Tess Gerritsen American novelist of Chinese descent, Date of Birth: 12.06.1953 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Medical Career and Literary Beginnings
3. Romantic Suspense Novels
4. Medical Thrillers
5. Detective Thrillers
6. Other Works
7. Honors and Recognition
8. Legacy

Early Life and Education

Tess Gerritsen, an American author of Chinese descent, was born and raised in San Diego, California. Her potential for writing may have been inherited from her maternal great-grandfather, a renowned Chinese poet. With a keen interest in science, especially biology, Gerritsen pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Stanford University in 1975. She continued her education at the University of California, San Francisco, earning her medical degree in 1979.

Medical Career and Literary Beginnings

After completing her residency in internal medicine in Honolulu, Hawaii, Gerritsen began her medical practice with her husband, also a physician. While on maternity leave, she penned "On Choosing the Right Crack Seed," a short story that won Honolulu Magazine's fiction contest. The story explored her childhood trauma, including her mother's attempted suicides. Inspired by the romantic novels she read during her spare time, Gerritsen embarked on writing romantic suspense novels.

Romantic Suspense Novels

Her debut novel, "Call After Midnight," was published in 1987. This was followed by eight more romantic suspense novels, all published by Harlequin Intrigue and Harper Paperbacks.

Medical Thrillers

In 1996, Gerritsen ventured into the medical thriller genre with "Harvest." Inspired by a conversation with a retired homicide detective who had recently visited Russia, the novel delved into the chilling possibility of street children being abducted and trafficked for organ harvesting. Despite the critical acclaim the book received, it also faced criticism from transplant associations who demanded revisions and urged Paramount Pictures, which had acquired the film rights, not to produce a movie based on it. "Harvest" was Gerritsen's first hardcover novel, landing at number thirteen on the New York Times bestseller list. It was followed by three more successful medical thrillers: "Life Support" (1997), "Bloodstream" (1998), and "Gravity" (1999).

Detective Thrillers

In 2001, Gerritsen's first detective thriller, "The Surgeon," introduced Detective Jane Rizzoli. While Rizzoli was a secondary character in "The Surgeon," she became the focus of a series that has spanned eight novels as of 2010.

Other Works

Gerritsen has also penned screenplays, including the television movie "Adrift" (1993) under the pseudonym Terry Gerritsen. She also collaborated on the "Rizzoli & Isles" television series based on her books, which premiered in 2010. In season seven, episode six, Gerritsen made a cameo appearance as herself.

Honors and Recognition

Tess Gerritsen has received numerous literary awards, including the Nero Award for "The Sinner" and the Rita Award for "The Surgeon."

Legacy

With over 20 million copies of her books sold worldwide and translations into 37 languages, Tess Gerritsen has become a bestselling and award-winning author. Her chilling medical thrillers, detective novels, and romantic suspense novels have captivated readers, earning her a significant following. She continues to write from her home in Camden, Maine, where she also enjoys gardening and playing the violin.