Click Here To Purchase Under Fire

Author: Margaret McLean

ISBN: 978-0-7653-2814-4

Publisher: Forge (A Tom Doherty Associates Book)

Today, Norm Goldman Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is excited to have as our guest Margaret McLean, author of Under Fire. Margaret graduated from Boston Law School and practiced law as a criminal prosecutor and currently teaches law at Boston College's Carroll School of Management.

Norm: 

I noticed from reading the inside cover of Under Fire that in 2010 you were hailed as one of the next faces of Boston crime fiction by the Boston Globe. How does it feel to receive such a compliment?

Margaret:

I was flattered to receive such a compliment and full page spread from the Boston Globe. The feature ran following the death of Boston author, Robert B. Parker, who is famous for the Spenser novels. Like Parker, my novels are set in Boston with conflicted detectives and a wily old  Irish criminal defense lawyer, Buddy Clancy, who teams up with his niece, Sarah Lynch. My characters and their stories are pulled right from the streets of Boston and tossed into the mix of a courtroom drama and legal thriller. 

Norm: 

Why were you interested in becoming a criminal prosecutor?

Margaret:

As a young girl, I fell in love with the law by watching Perry Mason episodes on television.  I viewed the courtroom as an intellectual stage.  After law school, the DA's office provided me with the best trial experience.  I started out in a high crime area, and was thrown into the fire with all kinds of cases and issues involving constitutional law.  The criminal courts are also teeming with colorful characters to write about.

Norm: 

How did you get started in writing? What keeps you going?

Margaret: 

I've always had a passion for reading and writing.  I wrote my first book in college based on the life of the Russian novelist, Feodor Dostoevsky. Meeting people from all walks of life and writing about their unique stories keeps me going.  I also get energized from readers who tell me I've kept them up all night and ask when the next one is coming out.   

Norm: 

What was your creative process like when you authored Under Fire? What happened before you sat down to write the book? Did you write from your own experiences?

Margaret:

As a prosecutor, I tried arson cases with the Massachusetts State Police fire investigators and canine handlers.  Arson cases are difficult to prosecute: key evidence is often destroyed in the fire.  Thus, I combined several real cases and decided to create a compelling courtroom drama out of them.  Before I sat down to write Under Fire, my friends in law enforcement helped me with the forensics research.  They conducted a live burn, fire investigation, and a mock trial based on the facts of the book.  I even suited up to fight the fire!

Norm: 

Did you know the end of your book at the beginning? As a follow up, what is the most favorite part of your book?

Margaret:

I had an idea how I wanted the book to end and I stuck with it for the most part.  My novels follow the structure of a trial from opening statement to verdict; however, I like to weave a face-paced thriller subplot to take the readers out of the courtroom.  Sometimes I don't know where the subplot will lead me.  My favorite parts of the book are the dramatic courtroom cross-examination scenes.

Norm: 

What is required for a character to be believable? How did you create your principal characters in Under Fire?

Margaret:

I have to know my characters inside and out.  The protagonist, Sarah Lynch, has a bit of me in her.  She's a former gang unit prosecutor and aggressive trial lawyer.  Buddy Clancy is based on a crafty criminal defense lawyer I used to try cases against.  These characters have taken on a life of their own at this point.  Clancy can write himself.   

Norm: 

What is your secret in keeping the intensity of the plot throughout the narrative of Under Fire?

Margaret:

I outline the plot before I get started, and as I write each chapter, I keep Stephen King in mind.  In his book, On Writing, he says you have to have "the gotcha."  So, I ask myself, does this chapter make the reader want to keep reading until the wee hours of the morning?  Does it have "the gotcha?"

Norm: 

Do you believe you have already found “your voice” or is that something one is always searching for?

Margaret:

I've found my voice in the legal thriller genre through Sarah Lynch and Buddy Clancy.  However, I'd like to explore options outside the genre someday.  I've always been interested in historical fiction.

Norm: 

What makes a good legal thriller?

Margaret:

Readers must be entertained, but also walk away thinking about some of the key legal and/or constitutional issues that confront Americans today. For example, Under Fire delves into the misuse of eminent domain, and the greed behind certain lucrative real estate development projects. I like to expose both sides of a case, and persuade my readers to open their minds, and view certain issues from a different angle. 

Norm: 

It is said that writers should write what they know. You clearly know about criminal law. Were there any elements of the book that forced you to step out of your comfort zone, and if so, how did you approach this part of the writing?

Margaret:

Yes.  Under Fire features a Muslim immigrant woman standing trial for arson and the murder of a heroic firefighter.  I had to go out into the community and find a Muslim woman, which seemed daunting at first.  I didn't know any.  So, I asked around and a friend introduced me to a lovely Muslim immigrant from Senegal.  I spent a summer getting to know her and learning all about her experience as an immigrant, her religion, and culture, which greatly enriched the novel.  This experience turned out to be my favorite part of the writing process.

Norm: 

In fiction as well as in non-fiction, writers very often take liberties with their material to tell a good story or make a point. But how much is too much?

Margaret:

I'm an avid reader and sometimes I'll put a book down when it becomes too contrived.  That's why I like to base my novels on actual cases. Joining a writers' group and reading sections out loud as you go is very helpful.  If I go over the top, my writers' group will tell me, and I'll re-write the chapter. Sometimes we'll have a good laugh at the crazy ideas.

Norm: 

What is next for Margaret McLean?

Margaret:

Under Oath, another legal thriller, is hitting bookstores in April!

Norm: 

Where can our readers find out more about you and your book(s) and is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?

Margaret:

My WEBSITE.  I encourage readers to contact me through the website if they have any feedback or questions about the writing process.  Thank you for interviewing me and enjoy the books! 

Click Here To Read Norm's Review of Under Fire

Click Here To Purchase Under Fire