Author Archives: James L'Etoile
Where the Story Ideas Come From…
Authors are always asked where they get their story ideas and the answer isn’t always what you’d expect. When people hear my background–working in some of the most brutal prisons in California, they expect me to write dark, noir prison stories. Tales of the worst humanity has to offer. Stories where redemption is rare as […]
The Highs and Lows of a Book Launch
Getting a new book out in the world is a stressful time when everything has to come together at a single moment, but there’s always something that slips through. No matter how much you plan, and how adept you are at keeping the plates spinning, one of those plates will fly off and threaten to […]
Sacramento Serial Killer–What it Took to Bring Down the Golden State Killer
The Visalia Ransacker, The Original Nightstalker, The East Area Rapist–these were all names for the man later known as the infamous Golden State Killer. Now in 2023, we’ve discovered Joseph DeAngelo, Jr., was the man responsible for thirteen murders and more than fifty rapes during his decades long crime spree. What took so long to […]
Prison–The New Social Safety Net
Here’s a blog post from Murderbooks talking about what prisons and their staff are expected to manage…
Prison Myths
Originally posted on Murder Books:
There are a great number of myths and legends from the “Big House.” Some myths come from misinformation on what happens inside this strange unfamiliar world, while other legends spring from convict eyewitness accounts–believe it or not, felons aren’t always the best source for accurate information. Don’t get me started…
LEFT COAST CRIME — A RECAP
What a action packed weekend in Tucson for Left Coast Crime. Here’s a post I submitted to the Murder Books Blog with some of the highlights of the conference. This past weekend I was fortunate to attend the annual west coast crime fiction conference called Left Cast Crime. The venue changes every year and the […]
Big News on the Book Front
I’ve been a little bit frazzled as of late, which explains the infrequent posts here. I’m sure your inbox took short sigh of relief. But it’s all for a good reason–I swear. Recent weeks have been consumed with four special projects that I can’t talk about (seriously–with non-disclosure agreements and threats of boiling oil) and […]
50% OFF Black Label
Highbridge Audio announced a limited-time sale of the audiobook version of BLACK LABEL for 50% off. That’s a great deal on Black Label narrated by Sara Sheckells. Please check it out! A pharmaceutical executive wakes up in a strange apartment and finds herself suspected of the murder of her company’s CEO. Believing she’s insane, or […]
A Prison is a Prison…
Originally posted on Murder Books:
Thinking about prison, the public at large has two thoughts; the first being once a convicted person is sentenced, they’re tossed in a cell forever, and second, every prison is the same. —not so much. Correctional systems have evolved since the time of the dungeon in the underground crypt of…
James L'Etoile
James L'Etoile 