ABOUT THE BOOK Dexter broke new grounds for Showtime in multiple ways. It debuted strong with more than 600,000 viewers during the premiere and its finale set a Showtime record with an audience of over a million people. However, Dexter's success was not strictly a matter of numbers. Serial killers are traditionally villains in TV and film but author Jeff Lindsay created a serial killer who lived in more "shades of grey." His original novel "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" allowed the reader to sympathize with main character Dexter Morgan and the show maintained the book's darker tones. Dexter embraced the concept of the anti-hero and took it to further extremes than most shows are willing to. That is one advantage to the show airing on Showtime instead of a broadcast network because the show creators have more creative freedom without worrying about censors. Editors recut the show for airing on CBS after the ratings success on Showtime and due to programming holes left in the CBS schedule from the writer's strike in 2008. Dexter is currently entering its seventh season on Showtime. MEET THE AUTHOR Dave Beaudrie is a graduate and valedictorian of Michigan State University with a B.A. in Advertising. He also studied Theatre and has performed in multiple productions around the country. He is a professional screenwriter as well with several projects either produced or in pre-production. He is licensed as a security specialist in the state of California and worked in the field for several years. Beaudrie is an avid mixed martial arts fan and has written extensively on the subject. He writes comedy as well under a pen name and resides in Los Angeles. EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK The casting of Dexter was vital to the show's success and producers found a star in Michael C. Hall. Fresh off his work in the HBO series "Six Feet Under" and an accomplished stage actor, Hall had proven himself worthy of emotionally demanding roles but the question remained as to whether he could anchor a series himself? The answer was a resounding "yes" as Hall's intense performance created a cultural icon the likes of which hadn't been seen on television before. Hall was charismatic and funny, even while playing a relatively emotionless character without a real sense of humor. The supporting cast was up to the task as well, with Jennifer Carpenter and Julie Benz standing out as the two women in Dexter's life. Carpenter brought a humor and neurosis to Dexter's foster-sister Debra that was an effective counter-balance to Dexter's stoicism. Benz's Rita was a good-hearted woman who desperately wanted to love Dexter but didn't know if she knew how. Dexter first used Rita as a smokescreen to appear "normal" to the outside world but eventually developed a genuine affection and sense of responsibility for both her and her kids, which he himself thought he was incapable of doing. The cast was rounded out by David Zayas as Angel, the closest thing Dexter has to a friend in his life, and Erik King as Sgt. Doakes, who suspects Dexter of illegal activity but can't prove anything. Lauren Velez played Dexter's flirtatious superior Lt. Maria LaGuerta, who had a bone to pick with Debra and who was often a better politician than a cop. Dexter's conscience is kept in check by the memory of his adopted father Harry, played warmly by James Remar. "Dexter" embraced the concept of the anti-hero and took it to further extremes than most shows are willing to. That is one advantage to the show airing on Showtime instead of a broadcast network because the show creators have more creative freedom without worrying about censors. Editors recut the show for airing on CBS after the ratings success on Showtime and due to programming holes left in the CBS schedule.