I suspect that most successful authors majored in English or literature or journalism while in college. However, many of my favorite writers study other subjects, such as Saul Bellow (anthropology and sociology), Jonathan Franzen (German), Barbara Kingsolver (biology). (Truman Capote didn’t attend college.)
Then there are lawyers. There is a fairly long tradition of barristers writing books, including Henry Fielding (Tom Jones), John Luther Long (Madame Butterfly), John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (The 39 Steps), Erle Stanley Gardner (Perry Mason series), and poet Wallace Stevens. Many current best selling authors are/were attorneys, including David Baldacci, Meg Gardiner, John Grisham, Richard North Patterson, Lisa Scottoline, and Scott Turow.
This shouldn’t be surprising. Law school teaches students to write well using succinct arguments. Practicing attorneys, in efforts to become knowledgeable about their cases, gain a great deal of expertise in areas as diverse as crime, medicine, construction, and accounting. A good litigator is one who can tell an interesting story to a jury while interweaving facts; many will develop their case starting with the preparation of a closing argument, then work backwards.
Deron Hicks has become a part of this tradition. Hicks received a BFA (painting) from the University of Georgia and his J.D. from Mercer University. He practiced law in Columbus and was appointed by Governor Deal to the post of State Inspector General last year, where Hicks is responsible for investigating allegations of fraud and corruption in the Executive Branch.
He is also the author of a new children’s book. Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave, Hicks’ first novel, is being launched at this year’s Decatur Book Festival. Superbly written, plenty of action, a bright and inquisitive 12-year-old girl protagonist, and lots of literary flair, this book can be recommended to pretty much any kid in the 8-13 range. It strikes me as a great read-along as well. The book features beautiful illustrations by Georgia artist Mark Edward Geyer.
For the First Time Anywhere
Deron Hicks
Decatur Book Festival
Children’s Stage
Sunday, September 2nd at 5:15 pm
Professionals from unexpected backgrounds can write as well. Tess Gerritsen, M.D., began writing when on maternity leave from her job as a physician. She is best known for penning two handfuls of Rizzoli & Isles books about a homicide detective and a medical examiner, which have been turned into a television series on TNT. Her newest, Rizzoli & Isles: Last to Die, comes out later this month.
Gerritsen will be sharing the stage at DBF with author Kathy Reichs, who holds a Ph.D. in physical anthropology. Her fascinatingly varied professional work led to her becoming a writer, best known for her Bones crime novel series, which has led to a television series by that name on Fox. (Reichs serves as a producer.) Her newest, Bones Are Forever, comes out later this month.
This event will be moderated by Decatur’s own Amanda Kyle Williams, who has held about as many different jobs as I have. Her second novel, Stranger in the Room, comes out later this month! Her Keye Street character holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Georgia State. Amanda will be making her own appearance at the festival as well.
Deadly Combo: Blockbusters from Page to Screen
Tess Gerritsen
Kathy Reichs
moderated by Amanda Kyle Williams
Decatur Book Festival
First Baptist Decatur Sanctuary Stage
Sunday, September 2nd at 2:30 pm
Thrill Me with Your Best Shot
Chelsea Cain
Nora McFarland
Amanda Kyle Williams
moderated by Georgia Center for the Book’s Joe Davich
Decatur Book Festival
First Baptist Decatur Sanctuary Stage
Saturday, September 1st at 1:45 pm
Update
I wrote about the Rock Bottom Remainders here a number of weeks ago. While wrapping up their existence, the band played on the Craig Ferguson Show. Here’s a clip of that performance on YouTube.
This Week
Josh Russell, author of A True History of the Captivation, Transport to Strange Lands, & Deliverance of Hannah Guttentag, Tuesday, August 14th, 7:15pm, Decatur Library, sponsored by Georgia Center for the Book, free.
A surprising number of writers are physicians as well–Walker Percy, Ferrol Sams, Abraham Verghese, Chekov, Maimonides, Rabelais, William Carlos Williams, Dr. Seuss.
When I was a kid, Dr. Seuss operated on my oobleck when I had an inflamed wumbus.
I’ve read several of Kathy Reich’s novels, and I eventually just stopped enjoying them. The problem is, her protagonist, Temperance Brennan, is an extremely smart person who makes the dumbest choices, and always ends up in trouble. I mean, after about the fifth book or so, where yet another boneheaded decision (pun intended) puts her in peril, you’d think she’d have learned…
It’s like watching a cliched horror flick. The characters should KNOW not to go alone into that dark room with the weird noises…
And why am I so intent on using ellipses?
…
Even though, as Dave says, it shouldn’t be surprising that lawyers are occasionally able to write books, I must confess that I am surprised.
It has been my experience that lawyers, no doubt capable of sustained concentration, are nevertheless so full of overheated vapor molecules (hot air), only a foolhardy publisher would dare to incur the expense of turning on the printing press for them.
Of course it is unnecessary to touch on the subject of lawyers’ reputation for straying from the truth. Whether or not the reputation is deserved, we know that books cannot be expected to contain the truth all of the time. A publisher must consider revenue at some point.
When it comes to the author that Dave mentions, I’m sure an appointee of Governor Deal may be excepted.
Wink wink to all,
a Former Member of the Bar