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Bestselling Author James Grippando Rob Holden: James Grippando, welcome to ReadersRoom.com. It's a pleasure to have you with us today. James Grippando: Thanks for having me. Rob Holden: I would like to start this off with your latest novel, Hear No Evil. Could you tell our readers a bit about that? James Grippando: Hear No Evil is the 4th in the series featuring Miami criminal defense lawyer Jack Swyteck. Jack is asked to defend a woman accused of murdering her husband, an officer at the Naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba. It's a timely setting and the military backdrop provides a new adventure for Jack. Rob Holden: The novel spends a great deal of time looking at Cuba --can you tell us a bit about the research you did for that? James Grippando: Miami has a huge Cuban exile community, so the research was practically in my own backyard. Jack is a half-Cuban boy trapped in a gringo's body, so much of the Cuban angle is personal to Jack. He discovers the Cuban mother he never knew (she died in childbirth). I had him go back to Bejucal because that's where my best friend is from. I also did a lot of interviews of military people who have spent time at the naval base in Guantanamo. Rob Holden: I'd like to touch on the military justice angle for a moment -- it was quite a different experience for Jack -- did you know much about it from your own experience before starting the book?

James Grippando: Not at all. That's what makes being a writer so much fun. If I want to learn about astronomy, I create a character who is an astronomer. If I want to learn about military justice, I send Jack to Guantanamo. The trial in Hear No Evil takes place in civilian court, however, so I didn't have to steep myself in the nuances of military justice. It was mostly drawn on my own 12 years of experience as a trial lawyer.

Rob Holden: The novel is now available in hardcover from Harper Collins, correct?

James Grippando: Yes, and so far it's getting the best reviews of any of my nine novels. So maybe I'm finally learning something.

Rob Holden: Let's move back a book to Last to Die -- which is currently out in paperback -- and which got some GREAT reviews too. Could you tell us a bit about that?

James Grippando: The premise for Last to Die is this: What is the meanest thing a dying woman could do to her worst enemies. The answer, strangely enough, is to leave them all her money -- to fight over. Sally Fenning is dying and leaves her $46 million estate to six hears -- people she despises - with one catch: it's not shared equally, but the "last to die" takes all. It's survival of the greediest.

Rob Holden: I normally don't ask this but in the case of Last to Die, I have to -- was it more fun to write than most of your other books? Because of both the premise and how you dealt with it?

James Grippando: It was the most fun I've had with a book, mostly because the relationship between Jack Swyteck and his colorful sidekick, Theo Knight, really clicked in this story. I think the dialogue between them is some of the best I've written. I also think people like "revenge" stories. This is high-stakes, high-concept revenge.

Rob Holden: I'd like to talk about Jack for a moment. He is rather unique among lawyers in "legal thrillers" -- is much of his character based on your own experiences as an attorney?

James Grippando: Jack is real composite. He is like me in some ways, but the most obvious distinction is that he's a terrible judge in women. I've been happily married to the love of my life, and Jack is still searching. But inside the courtroom he is more like me. A little disillusioned, a little overwhelmed at times, but trying to do the right thing.

Rob Holden: He is a very human character, in that he doesn't always have all the answers. I think that's part of what gives him such broad appeal.

James Grippando: Even better, he doesn't pretend to have all the answers. I didn't set out to create a superhero when I created Jack. He has his flaws, like a real person, and he grows with each book. Some authors create characters who never seem to age. Jack ages in real times, and you can see how he grows as a person with each novel. That's fun for me as a writer, and fun for readers, too.

Rob Holden: James, since we announced this chat we've had a lot of questions from our readers, could you answer a few of them for us now?

James Grippando: You bet.

Readersroom4: Jackie J-Millington TN: What did you learn while practicing law, are you incorporating into writting your best selling novels?

James Grippando: I was a trial lawyer, which means you get to see people at their best (such a victim of a crime who has the courage to come forward and identify her accuser) and at the worst (the lying witness). More than the text book angle of the law, I'd say that those experiences with people in a courtroom are the things I draw on most in my writing.

Readersroom4: Ann B- Atlanta, GA: How many cities do you include during the promotion of a new book? What is your favorite part of a book signing?

James Grippando: When my first novel, The Pardon, was published in 1994, I did a national tour. That was the last one I cared to do. A city a day for three weeks. Too much, in my view. I don't like flying. So now we usually pick a specific region of the country for each tour, and I'll hit anywhere from 6 to 12 cities in the Southeast, Northeast, Northwest, whatever. It seems to work better. The thing I like most about the signings is when someone shows up with a stack of books and has driven a 100 or more miles to get them signed. That makes it worthwhile for me.

Readersroom4: Megan G- Colleyville, OH: What is the last New York Times best seller you read? ( book recommendations by great authors are always best).

James Grippando: I'm pretty sure it was NYT bestseller, but I recently read Joseph Finder's Paranoia. Lot's of fun for people who can suspend disbelief.

Readersroom4: Donna S.- Hummelston, PA: After years in law school and practicing for years, how did your family feel about you leaving law and becoming a full time author?

James Grippando: They thought I had lost my marbles. I had worked hard to become a partner in a major law firm, and my first child was born in July 1996. In Sept 1996 I decided to leave the practice of law and write full time. It's worked out to be the best decision I ever made, but my parents still split my life into two distinct periods -- when Jimmy used to have a job, and when Jimmy became a writer.

Readersroom4: Chad R-Vale CO Included on your web site is information about the situation in "Cote D'loire" is there a web site where we can find out more information and perhaps help in some way? Have you visited the region?

James Grippando: I was all set to go there when there was an uprising that made it too dangerous to go. (I took enough chances for a lifetime researching the kidnappings in Colombia for A King's Ransom. There are many websites about child slavery, and amnesty international would be a good place to start.

Rob Holden: And this is our last reader's question.

Readersroom4: Sue K.- Murrells Inlet, SC With little ones at home, have you thought about writing a children's book?

James Grippando: Of course! I've tried my hand at a couple, but I have fallen flat so far. Everyone with children (myself included) thinks they can write a children's book, but it's more difficult than you can imagine. I'll keep at it, though. It took me six years to get my first adult novel published, so why should a children's book be any easier?

Rob Holden: Thanks for answering those. I would like to touch on A King's Ransom for a moment -- and the "chances" you took in your reasearch for that novel. Could you tell is a bit about that?

James Grippando: We started in Nicaragua and were headed for Puerta Cabezas on the Mosquito Coast. Just a few miles from us, gunmen took some Canadian businessmen hostage, and 11 people were killed. That was way too close for comfort, but we continued on our trip. I talked with kidnap victims, their families, trained negotiators. Many people were afraid to talk about the kidnappings for fear of retaliation from the kidnappers. It was about 18 months of research altogether, and much of it was exhausting, involving travel to very remote parts of South and Central America where kidnappings have occurred. I'm not sure I'd do it again in this post 9-11 environment, but I'm proud of the authenticity it lent to my story.

Rob Holden: It certainly made the novel very realistic. James, your books seem as though they would translate very well to the screen. Are there any plans for a movie or television show based on any of your novels?

James Grippando: We've come close to a few movie deals, but it seems that things fall apart in the end. It's very distracting, an emotional roller coaster that can last a weekend or as long as a month as this star says yes, then this director says no, then someone else is interested. Now, I tell my agent to call me when it's time to pop the popcorn.

Rob Holden: Sounds like a great way to be! One of the things our readers who are also writers like to know about is an author's work schedule -- can you tell us a bit about yours?

James Grippando: Contrary to popular belief, finding ideas is not the hard part about being a writing. It's the discipline of sitting down (or in my case, standing, since I have a terrible back) every day and writing. I have a contractual deadline that requires me to produce a book a year, so if I don't stay on schedule, the book will never get published. So I outline for about a month (because my plots are fairly intricate) and then I try to write on average about 10 to 15 pages a week once the real writing starts. I edit as I go along. I give about the first 125 pages to my editor, and if she likes it, I finish the novel, and we usually do 1 or edits before it goes to the copy editor.

Rob Holden: Before we wrap this up, I would like to thank Marie Elena Martinez for all her help in making this happen, and congratulate you on the impending birth of another child!

James Grippando: Yeah, a little girl. It's great. And Marie Elena is the best publicist in the business. I mean that -- I've been with many others.

Rob Holden: So, what is next for James Grippando?

James Grippando: I've just about finished my 10th novel, the 5th in the Jack Swyteck series. It's called Got The Look and will be out either late 2004 or very early 2005.

Rob Holden: And your fans can keep up with your career and developments at your website -- www.jamesgrippando.com?

James Grippando: Yeah, I've just updated it, so there is lots of new information about me and the Jack Swyteck series. There's also a service they subscribe to that will tell them when Got The Look is available. And they can e mail as well.

Rob Holden: Finally James, is there anything you would like to say to your fans who might read this interview at ReadersRoom.com?

James Grippando: I don't take my fans granted, and I do listen them. So I mean it when I say that if there is a character they'd like to see come back in a future book (or, for that matter, a character they'd like to see me kill off), please let me know. I love the give and take, and anyone who invests the time to read one of my books is someone I'm more than willing to listen to.

Rob Holden: James Grippando, thank you for taking the time to chat with us today, and best of luck with Hear No Evil -- and all your upcoming projects!

James Grippando: Thank you. See you with Got The Look.




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