Best-Selling Author
Sandra Faulkner
The protagonist in my upcoming novel is a skilled jury consultant who must solve a mystery that pushes her to match wits with a clever, elusive villain. She warns the reader upfront that she is nearly as good at detecting lies as she is at telling them. And so, the chase begins.
I believe in the saying that a writer should write about what she knows. That said, I have been working towards writing this book for a considerable amount of time.
For several decades, I have worked as a writer, editor, and jury consultant on high-profile celebrity cases and complex corporate litigation. I published my first book, a national bestseller, based on my experience as a jury consultant in one of the high-profile trials.
I attended UCLA and earned a BA in Fine Arts before pursuing my graduate degree at Stanford University, where I studied law and sociology.
How are these experiences connected?
Jury consultants assist attorneys in crafting compelling and persuasive stories based on case facts. In court, each side must present its version of the truth within a set time limit. My role is to ensure that the story shown to the jury includes elements common in a good novel, such as tension, obstacles, conflicts, different viewpoints, and conflicting motives—features frequently found in narrative nonfiction. (For more, see Thoughts on Writing, this site.)
Before attending graduate school, I spent several years as an Artist-in-Residence at the University of California, translating Shakespeare's plays into American Sign Language. Conveying Shakespeare's meaning and elegance into a language that is neither spoken nor written was an ambitious but rewarding challenge. I was fortunate to perform the translated text on stage with actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In the above variety, there are related themes, including art, access, justice, and communication.
Drama, tension, deadlines—it's all part of my life's work.