Libby Fischer Hellmann Featured on Close Up Radio

By AI, Created 10:54 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Crime fiction author Libby Fischer Hellmann was recently featured on Close Up Radio in an interview that highlighted her novels, characters and path from broadcast news to publishing. The appearance spotlights an author with 18 novels, multiple award nominations and a broad backlist of mysteries and historical thrillers.

Why it matters: - Libby Fischer Hellmann has built a long-running crime fiction career that spans mysteries, thrillers and historical fiction. - Her work has drawn award recognition in the crime writing community, and her interview spotlights how her background and life experiences shape her books. - Readers can find her books online and through her own bookstore, where bundled orders get a discount.

What happened: - Close Up Radio featured Libby Fischer Hellmann in an interview with Jim Masters on Wednesday, May 6, at 1 p.m. Eastern. - The interview focused on Hellmann’s writing career, her crime fiction themes and her role in changing perceptions of women in the genre. - Hellmann also discussed her podcast and media work, including hosting and interviewing other crime authors.

The details: - Hellmann started her career in broadcast news in Washington, D.C., then moved to Chicago for public relations before turning to fiction. - She has published 18 novels across three series: The Ellie Foreman Mysteries, The Georgia Davis Thrillers and The Saga Series. - Hellmann has also written six historical thrillers and more short stories. - Her award nominations include the Agatha and the Anthony. - Her wins include the Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year in 2021 and the Readers Choice Award more than once. - Harlan Coben has said that being honored is a great achievement for a writer. - Hellmann said many of her books include pieces of her own life or personality. - The Ellie Foreman series reflects her earlier life as a single mother living on Chicago’s North Shore. - Hellmann said her politics also find their way into some characters and plot lines. - She said she is fascinated by human nature, the motives behind murder and the way societies repeat mistakes over time. - She also said she is drawn to the puzzle-solving side of crime fiction and likes stories with twists. - Travel with her daughter has influenced settings and details in her books, including Cuba, Germany and Vietnam. - Hellmann began writing in the 1990s after the O.J. Simpson trial sparked her interest in forensics. - After her father died, she wrote her first manuscript in her basement. - That manuscript was rejected, leading her to join a writer’s group that helped shape her work. - Her first published novel, An Eye for Murder, came out in 2001. - The manuscript that introduced Ellie Foreman was actually her fourth novel, after three “practice” novels. - The original short story behind the series involved war and the German Bund. - Hellmann later moved the story forward about 40 years and set it on the North Shore. - A character introduced in the third Ellie Foreman book, Georgia Davis, later became the lead in her own series. - Hellmann describes Ellie Foreman and Georgia Davis as modern, empowered women, unlike older detective-fiction stereotypes. - Hellmann said Ellie is not hard-boiled, but she is distinctive, while Georgia Davis has her own issues.

Between the lines: - Hellmann’s career blends journalism, public relations and fiction, which helps explain the factual detail and procedural feel in her crime writing. - Her comments suggest her books are personal as well as genre-driven, with themes drawn from family life, politics and travel. - The interview also reinforces how crime fiction authors often build audiences through podcasts and media appearances, not just books.

What’s next: - Hellmann is expected to continue appearing on podcasts and interviews that focus on her work, craft and views on women in crime fiction. - Her books remain available through major online channels and through her bookstore. - More information about Hellmann and her books is available at her website. - The interview is available through Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and Spotify.

The bottom line: - Hellmann’s Close Up Radio appearance framed her as a veteran crime writer whose journalism roots, personal history and genre success continue to drive her work.