We sat down with author Scott Benkie to talk about everything from the writing, law, and his book The Lawyer’s Angel. The Lawyer’s Angel is a thought-provoking, hopeful tale of an attorney’s journey to rediscover the power of truth and justice.
These are a few of the questions of readers wanted to know…
How many books have you written and which is your favorite? This is my first book, and I am a third of the way through the second book in the series.
What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing? The middle of the book is the most difficult because you want to maintain a good pace and keep the reader interested, but also develop the plot and characters into the ending.
What part of the book was the most fun to write? The ending
Which of the characters do you relate to the most and why? The protagonist, James Crosson, is the attorney. I am a trail lawyer and so we write what we know. There are some similarities between Crosson’s journey and my own.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it? I have started a sequel with Crosson as the protagonist and with a continuation of some aspects of the first book.
What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft? I originally handwrote the book on legal pads, and it was 600-plus pages long. I retyped the entire book and made substantial edits over time.
What perspectives or beliefs have you challenged with this work? How does God intervene in our world and how is it determined when justice prevails.
What inspired the idea for your book? I wanted to explore the theme of spiritual redemption, and how our lives may be sculpted by divine intervention.
How would you describe your book’s ideal reader? My ideal reader would be those who are fascinated and intrigued by the fallibility of the judicial system and the pursuit of justice, and how the eternal shapes that pursuit and the destiny of one man.
How much research did you need to do for your book? Some research on architecture and the 1918 Spanish flu.
How important was professional editing to your book’s development? I did use a professional editor, Robbie Tucker, who lives and works in New York City as recommended by Charles Salzburg, “Canary in the Coal Mine.” Robbie did a great job scrutinizing every sentence.
What was your hardest scene to write, and why? There were several scenes where the reader must imagine and decide what the character is experiencing.
What characters in your book are most similar to you or to people you know? Many of the characters share the personality traits of people I know or knew.
How long did it take you to write this book? Over 10 years.
How did you come up with the title for your book? I think we all seek a glimpse of the eternal to know that our lives have meaning. This belief inspired the title.
Would you and your main character get along? Yes
If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them? Good luck
Connect with Scott
Website https://scottallenbenkiebooks.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/scottallenbenkie/
Twitter https://twitter.com/ScottABenkie
