Author Q&A with Orion Gregory

Greg Milano, who also writes under the pen name of Orion Gregory, is an award-winning writer in the newspaper and advertising industries and a nationally published magazine contributor. He is a graduate of Wright State University, where he played tennis and obtained a degree in Communication Arts. He recently retired from his role as a sales representative, allowing him to spend his time coaching tennis, cheering on the Cleveland Browns, and writing mystery novels. 

His first book, Faults, was the debut in a series featuring Sydney Livingstone, a former professional tennis player who has joined the Walsh County Police Department. In the sequel, Serves You Right, the rookie detective thought she was trading fame for peace and a quiet life in Walsh County, Ohio, freshly engaged to her charming fiancé Enzo. But that dream is shattered with a faceless vigilante known only as The Enforcer emerges from the shadows of the dark web, declaring war on criminals—and the justice system that failed them. With chilling precision, this self-proclaimed executioner begins picking off targets across the region, leaving behind a digital trail of manifestos and blood. And Sydney is suddenly in the crosshairs—not just of a killer, but of a truth far more dangerous. 

Orion Gregory stopped by In Reference to Murder to answer a few questions about the book and series:

What was it like to read this thriller/mystery through the eyes of Detective Sydney Livingstone?

All of us has been the newcomer to a business or social setting at some time in our lives. We all understand how it feels difficult initially to fit in. Sydney was a competent and confident tennis player in her previous occupation, but the police academy brought a level of uncertainty. I could feel the stress she experienced as a first-year cop, especially when dealing with hardened detectives in a male-dominated occupation. But I think Sydney’s refusal to give up when facing seemingly insurmountable odds resonates with me. If I could have one trait of hers, that would be it.

Your protagonist, Sydney Livingstone is a former professional tennis player. I understand you are both a tennis coach and a tennis instructor. Do you see any similarities in writing crime mysteries and coaching a sport like tennis?

People who have played tennis competitively will understand what I’m about to say. Every match, whether it be a tournament or just for practice, carries a level of mystery within it. Will you win or lose today? Are you going to play to your potential or will you let your mind sabotage your game? Are you going to solve the mystery of your opponent’s game and use that knowledge to win, or is their ability too much to overcome? As a coach, I have to sometimes develop the lineup that will give our team its best chance to win. But sometimes, my strategies backfire. The adrenaline during play and the uncertainty about winning or losing certainly reminds me of the challenges associated with writing a mystery thriller.

Which one of the main characters shared the same values as Syd and why? Which ones had the least in common with her? Why?

I think most of the characters in the novel, without giving away the outcome, ostensibly had values similar to Syd. Montenegro and Griffith became her close friends, and she also got along well with Lasek and Pratt until she had to be punished for making a few mistakes. She and Montenegro’s wife Stacey also seemed to share a close connection, despite not knowing each other very well. As for having the least in common, I would say Mitsoff and Fosterno, although at times, they showed signs of becoming better people. Penny Cefalo and Syd had different personalities but both shared a similar type of confidence and enthusiasm, especially when life attempted to hold them down. Rex Cutter, on the other hand, was nothing at all like Syd.

Syd and Enzo attempt to manage their volatile personal relationship while also maintaining a degree of excellence in their current jobs. How difficult is it to focus on your job when your personal life is experiencing turmoil? What are some strategies you use for keeping work and private life separate?

I’m probably not the greatest person to answer this question because I’ve always had difficulty keeping them separate. I have a deep respect for anyone who can compartmentalize their problems while working, and waiting for later to deal with them. I think that part of the answer is to realize that worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but you end up in the same place. But as a worst-case-scenario type of person, I empathize with anyone who’s experiencing home-life stress while in the workplace.

The book discusses several criminals who slipped through the crack of our imperfect justice system. How do you feel about real life vigilantes who take the law into their own hands?

To be honest, I strongly dislike when people decide to be the judge, jury, and executioner all on their own. The shooting of the insurance executive in New York comes to mind when I say this. While taking things into our own hands is something all of us fantasize about, I believe the laws of our country need to be respected, regardless of our individual feelings. Justice in my mind may not be justice in your mind, and vice-versa.

Rural Walsh County has made some strides in the way it treats minorities and women. How did you feel about where they stand on those issues now? What do you think the future holds?

I’d like to think Walsh County is evolving and beginning to smell the coffee. The good-ol-boy network seems to be dying, albeit probably not fast enough. I think there is hope for Walsh County, especially with detectives like Syd coming into the mix.

Which person do you think readers suspected throughout the book? Why so?

That’s a tough question because there were so many viable suspects. I was careful not to reveal the sex of the killer(s) because that information would limit the playing field. I think Lasek and Pratt had to be strongly considered, as did Griffith, both Stuart and Stacey Montenegro, Tom Mitsoff, Rex Cutter, and Penny Cefalo. Andrea Pierce also had the opportunity.

You can learn more about Orion Gregory via his website and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Serves You Right is now available via Amazon and Barnes and Noble.