David C.Trimble
David
C.Trimble
is an attorney
and litigator in private
practice in Lexington, Kentucky. He has
previously published a biography of a Civil
War ancestor and is a weekly columnist for
his hometown newspaper, The Georgetown
News-Graphic, focusing his attention on
political and economic issues. Lest Ye Be
Judged is his first novel.
Books-And-Authors.net:
Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your
life? Who were your earliest influences and why?
David C.
Trimble:
I grew up all
over Ohio, Virginia, and Kentucky. My father worked for CSX
Railroad and they had the habit of moving us every four years for
him to straighten things out in the next trouble spot.
My sister taught
me to read when I was about four years old, so I guess it is pretty
clear she was an early influence in putting me on the track to love
books. My “head start” came in the day before pre-school and
kindergarten programs were de rigeur so I was ahead of my
classmates from the beginning in my ability to read and to
comprehend what I’d read. So, reading was rewarding in the academic
sense.
But, I was a
voracious reader, particularly anything to do with history, and
remain so to this day. I have always been able to vividly visualize
what I read and books are a wonderful way to escape everyday life
and enter another world, if even for a few minutes. It saddens me
that now one in four Americans do not read at least one book per
year – they are missing a great experience.
I’m not really
sure when the writing bug caught on with me but it probably came
much later, even in college, when I found out I could write things
that entertained people.
Books-And-Authors.net:
Why do you write?
David
C. Trimble:
Good question.
I find it very fulfilling to be able to create something that people
will read and enjoy, or at least be stimulated. I write a regular
newspaper opinion column and have a blog, and the most fun for me is
when people say “I read that” and it either prompted them to think,
or take a position, whether they agree with me or not.
Writing novels
is a big step beyond this. My real love in writing is to tell a
story that holds the imagination and engages the reader, right to
the very end. I like to create twists and turns, and misdirection,
to keep the reader thinking and questioning where we are going. As
I write, because I do not write to a strict outline, I enjoy a very
similar experience to reading a good book – my characters begin to
take life and lead me to places I may not have planned. I get
involved in the story and cannot wait to get back to the word
processor to see where we go next.
Fun;
fulfillment; able to utilize a skill I have to entertain and bring
enjoyment to others.
Books-And-Authors.net:
In your new book, "Lest Ye Be Judged", your plot is original and
rich in history and religion. Discuss your interest and personal
influence from both that helped develop the structure and style of
this book? How much research did you do?
David C.
Trimble:
The influence of history is probably the most significant
influence. As I said before, history has been one of my biggest
interests in life. While I am primarily a student of American
history and particularly the War Between the States, all history is
of interest. I have had a long fascination with England, and King
Henry VIII, founder of the Anglican Church, is one of the most
compelling figures. My wife and I have traveled in England and were
able to visit several of the major scenes of Henry’s life including
Hampton Court and The Tower of London.
I grew up a
Methodist, a church which has its roots in the Wesleys and England,
then married into the Episcopal Church about 15 years ago. With my
interest in history, it was natural for me to inquire into the
history of the Episcopal Church and its antecedent the Church of
England.
The book itself
was influenced by the success of books such as The DaVinci Code and
others set within the Catholic Church. While the Anglican Church
and its constituent parts have not been around as long, it is still
a church with a rich and fascinating history, in that it was the
religion carried to the four corners of the world by English
explorers in the 16th, 17th, 18th
and 19th centuries. With the current controversies which
threaten to tear the church apart, the existence of conflict was
readily present, and it offered a compelling backdrop against which
to create a fictional murder mystery.
A lot of
research went into LYBJ even as a work of fiction. I am convinced
that good fiction must be based in fact and was determined to have
the details of the case, the investigation, and the trial be as
accurate as possible.
I did much more
detailed research into the history of the Church of England and the
Episcopal Church to be able to use it in background and
scene-setting. Some of the character names are references to
historical figures in the church. I consulted with cradle
Episcopalians and a former Episcopal priest extensively in details
of literally everything you read about how the church does things.
I stayed up on the current controversies by reading many, many blogs
from both sides of the fight and educating myself as well as a
“transplant” Methodist could on the theological differences.
The forensics in
the book were hugely assisted by a friend who is an anthropology
major and who is fascinated with forensics. She directed me to many
websites and books to find out how to describe a body found in a
pool, and the autopsy process. These resources were invaluable in
getting the forensics right.
The legal
settings, of course, come from my own experience and from the
experience of my brother-in-law, who practiced criminal law for a
number of years.
Books-And-Authors.net:
Explain your title, "Lest Ye Be Judged", as it
represents the plot.
David C.
Trimble:
The title was suggested by my wife very late in the publishing
process. No one who had read the manuscript was happy with the
working title, which I will not disclose. We were kicking around
things about the book, about how the principal characters were all
guilty of being judgmental about one another yet all of them ended
up paying for it in the end, and Corinne said, “judge not lest ye be
judged.” We cut that down to the shorter, sharper phrase, played
with it on some mock covers, rolled it around in our heads, and it
worked.
Books-And-Authors.net:
Discuss your experience as a trial litigator and how your career
help write "Lest Ye Be Judged" - especially as it relates to
forensics.
David C.
Trimble:
The biggest help from being a litigator that helped in writing this
novel is my ability to see the whole picture and how facts fit
together to tell a story. To try a case I must pull together
various witnesses and their testimony, and exhibits, to present an
overall story to a jury. I must see how these diverse elements fit
into the theme I want the jury to get. I must also be able to see
inconsistencies and work on them. So, in writing a novel, as a
litigator I could recall when a character had done something which
was inconsistent with something else, so I could go back and make
things fit. I had an overall sense of where the book was going,
even though I don’t outline, and was able to stay true to the theme.
Otherwise,
obviously my trial experience let me give the reader a peek inside
the attorney’s minds as the legal procedures progressed to trial,
and then the trial itself. The best example of this is the chapter
where they are waiting while the jury deliberated. I do not know of
any book where an author has looked at this very difficult time,
when you have done all you can do and twelve people are deciding
your fate. It is nerve wracking, and I tried to portray that time
when everyone is on pins and needles and second-guessing the whole
process.
The forensic
aspects I mentioned before. I did considerable research and reading
to be able to be completely accurate, not only to portray them the
way they really are, but also to be able to fit them into the legal
process as evidence of the murder and who had committed it. With
the popularity of the CSI shows, people have come to expect this
sort of technical detail, and I did not think this story could be
told without it.
Books-And-Authors.net:
If Hollywood called and asked you to cast "Lest Ye Be Judged", who
would your lead actors be and why?
David
C. Trimble:
My family has
actually had this discussion when we get a little giddy about the
book, and there is little consensus, especially on the main
characters. But since this is my interview, I will tell you my
picks, which assume an unlimited budget.
John Malkovich
would be Bishop Mitchell; he is a great character actor and can play
evil really well. Gary Oldman would be another good possibility.
Harrison Ford
is my pick for Judge Chancellor.
Annette Benning
is Louellen Chancellor – the epitome of cool class.
Matt Damon is
Gary Reese because our older daughter has a crush on him.
Ashley Judd is
Dr. Tracy MacAllen, and the reason I will be on the set every day.
Charlize Theron
is Sam Seabury and another reason I will hang around the set.
Cuba Gooding,
Jr. is Ron Gaither – he has been strong in several dramatic roles.
Jake Gyllenhall
is Jonathan Woodside
David Strathairn
is Denton Tomlinson
Sela Ward is
Constance Tomlinson
Bette Midler is
Mary Karen McGargle
Katherine Heigl
is Erin Hartley
Henry Thomas is
Fr. Anson Roark
Joanne Woodward
is Ellen McGavock
John Lithgow is
the Presiding Bishop
Chris Cooper is
Kevin Kingsford
Kathy Bates is
Alice Ann Kingsford
Kathleen Quinlan
is Gloria VanDuyck
Jennifer Love
Hewitt is Lt. Elaine Golden
Scott Glenn is
Fr. Jamison
Joan Allen is
Rev.Sandra Martin
Books-And-Authors.net:
What did you learn from writing In your new book, "Lest
Ye Be Judged"?
David
C. Trimble:
I don’t know where to start. Everything.
Probably the
single biggest thing I learned was how to write dialogue and make it
sound real as well as drive plot with it. My earlier efforts were
pretty stilted and did not sound “like people talk.” As I got
further into writing I started to hear the character’s voices and
learned to put down on paper what they were saying in my mind. By
the end I think I have gotten pretty good with dialogue and
especially so in driving the plot with it.
The next thing
was the proper amount of scene-setting. It is a delicate balance
between not giving the reader a mental picture of the scene they are
in, versus droning on ad nauseum to the point where the
storyline is lost.
Books-And-Authors.net:
What's next?
David
C. Trimble:I
am going to keep writing. I am very well along with another novel
named “Breach of Trust” which is another murder mystery set in
Kentucky state government. I think my third one will return to the
Episcopal Church.
Books-And-Authors.net:
What was the last book you read?
David C.
Trimble:
I am working my way through Vince Flynn’s
books right now. I just finished “Executive Power” and am
reading “Term Limits.” I found out “Term Limits” was originally
self-published by Mr. Flynn and I have taken inspiration from his
career path.
Books-And-Authors.net:
Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your
writing?
David C.
Trimble: A
lot of people would say I have too many hobbies, especially since I
think they consider this writing a hobby at least at this stage.
My wife and I
both are Civil War reenactors, and ride with the 4th
Kentucky Cavalry. We also portray Maj. Gen. Isaac Ridgeway Trimble
and his wife, Anne, with a group who portray “Lee’s Lieutenants”, a
group of Confederate general officers. This is a very
time-consuming and expensive hobby, but one which takes my life-long
love of history to new lengths. I tell people that I’ve read the
books and toured the battlefields, but reenacting is learning it
from the inside out.
I also like to
cook. I have a small side business with my son-in-law called Dinner
for Eight, in which we prepare gourmet dinners in the home for small
groups. We try to put on quite a show with it and have had a lot of
fun, although not that much business to date.
I think
everything I do in life enhances my writing. The more experiences I
have to draw on, the better job I can do telling a story that will
ring true with readers. These hobbies are rich sources of ideas,
characters, and background material that becomes useful in one way
or another.
