Excerpts from Inside Their Minds, by Rochelle (mp3)

INSIDE THEIR MINDS                                                                     

Why did Ivan Milat become a serial killer? How did Carl Williams go from a being a baby-faced kid to dangerous murderer? And what made mass murderer Martin Bryant, go on a killing spree in Tasmania’s Port Arthur, killing 35 people at Port Arthur?

Rochelle’s second true crime book, Inside their Minds: Australian Criminals by Allen & Unwin is published August 1, 2008. Her book explores what makes a criminal.

Working with one of Australia’s leading forensic psychologists Ian Joblin, Rochelle analyses eight Australian criminals and works out what made them criminals. She’s written to these people in jail, interviewed them and their family members. She explores their motivations, delves into their pasts and examines their personalities to uncover what makes them tick. Inside their Minds is a penetrating, revealing and sometimes frightening investigation of the criminal mind. The book took Rochelle 14 months to write and to most states in Australia.

Rochelle has always been fascinated with ‘the story behind the story’. What’s always intrigued her is the psychology and motivation of criminals, but she had little chance to pursue this fascination when working as a journalist on daily deadlines. Inside their Minds have given her this opportunity.

IN YOUR FACE

Her first book, In Your Face –The life and times of Billy 'The Texan' Longley (ABC Books) was published in 2005. Billy Longley is an old-time villain and has been described as 'the godfather of Australian crime'.

As Rochelle wrote The Texan's biography, she became engrossed in what made Longley turn to crime. This started her fascination with how villains are created. The book required extensive research and interviews with his family, friends and foes.

In Your Face was short listed in the 2006 Ned Kelly Awards for Australian Crime Writing and the 2006 Davitt Awards in the true crime categories.

» View the photo gallery