Biography
Robert Longstaff is the author of the Halls of Justice series, including the chilling debut, Valley of Shadows.
A native of Southern California who received his law degree at the University of San Diego, he has been a trial attorney for over 30 years and has served as a temporary judge in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Robert’s family has served in almost every branch of the military and as first responders for decades. These experiences fill his writings with authenticity and purpose, revealing the thoughts and feelings of these men and women in the criminal justice system.
Married since 1990, Robert and his wife have three grown children, including a law student, a former EMT and 911 dispatcher, and a law enforcement officer. In addition to being a prolific writer, he has been active in vocational programs for disabled adults, as well as several youth music and sports programs, in his local community.
For me, writing suspense is like building a rollercoaster.
There should be fast parts and slow parts, steep climbs and breath-taking drops, with plenty of twists and turns before the final plunge.
Action drives the plot and must be very visual. The reader must “see” the events for the plot to unfold. Action scenes are the “fast part” of the ride.
Dialogue shows character and must “sound” right. Each character has his/her speech patterns and point of view, often based on his/her past experiences. Dialogue is often a “slow part” of the story, with humor giving the reader a brief rest before the next action scene.
Each major character, good and bad, must have an arc: heroes overcome challenges to become better people (an upward arc) and villains become more depraved (a downward arc). These are the twists and turns that move the plot forward to the end of the ride.
Luckily, I have been surrounded by strong men and women throughout my life so writing heroes is easy. I have also known many troubled people, who have their own strengths and unique outlook. All characters need to be understood and respected for being complex beings who evolve during the course of the story.
Finally, I am able to include countless memories from my marriage and family life, from working as a lawyer and living beside law enforcement officers, from celebrations and from funerals.
Ultimately, every page counts. Every page is another link in the track for our rollercoaster. Some pages are bumpy, some are smooth, but each page drives us to the next chapter and the next dramatic scene.
Writing Style
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