Give
us a quick introduction on yourself and your book? My
name is Chris Rudy; I am 53 years old, a retired police officer
currently working for an international security company that partner
with the United States Marshal Service for protection of Federal
Judges at United States Court Houses. Over half of my law
enforcement career was spent in investigations where I investigated
any and all crimes imaginable. I am married with 2 grown children and
a wife who works in the steel industry. I still carry an active law
enforcement commission through the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
What
inspired you to write your first book? I
had been retired for about 2 years when I received a phone call from
Melissa Brown. She was a victim of a serial rapist whom I had caught.
The rapist, William Edward Griffith Jr., was scheduled for his first
parole hearing in the next month (March of 2009). She wanted me to go
with her to the hearing and I readily agreed. While I attended and
observed the hearing I was blown away by the victims reliving their
horror’s right before my eyes. I was moved to tell the story and
make a push with the Ohio legislature to enact Civil Commitment law
in Ohio as it relates to violent sexual predators.
Do
you have a specific writing style? Not
that I’m aware of or I’ve been told. This was my first foray into
writing. I don’t know I’d do another true crime story but may try
fictional crime based on what I’ve experienced firsthand.
How
did
you come up with the title? To
me it was a natural. Melissa was the last victim of William Griffith
and, metaphorically, I wanted to make her the last victim of these
types of crimes with my push with the Ohio legislature.
Is
there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? Yes.
I want them to become advocates in their states/communities for the
implementation of the Adam Walsh Act in their state and in particular
the Civil Commitment component that allows for lifetime incarceration
of violent sexual predators after the completion of their criminal
sentence.
How
much of the book is realistic? Obviously,
all of it. Everything is backed up with actual reports and my own
investigative file from when I tracked Griffith across the country.
Are
experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own
life? This
is all true and I lived every bit of it. After I started writing and
looking at the old reports everything came flooding back to me as if
a dam had burst. It was a lot of fun going back and gathering the
information and talking with some of the people involved in the case.
I recall talking with my mother after I came back from the parole
hearing and feeling a little misty eyed I told my mother if I never
do anything else the rest of my life, I did something really good and
meaningful here that helped a lot of people.
What
books have most influenced your life most? I’m
unsure who wrote them, however, they were children stories. My
parents bought them when my four brothers and I were very young. They
were color coordinated with a profession, i.e. the white book was
about being a milk man, and the green book was about being a farmer,
the brown book about construction, the red book about being a
fireman, the blue book about being a policeman. My mother used to
tell me before she had to catch the bus to go to work every day at
2:30p.m. I could grab a book and she would read to me before I had to
go to the neighbor’s house and wait for my brothers to come home
from school. Well, as you’ve probably guessed, she said every day I
picked the blue book. That’s all I ever wanted to be. I have also
loved and can relate to everything written by Joseph Wambaugh.
If
you had to choose, which writer would you consider a
mentor? Definitely,
Joseph Wambaugh. He’s written true crime stories and fictional
stories based on life experiences he has had as a police officer in
Los Angeles. I plan on the fiction part next.
What
book are you reading now? The
Fifth Witness, by Michael Connelly.
What
are your current projects? I’m
trying to put together my first fictional story based on some of my
actual cases as a police officer.
Name
one entity that you feel supported you outside of family
members? Friends
and police officers I’ve worked with on this case. They agreed the
story should be told.
Do
you see writing as a career? For
awhile, I thought it could be, however, I don’t believe so. I write
in my spare time and really enjoy it. This being my first attempt at
it, it hasn’t brought in any money to speak of. I like to eat, and
eating takes money so I’d probably starve.
Is
there anything you find particularly challenging in your
writing? Going
through drafts, and including description of everyday events we all
take for granted. The editing and re-editing. Capturing the mood and
keeping it going.
Who
is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about
their work? There
are two actually, Michael Connelly and James Patterson. How they
consistently churn out stories for Harry Bosch and Alex Cross is
amazing to me. They are all very good and keep your attention to the
end.
Do
you have to travel much concerning your book? Not
as of yet. I would be open to it though. I’ve traveled with my
county and some neighboring ones for book signings and public
speaking on the topic. I find that part very fulfilling.
Who
designed the covers?
I did. I took several different pictures to try and come up with
something ‘eye-catching’ to put on the front. The back cover was
easy in that the piece of evidence that tied the serial rapist to the
crimes was the sole’s of his tennis shoes. So we put the picture of
his tennis shoe print on the back cover in the background and then
wrote excerpts from the book over the top of it.
What
was the hardest part of writing your book? Waiting
to get back critiques from people who agreed to read it and offer
suggestions. I was really into it and couldn’t wait to get to the
next step.
Do
you have any advice for other writers? If
you have an idea to write a book, do it. Don’t let anyone talk you
out of it or belittle the idea. It was very fulfilling for me. When
you are complete you have a real feeling of accomplishment. If you
don’t try you’ll always wonder, what if?
