Ann Rule was born today in writing history, October 22. Celebrate the author’s birthday by learning more about her life and contributions to the literary world. Aspiring writers should also use this opportunity as a writing exercise. Look for inspiration today in writing history.

Today in Writing: October 22 – Ann Rule’s Birthday

Ann Rule was born on October 22, 1931, and is best known for her true crime book The Stranger Beside Me. Rule’s biographical novel details her friendship with Ted Bundy, her impression of the man, and her reaction to learning he was a notorious serial killer. Find your inspiration in the stories, works, and words in this installment of Today in Writing: October 22.

Writing Prompts for Today In Writing: October 22

Please take this opportunity to learn more about Ann Rule and her contributions to true crime literature. The author’s work details a unique experience: knowing a serial killer and the shock of the discovery. Through her writing, Rule can tell her personal story and give a different perspective for readers to enjoy.

What led Ann Rule to write? Where did the inspiration for her ideas come from? And what helped the author create her writing style? Find inspiration about Rule, learn more details about his life, and write!

Ann Rule Biography

Ann Rae Stackhouse (Ann Rule) was born in Lowell, Michigan, on October 22, 1931. Her father, Chester R. Stackhouse, was a well-known collegiate football and track and field coach. Her mother, Sophie Marie, was a teacher who worked with developmentally disabled students.

An Early Interest in Crime

As a child, Rule was surrounded by family members that worked in law enforcement. Her grandfather and an uncle were both sheriffs in Michigan, another uncle was a medical examiner, and a cousin was a prosecutor. These influences made an impact on the young author.

Rule’s Education

Ann Rule graduated from Coatesville High School in Pennsylvania. She would return to the west for her collegiate education. The author earned an associate’s degree from Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington. Rice would later attend the University of Washington to study criminology, psychology, and creative writing.

Following graduation, Ann Rule became an officer in the Seattle Police Department. On the side, she began her writing career. Starting in 1969, Rule began writing for the True Detective magazine under the pen name Andy Slack. In 1971, while volunteering at a suicide crisis hotline center in Seattle, Ann Rule met Ted Bundy.

Ann Rule and Ted Bundy

Ann Rule met Ted Bundy in 1971. Bundy, a work-study student, studied psychology at the University of Washington. According to Rule, during the time they worked together, she saw nothing out of the ordinary in his personality and perceived Bundy as “kind, solicitous, and empathetic.” Later, Bundy moved to Utah and was arrested in 1975 for kidnapping a young woman. It would come to light that Ted Bundy was a serial murderer with an unknown number of victims dating back to 1974 or earlier. 

The Stranger Beside Me, Ann Rule

Utilizing her first-hand accounts, Ann Rule published her first book, The Stranger Beside Me, in 1980. Published under her own name, the book was released the same year Ted Bundy was convicted of murder. Rice’s work is considered one of the most definitive biographies of the serial killer.

Rule’s book offers an autobiographical perspective of the author’s experiences with Ted Bundy. In her story, she reveals that Bundy was charming and trusting, someone she would have let watch her kids. As the details of his crimes emerged, the author maintained her doubt of his guilt. However, she reveals the turning point when physical evidence definitively proved his involvement in the murders. It was a reveal Ann Rule found so shocking that she “[runs] to the ladies’ room and throws up.”

Rule’s Writing Career

Ann Rule would continue to publish books about serial killers and their crimes. The Lust Killer covered Jerry Brudos, The Want-Ad Killer Harvey Carignan, and The I-5 Killer Randall Woodfield. These three novels were all published under Rule’s pen name, but following the success of The Stranger Beside Me, they were re-released under Ann Rule’s name.

She would continue to write true crime novels throughout her life, with several being adapted for TV and movies. Rule’s efforts also helped solve mysteries. The author’s 2010 book, In the Still of the Night, details her efforts to help a mother prove her daughter’s 1998 death was a murder.

Death

Ann Rule passed away from congestive heart failure on July 26, 2015. In her later life, the author had several health problems and had been hospitalized a few days prior. She was 83.

10 Ann Rule Quotes

1. For a while, people couldn’t understand why I’d find them so fascinating, but I’d rather go to a trial than to a Broadway play. Now that we have Court TV, they see what I mean.

2. I always want to give the victim a voice.

3. The why of murder always fascinates me so much more than the how.

4. I’m publicizing the book that’s done. I’m writing the book that’s in the hopper, and I’m doing a little advance research on the book to come.

5. All of my books now come from readers’ ideas.

6. I always say that bad women are fewer than men, but when you get one, they’re fascinating because they’re so rotten.

7. Try to open up your mind a little, and move away from rigid opinions of what people should do and be – unless you have been there.

8. Have you ever heard the expression: Walk a mile in my shoes, and then judge me? And write your own books.

9. I want to warn potential victims. Many of them are women, and many of them are battered women. It’s a cause for me. When I look back, though, so many of the books I’ve written are about wives who just couldn’t get away.

10. Lazy people tend not to take chances, but express themselves by tearing down other’s work.

Ann Rule Books

The Stranger Beside Me (1980)

Lust Killer (1983)

The Want-Ad Killer (1983)

The I-5 Killer (1984)

Small Sacrifices (1987)

If You Really Loved Me (1991)

Everything She Ever Wanted (1992)

Dead By Sunset (1995)

Bitter Harvest (1997)

And Never Let Her Go (1999)

Every Breath You Take (2001)

Heart Full of Lies (2001)

Without Pity: Ann Rule’s Most Dangerous Killers: Crime Files Updates (2003)

Green River, Running Red (2004)

Too Late to Say Goodbye (2007)

In the Still of the Night (2010)

Danger in the Dorm (2013)

Practice to Deceive (2013)

 Ann Rule’s Crime Files

A Rose for Her Grave and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 1 (1993)

You Belong to Me and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 2 (1994)

A Fever in the Heart and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 3 (1996)

In the Name of Love and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 4 (1998)

The End of the Dream: The Golden Boy Who Never Grew Up: Crime Files Vol. 5 (1998)

A Rage to Kill and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 6 (1999)

Empty Promises: Crime Files Vol. 7 (2001)

Last Dance, Last Chance and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 8 (2003)

Kiss Me, Kill Me and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 9 (2004)

Worth More Dead and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 10 (2005)

No Regrets and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 11 (2006)

Smoke, Mirrors, and Murder and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 12 (2007)

Mortal Danger and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 13 (2008)

But I Trusted You and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 14 (2009)

Don’t Look Behind You and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 15 (2011)

Fatal Friends, Deadly Neighbors, and Other True Cases: Crime Files Vol. 16 (2012)

Lying in Wait and Other True Cases: Crime Files: Vol. 17’ (2014)

Today in Writing: October 22 – Daily Writing Exercise

Now that you have done some reading, it is time to write. Aspiring writers should look to the stories from Today in Writing: October 22 and Ann Rule’s life. Read her quotes and study her writing to understand the author’s style. 

Find a topic and freewrite for 10 minutes. The true crime genre is a massively popular topic that audiences cannot get enough of. Netflix docuseries and Crime TV continue to keep these topics prevalent. Ann Rule offered her unique insights into crime in her writing. She found an audience of avid readers that love to dig into the nitty gritty of true crime.

Don’t let any opportunity to write go to waste. Aspiring writers: Practice your writing today. Celebrate Today in Writing History October 22.