Long-time veteran journalist Vicki Vass, who has written more than 1,400 articles for the Chicago Tribune as well as other publications, traded in her reporter's notebook to chronicle the adventures of her two best friends, real-life antique hunters Anne and CC. Like their author, Anne and CC share her love for shopping everywhere from estate sales, antique stores, flea markets and auctions. Their adventures are chronicled in Murder by the Spoonful and Pickin' Murder published by Cozy Cat Press. Vicki Vass is an avid reader and her love for mysteries began when she read the complete Nancy Drew series as a child. She quickly followed Nancy by devouring the Cherry Ames and Vicki Barr mystery series. After finishing those, she began reading Charlotte Armstrong, Mary Stewart and Phyllis Whitney. She wrote her first mystery short story in second grade called, "The Mystery of the Topaz." Today, she is continuing that love of gemstone by creating her third cozy mystery heroine, Alex Kustodia, a beautiful, tough gem hunter. The first book in the series will be out in spring 2016.       

Illinois Press Association news awards
Publishing awards from the Helen Cody Baker Social Services association