Cooper's first true crime book was UNLIKELY ASSASSINS, followed by BLOOD & PITY and last year's FATAL TRUST, which details the murder of Arkansas doctor Rebecca Johnson and sold out the first printing in ten days. Both UNLIKELY ASSASSINS and FATAL TRUST have been optioned for TV movies.

Her cozy contemporary mysteries are THE WRIGHT SPECIAL and MURDER AT THE LOCKSMITH CONVENTION, which is recommended reading by the International Association of Investigative Locksmiths.

Cooper's Renaisance mystery, KEY DECEPTIONS, released late 2000, has had favorable reviews and was suggested reading for August for the CrimeThruTime online group. A mystery set during the Civil War, with a Confederate General as the slueth, UNCIVIL DEATH, is her latest book. She plans to continue her historical series while researching and writing more true crime books.

Mary Ellen enjoys reading, traveling, hot air ballooning and collecting antiques. She has lived most of her life in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She has been a licensed beautician and was in charge of a motorcycle dealership for 21 years besides being a wife for 49 years and mother of eight, now grandmother of eleven.