James L’Etoile didn’t need to binge watch Law and Order episodes to write expertly about crime and criminal justice, he spent a career seeing it firsthand. Anthony and Lefty Award nominated-author L’Etoile spent more than two decades in law enforcement, working as an associate warden at a maximum-security prison, a hostage negotiator, and director of California’s state parole system. Thanks for joining us today Jim!

1. Please tell us about your debut novel.

My first major traditionally published novel was At What Cost, a police procedural diving into the world of black market organ transplants. Detective John Penley is hunting a serial killer who appears to be selling the organs from his victims on the black market. Penley's son needs a kidney transplant, so the detective is faced with a moral dilemma—does he pursue the killer and bring him to justice, or does he make a deal with the killer to get the organ his son needs to survive.

2. I’ve read that only 4% of the people who start a novel, finish writing it. Why do you think you beat the odds?

I can be pretty stubborn—so that might play into it. But, I think the biggest contributing factor is making time to write a priority. A schedule helps keep me on track. I find if I treat writing as a commitment you make to yourself—things get done. And you have to love what you’re doing.

3. Was your debut novel the first book you wrote?  (Any prior efforts hiding on your hard drive?)

Before At What Cost, I did complete a couple of manuscripts. It was part of learning what works and what doesn’t—mostly doesn’t. They are forever entombed in my bottom drawer.

4. What helped you become a better writer? Any books or resources you found helpful?

Every author’s writing process is different. Finding out what works for you is really important. There are tons of resource material out there; Stephen King, Hallie Ephron, Elizabeth George, Elena Taylor, to name just a few. But pulling out the nuggets from these and dozens of other resources to apply them to your process is harder than it sounds. Jeffery Deaver is a hard core outliner, with 140 page outlines. Hank Phillippi Ryan is an organic writer who doesn’t know the ending, or who the killer is when she begins. They are both great approaches, the trick is finding what works for you.

5. What was your process like getting an agent?

I knew I needed an agent to get a traditional publishing deal for At What Cost. Attending conferences and appropriately pitching agents is more effective than sending off a cold query letter. You get to make a connection with an agent and sometimes that can make the difference. I found my agent at the Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference [editors note: It’s being held this weekend! It’s not too late to sign up!] Elizabeth Kracht was part of an agent panel and I like what she had to say about working with her authors. At one point in the conference, she asked what I was working on and I had my elevator pitch for At What Cost ready. She liked what she heard, asked for the manuscript and a few months later, we inked a deal with a publisher.

6. How did you celebrate when you learned your book would be published?

I probably didn’t take enough time to celebrate. I starting writing another book.

7. What was the most exciting moment involving the publication of your debut novel?  (The moment you first saw the cover? The call when you learned when it was being published? When you cashed your advance check?)

Cashing the advance check was definitely a high point. But, looking back, I think the most exciting (and anxiety-producing) moment was when the publisher wanted a second book in the series.

8. What’s your best advice for someone who wants to be published?

There are so many things to consider. Learning more about the craft of writing by attending conferences like Book Passage and ThrillerFest is important. Put in the work. You also have to realize the publishing business moves at a glacial pace. Patience is a must. The single most important thing is don’t give up—ever. Even if you’ve received a thousand no’s, it only takes one yes from a publisher or agent.

9. What are you currently reading? Or, what's one of the best novels you've read lately?

This is probably something I should have mentioned above. All successful authors read—and read a lot. You read differently as an author. I always learn something. Great reads lately include, Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott, The Rescue by T. Jefferson Parker, and One of Us by J.T. Ellison.

10. What are you working on now?  Any projects coming out soon?

Devil Within comes out July 17th. It’s the sequel to last year’s Anthony and Lefty Award nominated Dead Drop. Devil Within focuses on the complex issues at the border with immigration violence, immigration politics, and who’s really caught in that struggle.

In November, I’m launching the first book in a new series, Face of Greed. It’s a police procedural featuring a female detective who’s a little snarky and sarcastic, so she a blast to write. The story in Face of Greed was inspired by one of the first murder cases I worked on. A home invasion gone bad—what really happened in that home? Secrets will get you killed. You can use this link to pre-order Face of Greed.

To learn more about James L’Etoile and his work, check out his website and follow him on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.