Missouri native, Barri L. Bumgarner, is an award-winning author and speaker. In addition to publishing more than 50 articles and 30 poems, her fourth novel, Playing the Line is set to release in 2009. Playing the Line is the much-anticipated prequel to her first novel, 8 Days. Jim Bohannon, nationwide radio host for Westwood One Radio, regarding her novel Slipping, said, “This serial killer drama makes for a taut read from a rising star of the thriller. Remember the name: Barri Bumgarner.” Police officer consultant Jessie Pitman wrote, “Bumgarner has captured the essence of what it’s like being a female cop. I can’t vouch for the killer, but she sure made me believe!” Barri’s first young adult novel, Dregs, took second place for the 2008 Walter Williams Major Work Award. Dregs tackles the tough issues of bullies, steroids, and what it takes to push a teenager to bring a gun to school. The book has already received attention from other notable award committees, including the American Library Association and the Gateway Readers Award. Barri's essay, "Preconceptions" is featured in the recently released anthology My First Year in the Classroom. In this collection, fifty teachers share the trials, tribulations, and triumphs they’ve experienced during their first year on the job. Barri’s current project is her first true crime work, Shades of Gray: The Steven Rios Story, the headline-grabbing tale of a police officer convicted of killing his lover. Barri has obtained exclusive interviews with officer Rios and hopes to finish the work in 2009, assuming there isn’t another retrial. Visit Barri online at her website, MySpace, RedRoom, Facebook or CrimeSpace.