I also try to stay away from the Perry Mason type of lawyer, even though I really enjoy the Perry Mason novels. My lawyers have real problems and are not perfect. Most of my fictional lawyers have character flaws. However, the lawyers in my books are normal, decent people who may act heroically or badly in specific circumstances.
What process do you go through between getting an idea for a novel and handing in a finished draft?
It usually takes me a few years between the time I get an idea for a book and the time I actually finish a novel. I usually get an idea but cannot figure out how to create a complete book from it. I forget about the idea for a while. Then a second idea comes into my head and I realize at some point that I can put it together with the first idea and create a whole book.
I won't start writing until I have figured out the ending of the book. I have to know who the bad guy is and what clue trips him up. Once I have my ending, I write an extensive outline that details all the plot twists and where the clues and red herrings are going to be inserted in the plot. It then takes me six to eight months to write a first draft of the book. My first draft is usually pretty bad. I spend four to six months of intense editing getting the book into final shape.
Do you have any favorite courtroom thrillers?
There are several excellent courtroom thrillers. Among my favorites are Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution, Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent, and Anatomy of a Murder by Robert Traver.
About the Author
PHILLIP MARGOLIN's compelling insider's view of criminal behavior comes from his unique background as a longtime criminal defense attorney. Each of his seven novels has been a New York Times bestseller. He lives in Portland, Oregon.
