A. In Claim of Innocence, Izzy and her best friend ,Maggie, defend a woman charged with poisoning her own best friend.
Q. What inspired you to write CLAIM OF INNOCENCE?
A. I’m admit I’m sort of marrying my real life with my fictional life in Claim of Innocence. My character, Izzy McNeil, is a redheaded Chicagoan who worked as a civil lawyer most of her career but has fallen into the world of criminal defense. That comes pretty close to my life. I used to be a civil lawyer, defending doctors who were sued. I never thought I’d be working with exonerees. I feel incredibly fortunate.
Q. Where do you do most of your writing?
A. In one of two places: If I’m in Chicago, I write in what the real estate agent grandly called ‘the penthouse room.’ Basically it’s a sunny room off the roof deck. It’s filled with red and white furniture (keeps me awake), a curvy book shelf laden with reference books and a street sign bolted to the wall that reads, STOP HERE ON RED.The other place I love to write is in Long Beach, Indiana, a place of hidden beauty. In the summer, I sit on the deck and am surrounded by a sea of green from all the trees. In the winter, you can find me in front of the fire.
Q. What is your favorite book?
A. That changes all the time. Right now, I’m reading Straight Man by Richard Russo and loving it. And I know many people who had a hard time with Freedom by Jonathan Franzen, but I adored it.
Q. Which part of CLAIM OF INNOCENCE was the most enjoyable to write?
A. I love writing about 26th and Cal, which is the home of Chicago criminal courts and many of its jails. Everyone who has ever been there will tell you that it has the craziest energy—part thrilling, part desperate, part seen-it-all, part wildly optimistic. I like appearing there as a lawyer and I like writing about it too.
Disclaimer: This information was provided to me on behalf of Laura Caldwell.