I have had a lot of people ask me what my fascination is with serial killers, or murder in general.

My answer has always been the same: I have absolutely no fascination with this subject matter at all, only simple curiosity as to how and why all of these killers became what they were.

In the '70s, as a teenager, true-crime magazines filled the corner news stands and the supermarket checkout lanes, and what few channels we could receive through our home antenna were always showcasing the latest news on the rampage by killers Ted Bundy, Henry Lee Lucas, and Edmund Kemper.

Having always been a big horror movie fan, these serial killer tales and real-life TV movies and books added fuel to the ever present fire where my own vivid imagination was concerned.

As years went by, and the internet provided me with a whole smorgasbord of dark subject matter to choose from, I couldn't help but become what I still refer to as a “true-crime buff.”

To me, a true-crime buff isn't necessarily a person who is a great writer or has a degree in journalism or a degree in law enforcement. In my case, I was just a kid who grew up with sort of a morbid curiosity about certain criminals who seemed so normal on the outside, yet were so dark and crazy on the inside.

Take, for example, a fictional character created by author Thomas Harris, Hannibal Lecter. He was so charming and normal to those who were unfortunate enough to make his acquaintance. Nobody would have ever expected him to b e such a vicious killer.

Or, take a nonfictional character, like Henry Lee Lucas, one of the most prolific killers in American history. He wasn't exactly handsome or charming, but he exuded an innocence about him that made you trust him—that is, until he crept up behind you when you weren't looking and slit your throat.

My question has always been...why?

What causes a human being to become a vicious monster? Was it in their genes? It is hereditary? Was a nature vs nurture thing? Were the parents at fault?

So many questions, and at times, so few real logical answers.

That is...maybe until now.

I hope you enjoy my journey, not only because it sheds a light on myself, and why I chose murderers as fodder for my books, but also because it might finally shed a light on why there are so many killers out there.

I hope you enjoy the ride.