minted PI. It was released in April, 2008 by Bleak House Books.
Libby also writes short stories. “House Rules” (Murder in Vegas, Forge) was nominated for an Agatha and Anthony Award in 2006. She has also edited a highly praised crime fiction anthology, “Chicago Blues,” which was released by Bleak House Books in October, 2007.
In 2005-2006 she was the National President of Sisters in Crime, a 3400 plus member organization committed to strengthening the voice of female mystery writers. The organization, founded by Sara Paretsky, just celebrated its 20th anniversary. She also blogs with “The Outfit Collective” at www.theoutfitcollective.com.
When not writing, Libby conducts speaker training programs in platform speaking, presentation skills, media training, and crisis communications. She also writes and produces videos. A transplant from Washington, D.C., Libby has lived in the Chicago area nearly thirty years. She has a Masters Degree in Film Production from New York University, and a BA in history from the U. of Pennsylvania.
Libby lives on the North Shore of Chicago with her family. She is represented by the Ann Rittenberg Literary Agency.
That series made its debut in 2002 with An Eye For Murder. Publishers Weekly called Eye a “masterful blend of politics, history, and suspense.” Kirkus Reviews called Ellie “the true stuff of working-mom sleuths.” The book was nominated for an Anthony Award for Best First and won the Readers’ Choice award for Best First at the Love is Murder conference. It was re-released as a trade paperback by Poisoned Pen Press in January, 2007.
The second Ellie Foreman novel, A Picture Of Guilt, was released July, 2003. It won the Reader’s Choice award for Best Traditional Series at the 2004 Love is Murder conference, and was a finalist in the Benjamin Franklin Awards (mystery-suspense category) given by Publishers Marketing Association. An Image Of Death, the third book in the series was released in February, 2004. Publishers Weekly called it “a powerful tale,” and the Chicago Sun-Times “recommends it highly, even if you don’t live in Illinois.” Her fourth novel, A Shot To Die For, was released in September, 2005. The Chicago Sun Times raved, saying “Hellmann reaches next level with latest mystery novel.” It won the Readers Choice Award for Best Traditional Novel at the Love is Murder conference.
Her fifth novel, a “spin-off” of her series, is Easy Innocence, a dark PI novel, featuring Georgia Davis, former cop and newly minted PI. It was released in April, 2008 by Bleak House Books.
Libby also writes short stories. “House Rules” (Murder in Vegas, Forge) was nominated for an Agatha and Anthony Award in 2006. She has also edited a highly praised crime fiction anthology, “Chicago Blues,” which was released by Bleak House Books in October, 2007.
In 2005-2006 she was the National President of Sisters in Crime, a 3400 plus member organization committed to strengthening the voice of female mystery writers. The organization, founded by Sara Paretsky, just celebrated its 20th anniversary. She also blogs with “The Outfit Collective” at www.theoutfitcollective.com.
When not writing, Libby conducts speaker training programs in platform speaking, presentation skills, media training, and crisis communications. She also writes and produces videos. A transplant from Washington, D.C., Libby has lived in the Chicago area nearly thirty years. She has a Masters Degree in Film Production from New York University, and a BA in history from the U. of Pennsylvania.
Libby lives on the North Shore of Chicago with her family. She is represented by the Ann Rittenberg Literary Agency.
Mysteries by Author:
- Ellie Foreman Mystery series:
- A Shot To Die For
- An Image Of Death
- A Picture Of Guilt
- An Eye For Murder
- Georgia Davis Mystery series:
- Easy Innocence
- Non-Series:
- Chicago Blues