Ask the Author: Richard Simon
Answered Questions (10)
Richard Simon
I would say the Silverstrand Beach serial arson case. In the mid 90's a series of fires were being set to cars, trash cans and even a house in the " the Strand" we became aware of a female suspect from a tip from her father that everywhere they lived there would be fires on the street until they moved and the fires would stop. After she moved from Silverstrand the fires stopped there. Another fire started in her new neighborhood and a neighbor saw her run through the gate into her own backyard from where the fire was. Based on that we charged with that arson and all the Silverstrand fires. I wanted to get all the fires throughout her life into evidence and all the prosecutors who taught evidence said no chance a judge will allow that but the judge did and she was found guilty of all counts.
Other cases were Joseph DeAngelo, the Golden State killer. Tony Garcia who raped and murdered two young women in the 80's and was only caught recently due to advances in DNA technology. While pending trial he was beaten to death by another inmate
Other cases were Joseph DeAngelo, the Golden State killer. Tony Garcia who raped and murdered two young women in the 80's and was only caught recently due to advances in DNA technology. While pending trial he was beaten to death by another inmate
Richard Simon
I would say the Silverstrand Beach serial arson case. In the mid 90's a series of fires were being set to cars, trash cans and even a house in the " the Strand" we became aware of a female suspect from a tip from her father that everywhere they lived there would be fires on the street until they moved and the fires would stop. After she moved from Silverstrand the fires stopped there. Another fire started in her new neighborhood and a neighbor saw her run through the gate into her own backyard from where the fire was. Based on that we charged with that arson and all the Silverstrand fires. I wanted to get all the fires throughout her life into evidence and all the prosecutors who taught evidence said no chance a judge will allow that but the judge did and she was found guilty of all counts.
Other cases were Joseph DeAngelo, the Golden State killer. Tony Garcia who raped and murdered two young women in the 80's and was only caught recently due to advances in DNA technology. While pending trial he was beaten to death by another inmate
Other cases were Joseph DeAngelo, the Golden State killer. Tony Garcia who raped and murdered two young women in the 80's and was only caught recently due to advances in DNA technology. While pending trial he was beaten to death by another inmate
Richard Simon
I'd go back to 1910 and get myself an Honus Wagner baseball card then go back to present day and sell it.
Richard Simon
I just finished a science fiction novel by Andy Weir called Project Hail Mary and I'm waiting for Michael Connelly's next book
Richard Simon
Many of the cases I handle as a homicide prosecutor could make and maybe will make a good plot for a future novel
Richard Simon
I have not experienced it yet as I am a first-time author. Having said that, when I do experience it, I will take breaks, and go through my notes of personal experience to add to the story. I will also research and talk to experts in the field I am writing in to run ideas by them.
Richard Simon
If you are writing fiction you can make up characters, events and stories and not be lying. You can create characters that the readers care about and you can create suspense where the readers develop emotions for those characters and root for things to happen for or against them. You can share your personal experiences and life lessons that you have learned by adapting your fiction to real events that have shaped you.
Richard Simon
Write about what you know. Remember funny things that happen and jot them down somewhere as they can be included in your next novel. If you are proud of your career and you want to write an autobiography, don't. Make it fiction and change things and names. Unless you are Britney Spears or Lebron James or someone equally famous, nobody but your closest friends and family are reading it. If you are a beat cop turned detective and you have good stories write fiction and not an autobiography.
Richard Simon
I am working on a second Novel with many of the same characters from the first one.
Richard Simon
When I have a good story to tell I want to share it. My goal is for people to enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Richard Simon
I thought of the idea about ten years ago and got really positive feedback from people I ran the story by. I was going to wait until I retired because of heavy workload as an active homicide prosecutor but when Covid shutdowns occurred I decided that was a good time. The story is based in part on years of experience as a prosecutor in homicides, arsons and domestic violence.
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