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 […]
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 […]
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…
Stockton Police made a dramatic arrest in the case that plagued the city in recent weeks. On October 15th, Wesley Brownlee was taken into custody while authorities believe he was out hunting for another victim in the central California city. The city of Stockton is not unfamiliar with gun crime and homicide. The city of […]
Originally posted on Murder Books:
As an author, one of the best compliments you can receive from a reader is they really appreciated the way you “Got into the heads” of the characters, especially the criminals. Since I write thrillers and procedurals, there’s no shortage of bad guys doing bad things. The follow up question…
We know California has been a serial killer’s paradise since the 1970’s. More serial killers hunted in the state than all the others combined. While others may have racked up higher body counts, (think Ridgway and Dahmer) we seem to have lived with more than our share. The Sacramento region attracts the most with 15% […]
Originally posted on Murder Books:
It’s a pleasure to be here sharing my first post on the Murder Books Blog. Thanks to the crew for letting me contribute. You might know that I worked in prisons for the better part of thirty years. You get to know a bit about how the system works and…
Originally posted on Murder Books:
Please join me in welcoming Sacramento based crime novelist James L’Etoile to the blog, literally. Occasionally, we at Murder Books will interview a favorite author in order to help get the word out about a new book, but this interview is even more special because Jim is joining our Murder…
IR– What inspired the idea for your book?
James– The inspiration for Dead Drop didn’t come from a single source. I worked in the California prison system for nearly thirty years. I met up with a few colorful characters—characters who have inspired some of my crime fiction work. There were thousands of men in prison with what we called “Immigration Holds,” which meant when they were done with the prison sentence for their state crimes, they would face deportation back to their home country.
Before they committed their crimes, most of them crossed the border in search of a new life, free from the crime, drugs, and corruption they faced back home. Many of the men I encountered turned to crime out of desperation, or were extorted by criminal organizations like the Mexican Mafia or the Cartels.
I took this background and put together a story where the influences behind the border violence and corruption don’t come from the usual sources.
It’s all about character! Many thanks to The Book Diva Reads for allowing me to return to the blog. This time around, I wanted to focus on one element of writing that can make or break a story–character. I recently had a chance to teach a session on character development at the Gold Country Writers […]
James L'Etoile
James L'Etoile 