Introducing Scott Turow
By Doris N. Truong
The Washington Post

St. Petersburg, Fla. Sept. 18 -- Sherry Stern, an assistant features editor at the Los Angeles Times, introduced Scott Turow at the AASFE writers’ lunch as an author who composes “marvelous character studies.”

True to form, Turow began his address Sept. 18 at the 57th annual convention by offering an anecdote about the last time he visited a seaside hotel. In Brazil on a publicity tour, he was advised to hire a bodyguard and avoid leaving the property. He said he was happy to be in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he could run on the beach without fear for his life.

Best known for the novels Presumed Innocent and Burden of Proof, Turow spoke about his latest work, the nonfiction Ultimate Punishment. The book, which is short compared with his previous novels, is a treatise on the death penalty in the United States and why, ultimately, Turow doesn’t believe in it. “I was happy to get it to a length where someone could take it on an airplane,” he said.

Describing himself as a former “death-penalty agnostic,” the best-selling author said he has held all the possible views on the topic. “I don’t criticize anyone’s opinions,” he said.

Turow explained the American belief that the “ultimate evil” merits the ultimate punishment, but he said there’s an inherent paradox because the “more horrible the crime, the less evidence it takes to convict” someone.

Turow spoke about assisting in the appeal for Alejandro “Alex” Hernandez, who was convicted in the rape and murder of a 10-year-old Illinois girl and sentenced to death. Eventually, Hernandez was released. The prosecutors and police in the case were later indicted on charges of conspiracy. Turow said the case was a once-in-a-lifetime event. He tells the younger lawyers at the Chicago firm where he works not to expect such dramatic results often.

Turow left the convention immediately following his remarks to attend a gallery opening for his wife, Annette. In a car on the way to Tampa International, he spoke about his creative process. “My liberation [as a writer] came through plot,” he said.

He recommended that aspiring novelists think about what engages them as readers. Turow says his objective in storytelling is to “find something genuine.”

On his nightstand is a copy of All the Men are Sleeping, by D.R. MacDonald, an author Turow believes is “true to his calling as a writer.”

He reflected on reviews of his work, the first of which appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times, the paper he grew up reading.

The review of One L “was savage,” he said. “Overall, I think I’ve had good fortune in how I’ve been treated.” But he cautioned that authors have to write for themselves, not the critics. “Reviewers recognize I’m not just trying to lob another onto the best-seller list.”

Doris Truong, a 2003 AASFE convention fellow, is a copy editor for The Washington Post. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .