Philadelphia Daily News

Philadelphia Daily News (PA)

July 29, 2004

Studies helped writer when her sister died

Author: JENNIFER JENKINS jenkinj
@phillynews.com

Edition: 4STAR
Section: LOCAL
Page: 08

Estimated printed pages: 2

Article Text:

Gail Ramsey calls it ironic.

Not in a funny or amusing way, but in a gut-wrenchingly different way.

Ironic that after years of studying the way people involved in tragedies interact with the media, she found herself in the midst of a media frenzy following the death of her younger sister.

Ramsey was thrust into the same kind of media storms she'd written essays about after her sister DeAnn White was killed when Pier 34 collapsed in 2000.

"It was hard, but having that background allowed me to navigate through that for my family and friends," she said.

Four years later, Ramsey has combined her academic studies, professional legal experience and personal trials with the media to write her first novel, the courtroom drama "Tick Tock."

The novel, which is dedicated to her sister, follows the trial of a young woman accused of murdering her boyfriend while on vacation. Daughter of a Pennsylvania congressman, the wo! man's case quickly becomes a high-profile murder trial.

"Usually when there's a high-profile tragedy you're kind of thrown into the midst of reporters and news cameras, and it can be very overwhelming," Ramsey said.

She speaks from personal experience.

Ramsey's sister was 25 when she was killed May 18, 2000, after a 180-foot section of Pier 34 collapsed into the river. Two other women were killed and dozens of people were injured.

Two days shy of her 26th birthday at the time of her death, DeAnn White had been on the pier for an early birthday celebration.

The tragedy prompted an onslaught of more than 40 civil suits, which were settled for $29.6 million earlier this year.

"Tick Tock" briefly refers to the incident when a minor character, Sky Brown, is among those killed on the pier.

Ramsey, who's written thesis papers on high-profile cases such as the O.J. Simpson trial, said she's always been interested in the media's influ! ence on court cases and public opinion, as well as the way the media d eal with victims.

"There's always a story behind the people you see on the news, what goes on in everyday life," she said.

"That's what I've always been most interested in, and that's what I sought to bring out."

Born and raised in Germantown, Ramsey said she has always been interested in big courtroom cases, citing Perry Mason as one of her favorite TV shows when she was growing up.

A graduate of Temple University and American University, Ramsey spent 10 years working as a legal assistant for Morgan Lewis, with a specialty in trial presentation.

After her sister's death, Ramsey won Art Sanctuary's 18th Annual Celebration of Black Writing Competition for her essay "Our Brown Girl," which detailed her relationship with her sister, and the pain of losing her.

Ramsey said the essay has inspired her next novel - about close-knit sisters who have to deal with tragic loss.

"Tick Tock," $12, is now available at select bookstores and ! on Amazon.com. *