Amanda Howard was born on 19 November 1973 in Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia. She has a bachelor's degree in criminology and psychology from Charles Sturt University. Her interest in criminology began when she noticed errors in an undergraduate textbook, and set out to confirm the information by writing directly to the criminals. When many began writing back, she decided to pursue it further.
Career
Howard lists her early crime influences as the 1989-1990 The Granny Killer case and the 1991 movie, The Silence of the Lambs. After 25 years of corresponding with serial killers she has been nicknamed "The Serial Killer Whisperer" by sections of the media. Howard released her first books in 2004, and has since made numerous media appearances on radio, television, at conferences, online, and also appears on the morning show Studio 10 as a regular guest. In 2015-2017, she studied for a master's degree in writing from Swinburne University of Technology and, since 2018, is studying for a master's in criminology and criminal justice at Griffith University. In 2017, she was included in the Who's Who of Australian Women. In 2018, she began work as an associate producer on an American film about serial killerJesse Pommeroy. In 2019, Howard opened a pop up museum exhibition called Memento Mori Death Museum, which features pieces from Howard's true crime collection and correspondence from killers from across the globe as well as pieces related to death and culture. Her work has proven what most people have trouble accepting: serial killers blend in very easily with society; they appear and want to be seen to be just like everyone else.
Personal life
Howard was married to Steve, a high-school peer, and they went on to have two children. In 2017, however, her husband committed suicide at the family home at the age of 42. As a result of his death, Howard is now a spokesperson for male suicide prevention.
Kate Reilly series
Howard has also authored a series of investigative novels "following the life of a police detective who is an international expert on ritual crimes and ancient societies." The series, set in the fictional Somerset Police Violent Crimes Department, currently consists of:
