Joel Goldman
Biography
Joel Goldman
I started writing
thrillers when one of my then law partners complained to me about
another partner. I told him we should write a murder mystery, kill
the son-of-a-bitch off in the first chapter and spend the rest of
the book figuring out who did it. So, I did and I never looked
back. That was in 1992.
My latest book, The Dead
Man (April 2009), is the second book featuring former FBI
Special Agent Jack Davis following Shakedown (2008). In
Shakedown
Jack’s world is coming apart and there is nothing he can do
about it. One reason is a rare movement disorder that has come out
of nowhere, causing him to shake when he should shoot. It’s
something Jack and I have in common, his story providing me with a
way of understanding mine. The Dead Man continues
Jack’s struggles with the dreams that haunt his past and a
serial killer who makes the worst nightmares come true.
I became a ten-year overnight success with the publication of my
first book, Motion To
Kill, in 2002, introducing trial lawyer Lou Mason. Lou made
his second appearance in 2003’s Edgar® nominated
The Last Witness.
He managed to keep getting in and out of trouble in Cold Truth (2004) and
Deadlocked (2005),
which was nominated for a Shamus award and has been optioned for
film. I retired from my law practice in 2006 and still
haven’t looked back.
I have learned some valuable lessons since I started writing.
First, rewrite, but don't argue, when your mother tells you that
your sex scenes are a little dry. Second, be nice to all your
relatives. You never know when one of them will make a connection
for you leading to a fantastic relationship with an agent. Third,
when friends and strangers ask if they can be in your next book,
tell them yes, so long as they pick one each from these three
categories: hero or villain; living or dead; naked or dressed. I
guarantee you that dead, naked villain will be the most popular
choice.
For those of you interested in the statistical, my wife and I have
three kids, all out in the world happily doing what they want where
they want to do it. We also have two cockapoos, Roxy and Ruby,
sisters born on Valentine's Day that may never grow up. I am a
fourth generation Kansas Citian and am named after my great
grandfather who came to the United States in 1881. Legend has it
that he overheard his parents arranging his marriage and decided to
take his chances in the New World, leaving under cover of darkness.
I don't know whether the story is true but I subscribe to this
quote from one of my favorite movies, The Man Who Shot Liberty
Valance: When legend becomes fact, print the
legend.
Joel Goldman
