Interview With Author Steve Scarborough
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a retired forensic scientist, fingerprint and crime scene expert, with more than 35 years’ experience in law enforcement with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (yes The CSI) and the FBI. I am an accomplished technical writer with 20 articles in trade magazines and professional journals, including Getting the Forensic Facts Right for The Writer. I have delved into various writing projects, 2 humor books, Not Tonight Dear, I Have a Computer, and the Hired Defense Witness Jokebook. A murder mystery novel, Scraffito, set in Costa Rica, which won an award by the Police Writers Assoc. and two non-fiction books on forensic science. Last year, Genius Books published a true crime book, True Crime in Real Time.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
True Crime in Real Time was inspired by my true crime obsession that has me reviewing all the evidence from a police perspective. I would use certain crime scene investigations like OJ, Jon Benet, and Anthony cases to help me fall asleep at night by walking through the investigation. So I gathered a lot of research, discovered some interesting historical crimes and put it all together in TCRT.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I usually write in manic periods and put the book together in just a few months.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
In Cold Blood, definitely. The Alienist, by Carr, Suspicions of Mr. Whicher, Devil in the White City.
What are you working on now?
I have an upcoming book, A Juror’s Handbook of Lawyers’ Dirty Tricks, which should be out in 2025. My project for next year is a book challenging Innocence Project campaigns, The Innocence Machine. A screenplay and a WWII short story about D-Day. I also read a lot about WWII.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Great question. I really don’t know, but I have a lot of law enforcement on LinkedIn and that has given me a lot of good feedback.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do your research and just put it all together not worrying about perfection or even pretty good. Just get it all down and then go back and rewrite and correct as many times as you need.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Forget about the big 5, you ain’t gonna get picked by them. Also trying for an agent might not be the best avenue for you, go directly to small publishers.
What are you reading now?
A Serial Killer in Nazi Berlin, Last Days of Night, and Sherlock Holmes and the Last Mutineer.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More projects. My time in the FBI in the 70’s, a buddy adventure screenplay…
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Probably nothing famous, but Sherlock Holmes books, WWII books, and books about science.
Author Websites and Profiles
Steve Scarborough Amazon Profile
Steve Scarborough’s Social Media Links
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