Jerry Jamison

Deadly Desserts is the incredible but true story of Nannie Doss—the most prolific female serial killer in history. Over a twenty-year period beginning in the 1930s, she murdered husbands, lovers, and family members throughout the country—as well as countless other innocent individuals—with rat poison baked into her delicious desserts. A Baptist pastor’s wife and grandmother in a small rural town outside of Tulsa, she was the epitome of the gum-smacking “Granny Nannie” persona that she projected...at the same time that her body count was growing. Nannie led the choir, was a favorite of the children, and baked the most delectable treats. Tenderly caring for the sick, watching over her family like a mother hen, while writing letters to the lonely, she was the dearest friend to all—including six husbands—until they aggravated her in some small way. And then they got their just desserts. By the time she was discovered and convicted, sweet Nannie murdered more people than any female in history. This is an incredible tale that also reads like a page-turning novel, complete with dialogue and a series of mind-bending, unexpected twists. It’s a story of suburban madness, sexual conquest, unfulfilled romantic fantasies, that were expressed throughout a quiet, undetected but unprecedented killing career. Nannie’s incredible story crisscrosses the country, covers several eras and provides a fascinating glimpse into how her gender both protected her from discovery, but ultimately condemned her. The story is meticulously researched and well-resourced with major newspaper reports of the time. The author’s approach includes multiple perspectives—conversations among the key characters, narrative storytelling, and contemporary reports from journalists, court transcripts, psychiatrists, and detectives from the day. It is written to read as a head-shaking novel.

An incredible whirlwind of talent, transformation, and turmoil, the British pop icon’s life is detailed in this sensitive and heart-rending portrait. For most of the early 1960s, Dusty Springfield was the most popular and best-selling female recording artist in Britain, becoming the first bonafide British star to follow the Beatles. In 1966, she was named as the top female singer in the world after a string of chart-topping hits including “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.” Even Elton John – who had her posters covering his wall as a teen – idolized her. With her signature peroxided platinum beehive hairdo and heavy black eyeliner, she became the poster girl of the swinging 60s. But behind all of this, Dusty was struggling with severe mental illness, erratic public behavior, violent mood swings, multiple personalities, drug addiction, and the terror of being exposed as a lesbian. However, even in her darkest moments, Dusty’s star shined bright, remaining a force of charisma and humor. Follow the soaring highs and devastating lows of Dusty’s career in this sympathetic, narrative-style biography based on meticulous research, peer accounts, and contemporary perspectives. Included is a foreword by Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits.

“Look at all those people down there, I can’t disappoint them. It’s showtime!” he said before leaping dramatically to his death, much to the delight of a cheering crowd estimated at up to 100,000. 11 Hours on the Ledge is the stunning story of John William Warde, a privileged, wealthy, educated young man who inexplicably stepped out onto the 17th-floor ledge of the Hotel Gotham in midtown Manhattan in 1938 and subsequently captivated the entire nation for 11 thrilling hours. Presented in chapters that count down each of the eleven hours of the unfolding drama, the suspense builds exponentially as Warde is trying to literally be talked “off the edge” by pastors, priests, psychiatrists, reporters, evangelists, hookers, beat cops, the mayor of New York, the New York Police Commissioner, family members, and a few random hucksters, and interlopers. When all these efforts fail, the NYPD attempts a series of comic “rescues” in vain, but to the absolute delight and cheers of the growing crowd below. Beginning innocently on a sweltering summer day, the drama builds in intensity with every passing hour until it reaches a peak of hysteria at the eleventh hour. Meticulously researched from thousands of newspaper accounts and magazine articles of the era, Jamison pieces together John Warde’s story, connecting this early 20th century event to contemporary issues such as mental illness, homosexuality, mob mentalities, media ethics, religion, and class wars.