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An Interview with
Larry D. Thompson
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This is your first novel, why select the controversial subject of abortion?
I found inspiration for the book and the subject in several areas. First and foremost is that my parents were a schoolteacher and high school principal who taught my brother and I to enjoy reading and to treasure great books. My brother, Thomas Thompson, went on to become a best selling author, publishing true crime written in a novel style. His last book before his death was Celebrity a great novel set in part in our hometown of Ft. Worth, Texas. He has been a great source of inspiration for me. Also, my original law partner, Tom Lorance, always noted that the courthouse is the meeting place of all of the arts and sciences. I found that to be true in my 20+ years in litigation. While I have tried cases involving not only complications of abortion, but the complications of surviving early premature birth, no case has centered on the ultimate question of when life begins. Libel, slander and freedom of the press litigation has been a large part of my practice as well, beginning with successfully defending defamation claims leveled against my brother for his book, Blood and Money and claims against Soldier of Fortune magazine. All of my interests brought themselves together and demanded that I dedicate time to write this novel.What is the message of the book, pro-life or pro-choice?
I wrote about this issue as evenly handed as possible.The history, principles and science underlying each side of
the argument are often lost amid shouts of protests or
left out of network news sound bites. The courtroom drama
genre allows an in-depth examination and cross-examination
of those opposing views.
Where do these unique characters come from?
Nearly all of the characters are pulled together as a conglomerate of many people and are fictional. Johnny Bob is any man.
He dared to dream and put his heart into making his dream of becoming a lawyer come true. Anyone can become an attorney, but only those willing to make the sacrifices in their lives to go the distance will reach that goal. Lucy is a familiar young woman who has working parents and a father that believed that raising the girl was up to the mother. She did not have a strong male figure in her life to teach her the ways of the world from a male perspective. She continued reaching out trying to find that positive male influence in her life. Her mother's preoccupation with her faith left Lucy without strong parenting and only the church, her peers or strangers to turn to. Tod is a widowed single parent, striving to make family count first. Having founded a large, nationally renowned law firm he walked away from the power and prestige to create a smaller boutique law practice that allowed him to spend time being involved in his sons' lives. Zeke is the modern American dream with all of the joys and headaches that come with it. He is well educated, Board Certified and believes that regardless of the law, women will seek out abortion so it must be performed by qualified, experienced physicians. Then there's T. J. Luther. T.J. was a central figure in Celebrity and I woke him out of the coma he was left in at the end of Tommy's book. I could feel Tommy's hand in my writing and found T.J. taking over the story more than I planned. Ruby O'Reilly is closely fashioned after one of the great trial judges I have had the privilege to try cases before.
The twist at the trial in the end is surprising, how realistic is that?
Surprisingly real, to the point that I have had cases in which the discovery of new medical records and the impact on the outcome of the trial have fallen just the way it is in the book. The difference was the witness reactions and drama that followed. Reality is hard to beat for posing changes of direction in a trial.Is there a second book in the works?
I am researching issues regarding the legal definition of insanity. Other social issues are shouting to be examined as well. As the issues develop, plots for dramatic examination come to light. What better environment is there for testing the controvery than the courtroom? When the plot solidifies and the book is progressing I will give a sneak peek to readers who have enjoyed and supported So Help Me God. In the mean time I recommend reading Celebrity, Inherit the Wind and To Kill a Mockingbird. 
Legal Trade
A blog about lawyering with Mary Flood.
Courtroom thriller penned by local author Larry D. Thompson
I'm a fan of courtroom thrillers, a fan of Perry Mason novels and books by John Grisham. And now I'm a fan on Houston lawyer Larry D. Thompson's book So Help Me God.
He practices with Lorance & Thompson and his late brother is the acclaimed Texas writer Tommy Thompson, author of a non-fiction courtroom thriller Blood and Money.
Thompson took a character from his brother's last book Celebrity. The character is an over-the top Texas preacher who Thompson pulled him out of a coma and made a character in his page turner that uses the debate over abortion to build up a big trial with mass media and larger than life lawyers. The discussion of when life begins is central to the trial in the book but almost incidental to the courtroom drama fun. They could be arguing over exploding pick ups with a lot of the same fire.
His courtroom detail is very impressive. His judge is clearly based on Judge Ruby Sondock (he changed her hair color and her last name) and it's as much fun as reading Grisham. Actually, it was more fun than the last Grisham. The overblown lawyers will make you smile, the understanding of the process will make you nod and his loving treatment of Houston pleased me and may do the same for you.
See also this video Thompson had made to promote the book, which he originally self published but was since picked up by a publisher who put out a new paperback this month.
His next book grew of the Andrea Yates case in Houston and it involves an insanity plea by a paranoid schizophrenic who is seen near a Galveston crime scene. A lawyer from the first book is the brother and defender of the accused in the upcoming second novel. I'll buy it.
I interviewed Thompson in his northwest Houston offices this week and here's a video of snippets from our talk:
