13 Hillcrest Drive

Novelists are often questioned about the origins of their ideas. In reality, an idea strong enough to inspire a novel can emerge from various sources, such as a magazine or newspaper article, or something someone said or did. For instance, the idea for my novel "Paramour" originated from a case I investigated during my tenure as a Secret Service agent. Similarly, "Shakedown" was inspired by a criminal who divulged his secrets to me while I was working undercover on a counterfeiting investigation.

‘13 Hillcrest Drive’ resulted from a conversation I had with a Hollywood private investigator telling me that every celebrity he knew had been forced to pay a blackmail demand. Familiar with the movie business, I certainly was aware movie stars were targeted by extortionists. But the comment got me thinking. A few days later, I began outlining the novel.