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 […]
It’s one of my favorite things. Developing a character and having them come to life on the page is a blast. But sometimes a character takes over and isn’t happy about their place in the story. Billie Carson is one of those characters. She is a major player in my upcoming novel, DEAD DROP, but […]
It’s been a while since I’ve posted. I’ve had my head down and scribbling away. Turns out you can get a decent amount of writing done when you put your mind to it. As a result, the first book in a new series, Dead Drop releases in July. Dead Drop takes a look at border […]
When Left Coast Crime in San Diego was abruptly cancelled after a single day in March 2020, many of the attendees left wondering when and if we’d be able to gather again. We learned more than we ever wanted to know about Zoom, remote working, vaccines, and quarantine workarounds. When we had a dip in […]
My husband (an attorney) always cringes whenever we watch a courtroom drama on television. Why? Because, procedurally, they get everything wrong. I … Black Label
Here is a fun interview of Jillian Cooper, the main character in Black Label. Jillian talks about her deepest fears and the predicament she found herself in during her search to find the truth. She claims she’s a cautionary tale about what happens when you keep your eye on the prize. https://ireadwhatyouwrite.com/2021/07/17/character-interview-with-jillian-cooper-by-james-letoile/#comments Want to take […]
Elena Talyor calls BLACK LABEL, “A perfect suspense novel for a society that has become all too aware of the proliferation of fake reports espoused as gospel and the people willing to believe the lies. A delightfully tense summer read.”James L’Etoile launches Black Label, a brand new thriller with his new publisher. Read my review on […]
Book Release! Coming out of the lockdown and COVID restrictions makes me feel a little like a groundhog squirming out of its burrow. What to do with all the left over masks and hand sanitizer? Not to mention all the toilet paper some folks hoarded early on in the pandemic that’s now turning into dust. […]
The First Two Pages: “Billy’s Plan” by James L’Etoile – Art Taylor — Read on arttaylorwriter.com/2021/05/25/the-first-two-pages-billys-plan-by-james-letoile/
James L'Etoile
James L'Etoile 