Today’s show is for you crime writers, or those who are curious about how a good crime novel is crafted. On today’s show I will be chatting with the acclaimed crime-writing trio of Deborah Levison, T. M. Dunn, and Wendy Whitman, whose topics range from serial killers to domestic violence.

Deborah Levison is an author and publicist. Her first book, an acclaimed nonfiction called THE CRATE, is a true crime with echoes of the Holocaust, which reviewers called it “gorgeous and poetic,” “heart-wrenching,” and “a brilliant story.” The Jerusalem Post wrote: “exquisite.” The book won seven literary awards. Her debut novel, A NEST OF SNAKES, is part thriller, part courtroom drama inspired by real-life abuse at elite New England private schools, described as “a roller-coaster ride of surprising twists” leading to a “staggering climax.”

Wendy Whitman has a unique background through her decades-long work as an executive and producer covering almost every major high-profile murder case in America. She spent fifteen years at Court TV and another several at HLN for the Nancy Grace show, where she appeared on air as a producer/reporter.

Before attending Law School, Whitman worked for comedians Lily Tomlin and George Carlin. Since turning her attention to writing, Whitman has published two crime thriller novels: PREMONITION and the sequel, RETRIBUTION.

Patricia AKA T. M. Dunn is the author of the psychological thriller, HER FATHER'S DAUGHTER, REBELS BY ACCIDENT, and LAST STOP ON THE 6. She has served as Senior Director of the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, where she holds an MFA in creative writing. She coaches aspiring and established writers and teaches creative writing workshops. She co-founded Key to the Castle Workshop, co-hosts the Westport Library's podcast, "Go Ahead, Write Something," and co-chairs programming for Sisters-in-Crime CT.

In today’s episode we discuss:

· Wendy’s beginnings as an assistant to Lilly Tomlin and George Carlin.

· Wendy’s over twenty years as a producer/reporter for Court TV where she covered numerous high profile murder trials.

· Wendy’s author career and her latest book, Retribution in the Deer Killer Series.

· Deborah’s breakout hit, The Crate and the impact it has had on her professionally and personally.

· Deborah’s intimate experience with the holocaust and how she wove into her book, The Crate.

· How a grisly murder hit home and the impact it had on Deborah and her family.

· How T.M. helps other authors realize their potential.

· T.M. Dunn’s latest novel, Her Father’s Daughter.

· T.M. Dunn’s podcast, Go Ahead, Write Something.

Please visit Wendy Whitman's website.
Come on over to Deborah Levison's website.
Visit T.M. Dunn's website.
Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

Only for Cops and Writers Podcast listeners! Get 50% off the audiobook version of the F.B.I. K-9 thriller, Avenging Adam by Jodi Burnett. Use code, https://jodi-burnett.com/copsandwriters/

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Welcome back everyone to the conclusion of my interview with former Sheriff Deputy, now Attorney, Bridget Truxillo.

Life isn’t fair. We have all heard this and it is so true. But sometimes you come across a story that really pulls at your heart and you learn a new level of empathy for someone who was in a certain situation. Bridget’s story did that for me. This is a story of a person being treated unfairly and her resilience and eventually overcoming in her own way. This is the story of Bridget Truxillo.

Bridget Truxillo was a Deputy Sheriff in Florida where she excelled in her job earning spots on the elite narcotics unit where she was primarily utilized in undercover operations and later joined the SWAT team as the only female to have worked in SWAT for her agency.

Unfortunately, Bridget was the victim of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation forcing her to eventually resign from law enforcement. She then went to law school where she earned her Juris Doctorate. Bridget is now an attorney that has her own law firm that specializes in helping law enforcement officers and first responders fight back when facing the same issues.

If you believe you are the victim of workplace harassment, discrimination, or retaliation, please talk to someone and get some help! Thank you for joining me for the conclusion of my interview with someone who suffered and eventually overcame in her own way, Bridget Truxillo.

In today’s episode we discuss:

· The harassment, discrimination, and retaliation she faced during her time in law enforcement.

· How the continuing harassment, discrimination, and retaliation affected her personally and professionally.

· Bridget’s eventual resignation from law enforcement.

· Life after law enforcement for Bridget.

· When and why, she decided to become an attorney.

· How she delt with going to law school later in life.

· How she helps cops who are being discriminated against or otherwise being treated unfairly as an attorney.

· Bridget’s professional advice to someone out there who is listening to the show and is contemplating taking legal action against their department because they think they are being treated unfairly, discriminated against, or harassed.

· Bridget’s law firm that specializes in helping first responders who are being treated unfairly, discriminated against or harassed, Lady Law Shield.


Visit Bridget at her law firm, Lady Law Shield.

Check out the new Cops and Writers YouTube channel!
Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

Only for Cops and Writers Podcast listeners! Get 50% off the audiobook version of the F.B.I. K-9 thriller, Avenging Adam by Jodi Burnett. Use code, https://jodi-burnett.com/copsandwriters/

Support the Show.

Thanks for joining me for this bonus episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast. I wanted to talk about something that has been bothering me for some time. I feel that we have lost our way in policing in America today and the victims of crime are paying the price. When was the last time you heard someone in pop culture talking about “Victim Rights?” You certainly hear them talking about police corruption or defunding the police. But never about the thousands of innocent people who are the victims of crime every day in this country.

The cops have been handcuffed and are not allowed to do their jobs, and the people who are living in the most vulnerable areas of the country are paying that price.

I want to make it very clear that I support the men and women in blue who literally risk their lives every day protecting us, the Constitution, and our way of life. We must do more than wearing a t-shirt or quietly telling a cop, “Thanks for your service.” We must elect individuals who actually want to do something about the crime in this country, not give vague ideologies or theories that don’t work or rehash crime-fighting strategies that never worked. We must support those who support the cops, even when it is not popular, but it’s the right thing to do.

On the show today I’m joined by a friend of the show, retired NYPD Detective, Vic Ferrari, and retired NYPD Captain Peter Moreno.

Detective Ferrari and Captain Moreno have over forty-eight years of police experience in street patrol, investigations, and police upper management of the New York Police Department. They have seen crime fighting/reduction strategies come and go and have seen what works and doesn’t work.

We are going to discuss the pros and cons of Broken Windows, Data-Driven Policing sometimes called, Hot Spot Policing, and Community Oriented Policing.

This show is not a bitch session, and we try our best not to be too political in this show, I wanted to enlighten you as to what actually works when it comes to fighting crime.

Thanks for joining us and I welcome your input regarding this special bonus episode. If you have a better solution, we are all ears!

Check out Peter's Security Company, K.H. Briger.
Visit Vic Ferrari's Amazon Author Page to learn more about him and his books!

Check out Field Training (Brew City Blues Book 1)!!
Enjoy the Cops and Writers book series.
Please visit the Cops and Writers website.

Only for Cops and Writers Podcast listeners! Get 50% off the audiobook version of the F.B.I. K-9 thriller, Avenging Adam by Jodi Burnett. Use code, https://jodi-burnett.com/copsandwriters/

Support the Show.