 | 22 Jan 10 |
I have to share what happened to me this week!
Now, in order to appreciate how cool this is, you must know that a) I got my start as a newspaper reporter and love, love, love to interview people, and b) On the keeper shelf in my office is a hardback copy of Presumed Innocent, one of the first suspense novels I ever read.
So when the editor of RT Book Reviews asked me if I’d like to interview Scott Turow about his upcoming sequel to Presumed Innocent, you could say I was excited. Actually, dancing around the living room in front of my startled family would be more accurate.
You mean there’s a sequel to one of my all-time favorite books? And I get to talk to Scott Turow, who helped inspire me to become a writer in the first place?
The answer is YES!
Needless to say, I accepted the assignment. And then like magic, a manuscript of the new book, Innocent, landed on my doorstep so that I could read it before the interview. I’ve never been so eager to put on my slippers and curl up with 500-plus pages of copy paper. With just forty-eight hours until the interview, I didn’t quite get the book finished, but I still had plenty of questions to ask the talented Mr. Turow. Here is a glimpse of my notes:
“How did you decide to write a sequel?”
“Is there talk of a film?”
“If there is a film, will Harrison Ford play Rusty Sabich again?”
“How do you juggle your writing career with your law practice?”
“If there’s a film, will it feature Harrison Ford?”
“And about Harrison Ford…???”
You may have noticed I’m a bit of a Harrison Ford fan. What can I say? I grew up in the Star Wars era, and as far as I’m concerned Han Solo is the original alpha hero. (Luke was always just a little too prissy for me.)
Sorry, I digress. Back to the interview, which was fascinating. I was impressed with Scott Turow before this, but once I had a chance to research him.. wow! Aside from pioneering an entire genre (the legal thriller) and writing non-fiction, this man also manages to practice law, head ethics committees, serve as president of the Authors Guild, do pro bono work (such as the 1995 case in which he got a wrongfully convicted man who had spent eleven years in prison released from death row)… And that is not even a full list of his accomplishments.
Going into this interview, I was a little intimidated.
But it turns out, along with all his achievements, Scott Turow also happens to be a nice, easy-to-talk-to guy. We had a great conversation about writing, law, film, and yes, the latest adventures of the fictional Rusty Sabich. (Remember the prosecutor framed for murdering his mistress? Remember his diabolical wife?) Well, Rusty is back, and IMHO the sequel is just as enthralling as the original book.
I won’t spoil Innocent for you, but let me leave you with this, the opening scene: Rusty Sabich, now chief judge on an appellate court, sits on a bed with the body of his dead wife, Barbara. She has died under suspicious circumstances….
To see interview, check out the the April issue of RT Book Reviews. (Innocent comes out in May, from Grand Central Publishing). And I don’t always say this about sequels, but in this case, the second book lives up to its predecessor. Innocent is riveting from the very first page.
Are you a Scott Turow fan, too? Have you enjoyed a sequel recently? Leave a comment and get a chance to win a signed copy of my latest release, Untraceable. And thanks for sharing my fun week!
© 2010 Laura Griffin. All rights reserved.
Laura Griffin started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of romantic suspense. Her books have been nominated for numerous awards, including a 2010 RITA (WHISPER OF WARNING) and a 2009 RT Reviewers Choice Award (UNTRACEABLE). Her debut novel, ONE LAST BREATH, won the Booksellers Best Award for romantic suspense. Laura currently lives in Austin, where she is working on the next novel in her popular Tracers series.
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Wow, Laura! How cool is that! I can’t wait to read the interview!
by Debra Webb January 22nd, 2010 at 9:25 amThanks, Debra! I hope you’ll like it. It’s so fun to get to talk to someone whose work you admire.
by Laura Griffin January 22nd, 2010 at 9:41 amOh, Laura, I am so utterly envious! But thrilled for you, too. I think Turrow is such a fine writer. I’m curious — what question did you ask that surprised him?
by toni mcgee causey January 22nd, 2010 at 10:57 amHi Toni,
by Laura Griffin January 22nd, 2010 at 11:46 amYes, it was a fun interview! I’m not sure if anything surprised him, but maybe that I wanted to hear about some of his legal background and not just his writing. A lot of readers may not be aware that he’s a practicing lawyer and has racked up lots of accomplishments besides being a best selling author.
What a great interview to do. I am so looking forward to Turow’s book. What was you favorite answer he gave (to something other than a Harrison Ford question?)
by GSM January 22nd, 2010 at 11:24 amGood question! I’m not sure what my favorite answer was. But I really do hope you’ll look for his book. I couldn’t put it down. I also just re-read Presumed Innocent, too, and was impressed all over again.
by Laura Griffin January 22nd, 2010 at 11:48 amHi Laura
by RKCharron January 22nd, 2010 at 11:51 amWow. To be able to talk with & interview Scott Turow. Wow.
Thank you for sharing!
It was certainly fun. I’ve always liked that game “If you could have dinner with anyone…?” because I love interviewing people. Thanks for stopping by MSW.
by Laura Griffin January 22nd, 2010 at 12:29 pmCongratulations Laura on meeting and interviewing someone who had an influence on your writing. I often enjoy the original story more than the sequel but this sounds like an exception.
by Maureen January 22nd, 2010 at 12:02 pmThanks, Maureen! I usually like originals best, too. This time it was interesting to reconnect with characters from the first story, especially since many years have passed. For example, the son in the story is all grown up and a major character.
by Laura Griffin January 22nd, 2010 at 12:28 pmSeriously cool when you find out the writers/people you admire deserve the admiration, huh?
Can’t wait to read the article and kudos to you
by Lori Armstrong January 22nd, 2010 at 12:35 pmThanks so much, Lori! It’s scheduled for April.
by Laura Griffin January 22nd, 2010 at 12:44 pmLaura, I’m excited to read your interview! I bet Mr. Turow was charmed by you
I’m definitely looking foward to his sequel.
by Jen Lyon January 22nd, 2010 at 1:48 pmThat is pretty cool. I have not read any of his books but I love suspense so will have to check them out.
by Donna S January 22nd, 2010 at 2:12 pmI would have a hard time getting past the Harrison Ford question. I loved the Star Wars movies, the originals, the new ones not so much. I’m glad the interview went well for you.
by HollyD January 22nd, 2010 at 2:54 pmThanks, Jen! It’s a great sequel.
by Laura Griffin January 22nd, 2010 at 3:01 pmHi Holly,
by Laura Griffin January 22nd, 2010 at 3:03 pmYes, Star Wars was an example of a sequel (or prequel, I guess) that fell way short of the mark for me. Great special effects, sure, but I loved those orignal three stories.
Laura, how exciting for you! I can’t wait to read the interview!
by Karin Tabke January 22nd, 2010 at 3:05 pmThanks, Karin! I am still working on it, but I hope it turns out well. April issue of RT!
by Laura Griffin January 22nd, 2010 at 3:06 pmYay! Loved the book and the movie. Why’d he wait sooo long??
by Kendra January 22nd, 2010 at 3:06 pmHi Kendra,
by Laura Griffin January 22nd, 2010 at 3:08 pmI asked something similar, and he told me all about how he got the idea for the story in the second book. Hope you enjoy it like I did!
Dudette! Wow. Can I touch you? You are made of awesome. What a very cool thing to get to do. I would have been dancing around like a fool, too!
by Silver James January 22nd, 2010 at 4:32 pmThanks, Silver! It’s fun to interview someone you look up to professionally. I was psyched.
by Laura Griffin January 23rd, 2010 at 9:21 amI’ve never read Scott Turow, but I do remember watching “Presumed Innocent” years ago. I was shocked at the ending.
by Jane January 22nd, 2010 at 6:05 pmHi Jane,
by Laura Griffin January 23rd, 2010 at 9:23 amIf you want to try his books, you might start with Presumed Innocent. The book is so much richer than the movie (isn’t that often the case?). Anyway, the other thing is that the ending of the story was somewhat different on the big screen than the book. I like the book ending better. More of a suspenseful twist.
Wow, that was HUGE!! Even just getting to read his new book was special. It’s good you didn’t get all star struck and ruin the interview!! LOL!! I love sequels and try to find series reads often. I am not a fan of his, just barely know his name. But, I’m happy for you!! Now, if you ever get to interview Roarke, I’m your new assistant!! Thanks, Sue
by QLady48 January 22nd, 2010 at 6:06 pmHi Sue,
by Laura Griffin January 23rd, 2010 at 9:27 amI love series books, too. Scott Turow has an interesting way of doing it. Many of his stories are set in the fictional Kindle County. The characters overlap in many books, but it’s not like a series where you have to read them all in order. If you are a library person, the chronological series can be frustrating because you go to check out the next book and of course it’s not there. Love Robb’s In Death series, by the way.
Damn, am I jealous! I loved, loved, loved PRESUMED INNOCENT. And Star Wars? I’m all over it. I loved Han Solo, loved Luke Skywalker, wanted to be Princess Leia–and Luke was prissy in Episode IV, but I loved his hero’s journey, how he went from whiny teen to hero by Episode VI–I mean confronting Jabba the Hutt on his own turf to rescue Han?
by Allison Brennan January 22nd, 2010 at 6:35 pmHi Allison,
by Laura Griffin January 23rd, 2010 at 9:29 amDidn’t know you were a fellow Star Wars fan. I loved Joseph Campbell’s discussion of Luke as a mythical hero. Made me appreciate George Lucus a lot. And I agree, Luke definitely improved from the whiny teen. (But I still love Han!)
Wow this is something! I bet your were so excited and I am sure you were very very nervous!
by Quilt Lady January 22nd, 2010 at 7:08 pmHi! I wasn’t nervous actually once I got going. I used to interview people all the time as a reporter, and you kind of get in a groove and forget who you’re talking to and just focus on the conversation. It’s fun.
by Laura Griffin January 23rd, 2010 at 9:31 amLaura, I’m about half-way through Untraceable and I adore Alex.
I only like sequels if there is character growth and a new part of the story to tell.
by Jill James January 22nd, 2010 at 7:38 pmHi Jill,
by Laura Griffin January 23rd, 2010 at 9:34 amI’m so glad you’re liking Untraceable! Alex was a fun character to write. Hope you enjoy the end! Yes, I think character growth is important in a series or it gets stale. In romance books, many authors get around this by moving on to a new couple in the next book in a series, so they are shifting the spotlight and doing new character arcs. I admire it when an author can keep the same characters fresh book after book. Kathy Reichs does this, IMHO, in her Bones series.
I’ll never forget reading my first Scott Turow novel. I was on a lunch break from my job, and I ended up sitting in the cafe an extra hour, risking all kinds of trouble for taking the extra time, because I simply could not have put it down. That may quite possibly have sown the seeds of my later desire to write a mystery or thriller myself…
by sophie littlefield January 23rd, 2010 at 1:02 amHi Sophie,
by Laura Griffin January 23rd, 2010 at 9:37 amI can relate to this! He writes a page turner. I stayed up into the wee hours with Innocent this week. But there’s something so fun about being glued to a book, even if you lose some sleep.
Congratulations on interviewing Mr. Turow. How exciting! I also loved his Sandy Stern character. I hope he’s in the sequel.
by kmg January 24th, 2010 at 4:32 pmYes, Sandy Stern is back in the sequel! He has a big role. Enjoy the book!
by Laura Griffin January 24th, 2010 at 11:04 pmFantastic!
by kmg January 26th, 2010 at 9:33 am