Author R&R with Richard A. Danzig

Richard A Danzig is an attorney, artist, entrepreneur, and author. He practiced law in New York for over forty years and has represented many prominent clients, in addition to being the founder of the American Paralegal Institute, We The People, a legal document preparation company, and The Law Stores. Richard is also a juried member of of the Spanish Village Artist collective in San Diego, CA., and his artwork has been shown in galleries in the Northeast and California. He recently turned his hand to writing crime fiction with Facts are Stubborn Things (2023) and Punch Line (2024) in a series featuring Chance Cormac, a litigator, boxer, and lapsed Catholic.

The Collectors is the third book in the Cormac legal thriller series and finds Chance being retained by a client who believes he's been the victim of fraud when he purchased a valuable abstract painting that may be a forgery. Chance soon learns both the painting and his client might not be what they seem. Chance is then summoned to Costa Rica to assist his friends Damian and JR who are caught up in the black market of selling human organs—and facing police corruption and danger. But will he be too late to help to save his friends?

Richard Danzig stops by In Reference to Murder to talk about writing and researching the book:

 

Good authors seem to have lived many lives  before they start writing. Those different lives are portrayed in the characters they create. Who they are, how they speak, where they live and what they do.

I probably have  lived more lives than  most. I was an English teacher in an inner city school in New York City. I practiced law for over forty years. I started a paralegal school and walk-in legal document company. My artwork has been displayed in galleries on the East and West Coasts. I also play the drums. And then I decided to become an author and have published three courtroom drama books in the Chance Cormac legal thriller series.

My books are dialogue driven and rely on humor to portray the best side of a character. My father was a solo practitioner in Jamaica, Queens. He was a very ethical and compassionate attorney. He also loved to tell jokes. I saw how he used humor to help people deal with life’s challenges.

Attorneys need a good sense of humor to do what  we do. We often deal with people at their worst. My characters show their affection and respect for each other through humor. They joke constantly and laughter is their therapy.

Music is also an important part of my writing. I find that certain songs and lyrics can capture the essence of a character or scene better than I can. It is also a way that I can pay tribute to the musicians who have had such a positive influence on my life. I never write without playing music.

Religion and corruption are also constant themes in my books. Like Chance,  I am  a lapsed Catholic but am intrigued by the religious tenets of different religions. Chance often quotes Acquinas, using his  practical advice on how to live a good and spiritual life.

In practicing law I have experienced unethical attorneys and corrupt judges. Rarely are they held accountable when they break the rules or act unprofessionally. In my books, I try to portray the challenges attorneys face when they are confronted with such conduct.

When I write or paint, I like to say, “God passes through the room.” There is no outline or predetermined plot for my books, which are braided novels. My characters speak for themselves and my job is to write it down before they move on to the next chapter. When I am finished, I always hope that I have written a book that I would like to read.

 

You can learn more about Richard A. Danzig via his website and follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Goodreads. The Collectors is now available via Amazon.