ALEX KAVA GREW UP IN THE COUNTRY outside Silver Creek, Nebraska. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art and English from College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska. She has done a variety of jobs, from working as a hospital tech, cleaning and sterilizing utensils from surgery, pathology and the morgue, to running her own graphic design firm, designing national food labels and directing television and radio commercials.
IN 1996 SHE QUIT HER JOB as a public relations director to dedicate herself to writing a novel and getting published. To pay the bills, she refinanced her home, maxed out her credit cards and even took on a newspaper delivery route.
TODAY, ALEX IS A NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR of psychological suspense novels. Her Maggie O’Dell series, comprised of A Perfect Evil, Split Second, The Soul Catcher, At the Stroke of Madness, A Necessary Evil, Exposed and Black Friday along with her stand-alone novels, One False Move and Whitewash, have been widely praised by critics and fans. They have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Her books have been published in twenty-four countries and have hit the bestseller lists in Australia, Germany, Poland, Italy and the UK. She is also one of the featured writers in the anthology Thriller: Stories to Keep You Up All Night, edited by James Patterson.
ONE FALSE MOVE WAS SELECTED AS Nebraska’s 2006 One Book One Nebraska. (My Antonia by Willa Cather was the 2005 selection). In 2007 Alex was awarded the Mari Sandoz Award by the Nebraska Library Association. Whitewash made January Magazine’s list of best thrillers for 2007. Both Exposed and Black Friday received starred reviews by Publishers Weekly.
2010 marks Alex’s ten year anniversary as an author with the publication of her tenth novel, Damaged (Doubleday, July 13th). She also has co-authored two short stories in anthologies to be published in June and August: First Thrills, edited by Lee Child (After Dark, co-authored with Deb Carlin) and Florida Heat Wave, edited by Michael Lister (A Breath of Hot Air, co-authored with Patricia Bremmer).
ALEX WRITES FULL-TIME AND LIVES IN Omaha, Nebraska and Pensacola, Florida (where her new book, Damaged is set). She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the International Thrillers Writers.
Alex has been interviewed dozens of times but one of her most interesting was several years ago – a personality test by the Pittsburgh Tribune. We’ve pulled a few of her questions and answers and then added some of our own. Short, simple and quirky, you’ll probably learn something you never knew about Alex.
The star who would play me in the movie version of my life and why: Helen Mirren, because I know my life would be much more interesting with that British accent.
If the TV is on at 2 a.m., I’m watching: The news – somewhere there’s been a murder, corruption or scandal and I need to know. It’s called research . . . or, ummm, obsession.
After a long day of writing I like to relax with (choose one):
martini cold beer Red Bull Cappuccino Glass of wine Scotch (Maggie O’Dell’s preference) Cold beer, preferably a Newcastle or Sam Adams
If I was auditioning for “American Idol,” my song would be: Televised on “America’s Funniest Bloopers”
The first band I saw in concert (when and where): My dad’s polka band. I don’t remember when or where. I was probably only five or six and Polish weddings can oftentimes become “lost weekends.”
The worst advice I ever received: Wait and see. I hate to wait and then to make matters worse, I invariably forget what I’m waiting to see.
The best advice I ever received: Get over it and just do it.
In high school I was: Head cheerleader, in the gifted program, beloved by everyone, captain of the swim team . . . oh, and did I tell you that I make up stories for a living now?
The one television show I never miss is: Modern Family. It’s the new Everybody Loves Raymond.
My most recent eBay purchase: Menu replicas of the Titantic’s last dinner. Third Class had something called “Ragout of beef” with potatoes and pickles while First Class could choose lamb with mint sauce, roast duckling or sirloin of beef.
The first person I call when I have good news: My best friend, Deb, even though this is the same person who, several years ago when I called to tell her about one of my first book signings with 100+ attending, she said to me, “Wow! Was the bookstore giving something away?”
What you’ll always find in my glove compartment: A Sig sauer. I keep my Glock in the trunk . . . um . . . I really am kidding.
If I wasn’t a writer, I’d be: A little more sane and less stressed but certainly not having as much fun.
The book that made me want to be a writer was: Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”
I knew I wanted to be a writer: In sixth grade. Mrs. Powers read to us after lunch - fun stuff like Harriet the Spy and Charlie the Lonesome Cougar.
My favorite websites: Crimelibrary.com to keep updated professionally on the freakiest killers and hotair.com to curb my obsession with politics.
My first job: Waitress/ soda jerk for a little diner called The Drive-Inn.
My worst job: Waitress/soda jerk for a little diner called The Drive-Inn.
My most interesting job: CS Tech (that’s Central Supply, not Crime Scene) at a hospital. We picked up, cleaned and sterilized utensils and equipment from surgery, the morgue, labor and delivery and emergency. You never knew what you’d find in the basins.
Life would be better without: Deadlines, property taxes and multiple remote controls.
People would be surprised to know that I: Have a data base on how to murder but get lightheaded at the site of my own blood.
When I’m not writing you can find me: In my garden or reading and probably surrounded by my pack of dogs. And in the fall – watching college football. Go Huskers!
http://www.alexkava.com/
About Alex Kava
ALEX KAVA GREW UP IN THE COUNTRY outside Silver Creek, Nebraska. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art and English from College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska. She has done a variety of jobs, from working as a hospital tech, cleaning and sterilizing utensils from surgery, pathology and the morgue, to running her own graphic design firm, designing national food labels and directing television and radio commercials.
IN 1996 SHE QUIT HER JOB as a public relations director to dedicate herself to writing a novel and getting published. To pay the bills, she refinanced her home, maxed out her credit cards and even took on a newspaper delivery route.
TODAY, ALEX IS A NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR of psychological suspense novels. Her Maggie O’Dell series, comprised of A Perfect Evil, Split Second, The Soul Catcher, At the Stroke of Madness, A Necessary Evil, Exposed and Black Friday along with her stand-alone novels, One False Move and Whitewash, have been widely praised by critics and fans. They have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Her books have been published in twenty-four countries and have hit the bestseller lists in Australia, Germany, Poland, Italy and the UK. She is also one of the featured writers in the anthology Thriller: Stories to Keep You Up All Night, edited by James Patterson.
ONE FALSE MOVE WAS SELECTED AS Nebraska’s 2006 One Book One Nebraska. (My Antonia by Willa Cather was the 2005 selection). In 2007 Alex was awarded the Mari Sandoz Award by the Nebraska Library Association. Whitewash made January Magazine’s list of best thrillers for 2007. Both Exposed and Black Friday received starred reviews by Publishers Weekly.
2010 marks Alex’s ten year anniversary as an author with the publication of her tenth novel, Damaged (Doubleday, July 13th). She also has co-authored two short stories in anthologies to be published in June and August: First Thrills, edited by Lee Child (After Dark, co-authored with Deb Carlin) and Florida Heat Wave, edited by Michael Lister (A Breath of Hot Air, co-authored with Patricia Bremmer).
ALEX WRITES FULL-TIME AND LIVES IN Omaha, Nebraska and Pensacola, Florida (where her new book, Damaged is set). She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the International Thrillers Writers.
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FUN STUFF about Alex
Alex has been interviewed dozens of times but one of her most interesting was several years ago – a personality test by the Pittsburgh Tribune. We’ve pulled a few of her questions and answers and then added some of our own. Short, simple and quirky, you’ll probably learn something you never knew about Alex.
The star who would play me in the movie version of my life and why:
Helen Mirren, because I know my life would be much more interesting with that British accent.
If the TV is on at 2 a.m., I’m watching:
The news – somewhere there’s been a murder, corruption or scandal and I need to know. It’s called research . . . or, ummm, obsession.
After a long day of writing I like to relax with (choose one):
martini
cold beer
Red Bull
Cappuccino
Glass of wine
Scotch (Maggie O’Dell’s preference)
Cold beer, preferably a Newcastle or Sam Adams
If I was auditioning for “American Idol,” my song would be:
Televised on “America’s Funniest Bloopers”
The first band I saw in concert (when and where):
My dad’s polka band. I don’t remember when or where. I was probably only five or six and Polish weddings can oftentimes become “lost weekends.”
The worst advice I ever received:
Wait and see. I hate to wait and then to make matters worse, I invariably forget what I’m waiting to see.
The best advice I ever received:
Get over it and just do it.
In high school I was:
Head cheerleader, in the gifted program, beloved by everyone, captain of the swim team . . . oh, and did I tell you that I make up stories for a living now?
The one television show I never miss is:
Modern Family. It’s the new Everybody Loves Raymond.
My most recent eBay purchase:
Menu replicas of the Titantic’s last dinner. Third Class had something called “Ragout of beef” with potatoes and pickles while First Class could choose lamb with mint sauce, roast duckling or sirloin of beef.
The first person I call when I have good news:
My best friend, Deb, even though this is the same person who, several years ago when I called to tell her about one of my first book signings with 100+ attending, she said to me, “Wow! Was the bookstore giving something away?”
What you’ll always find in my glove compartment:
A Sig sauer. I keep my Glock in the trunk . . . um . . . I really am kidding.
If I wasn’t a writer, I’d be:
A little more sane and less stressed but certainly not having as much fun.
The book that made me want to be a writer was:
Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”
I knew I wanted to be a writer:
In sixth grade. Mrs. Powers read to us after lunch - fun stuff like Harriet the Spy and Charlie the Lonesome Cougar.
My favorite websites:
Crimelibrary.com to keep updated professionally on the freakiest killers and hotair.com to curb my obsession with politics.
My first job:
Waitress/ soda jerk for a little diner called The Drive-Inn.
My worst job:
Waitress/soda jerk for a little diner called The Drive-Inn.
My most interesting job:
CS Tech (that’s Central Supply, not Crime Scene) at a hospital. We picked up, cleaned and sterilized utensils and equipment from surgery, the morgue, labor and delivery and emergency. You never knew what you’d find in the basins.
Life would be better without:
Deadlines, property taxes and multiple remote controls.
People would be surprised to know that I:
Have a data base on how to murder but get lightheaded at the site of my own blood.
When I’m not writing you can find me:
In my garden or reading and probably surrounded by my pack of dogs. And in the fall – watching college football. Go Huskers!