Biography of Barbara D'Amato 
Barbara D'Amato has been nominated for mystery awards in three catagories: short story, novel, and fact crime. She is a native of Grand Rapids and Holland, Michigan, but has been a resident of Chicago for many years.

She has won the Anthony, the Award of Boucheron World Mystery Convention, and the Agatha, award of the Malice Domestic Convention, for THE DOCTOR, THE MURDER, THE MYSTERY. She was also nominated for the Anthony for her novel, ON MY HONOR in London, 1990. D'Amato was the runner-up for the 1993 Nero Wolfe Award for the novel HARD WOMEN. She was nominated for the Agatha for her 1994 short story, "Soon to be a Minor”  Motion Picture.

D'Amato was a past president of Sisters in Crime International and has written three mystery series, including one starring Chicago freelance investigative reporter Cat Marsala. The book titles include HARD TACK , HARD LUCK, HARD CASE and HARD CHRISTMAS.

D'amato is a playwright, novelist, and crime researcher. Her musical comedies THE MAGIC MAN and children's musical THE MAGIC OF YOUNG HOUDINI, written with husband Anthony D'Amato was played in Chicago and London. The play was opened in March 5, 1997 in Toronto.

D'Amato has served as Mystery Writers of America board member and regional president, and several times as Edgar awards chair and columnist for the Sisters in Crime newsletter and Mystery Scene Magazine.