Laurie Moore launches a new romantic suspense series with Woman Strangled—News at Ten, featuring Aspen Wicklow, a recent college grad who lands a job with Fort Worth's struggling WBFD-TV.
How would you characterize Aspen?
Sensitive but tough. Aspen has been dumped by her boyfriend, who told her she's not very interesting, but the people she meets make her feel more interesting to herself.
You're an attorney, but haven't you also worked in Texas law enforcement?
I do the mental health docket for Tarrant County, but I started out as a patrol officer in Austin. I caught a bank robber all by myself in 1980. I got dispatched to an arson call and chased him all the way out of town. I had on a bulletproof vest and I was young and stupid—and scared to death. I've also been a felony investigator.
You successfully mix humor and crime. What's your secret?
I get my gallows humor from seven years on patrol. You notice people do the stupidest things.
In your research, what inspired you the most?
Investigative TV journalist Marty Griffin, now at KDKA-TV Channel 2 Pittsburgh, was a personal hero of mine back when he worked in Fort Worth. When he was fired during the [former Dallas Cowboy] Michael Irvin scandal, I thought that was so wrong. I kept up with him, and watched how he turned tragedy into triumph. When I decided to do this investigative journalist thing, who better to ask than Marty—what gets you in trouble, what gets you ahead, what kind of things should I look into. One of the things he told me that I made a major part of the novel is the number one rule of broadcast journalism.
Which is?
Never become part of your story—and that's what happens to Aspen, she unwittingly becomes part of her story, a firable offense at her station, the worst-ranked in the metroplex.
Aspen's ridiculed as an “investigative reporter Barbie.” Please explain.
It was inspired by something else Marty said about TV station interns who drive Porsches, are looking for husbands, the ones just there to fulfill a requirement for school. Can you imagine a woman writing her own ticket if she was really willing to do the hard journalism stories? Like Katie Couric or Ashley Banfield. That's Aspen.
What's next?
Couple Gunned Down—News at Ten. Also a spinoff, Deb on Arrival—Live at Five: A Debutante Detective Mystery.