Introduction
Katherine Ramsland (born 1953) is an American non-fiction author and professor of forensic psychology. Ramsland has written 60 books and more than 1,000 articles, mostly in the genres of crime, forensic science, and the supernatural. She is also a professor of forensic psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University.
Early life and education
Ramsland was born in 1953 in Michigan. She holds graduate degrees in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, criminal justice, and philosophy.
She holds a master's degree in forensic psychology from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York City, New York; a master's in clinical psychology from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; a master's in criminal justice from DeSales University, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Career
Ramsland has written on the subjects of serial killers, crime scene investigation, vampires, forensic science, mass murder, sex offenders, and ghosts, and was a regular contributor to Crime Library.
Ramsland began her career as a writer with Prism of the Night: A Biography of Anne Rice.
She had a bestseller with The Vampire Companion. Since then, she has published 59 books and over 1,000 articles, reviews, and short stories. From ghosts to vampires to serial killers, she has taken on a variety of dark subjects. Her books include The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds, The Human Predator: A Historical Chronicle of Serial Murder and Forensic Investigation, Inside the Minds of Serial Killers, Inside the Minds of Sexual Predators, and Inside the Minds of Mass Murderers.
Her background in forensic studies positioned her to assist former FBI profiler John E. Douglas on his book, The Cases that Haunt Us, and to co-write a book with former FBI profiler, Gregg McCrary, The Unknown Darkness, as well as The Real Life of a Forensic Scientist with Henry C. Lee and A Voice for the Dead with James E. Starrs.
She spent 5 years assisting "BTK" Killer Dennis Rader write his autobiography, and has started a supernatural fiction series with The Ripper Letter.
Ramsland speaks internationally about forensic psychology, forensic science, and serial murder, and has appeared on numerous documentaries, as well as such programs as The Today Show, 20/20, 48 Hours, NPR, Coast to Coast, Montel Williams, Larry King Live, and E! True Hollywood.
In addition, she teaches forensic psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. She also serves as the assistant provost.
Awards
Ramsland's book Into the Devil's Den, co-authored with Dave Hall and Tym Burkey, was named New Mexico Book of the Year in 2008.