If you read this blog, you know I’m a federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., where I specialize in sex crimes and domestic violence. Last week, Simon & Schuster published my debut novel, “Law of Attraction,” about a fictional D.C. prosecutor who specializes in (surprise!) sex crimes and domestic violence.
I tried to make “Law of Attraction” a fun, past-paced read … but I’m proud that it also tackles some tough issues involved in prosecuting the most intimate crimes. Realistically – unlike some episodes of SVU!
Historically, there has been a tendency to blame the victim in rape and domestic-violence cases.
America is slowly getting over the blame-the-victim attitude in rape cases. Nowadays, you don’t hear many folks saying, “She had it coming – just look what she was wearing!” People generally understand that “date rape” is rape, and a woman who goes back to a man’s apartment does not automatically consent to have sex with him.
Many artificial barriers to bringing rape prosecutions are also now gone. Not long ago, many states had rules barring rape prosecutions if the only witness was the victim (which prevented most prosecutions – rape isn’t a crime that happens in crowded restaurants). Only a few years ago, a man couldn’t be prosecuted for raping his own wife. It took women’s advocates years of tireless work to make this happen, but there has been a seismic shift in American attitudes toward rape
But this shift hasn’t happened in domestic violence cases. In cases where a woman is repeatedly beaten by her husband or boyfriend, people still ask the question: “Why didn’t she just leave him?” This is an important question – but it tends to cast the blame on the victim.
In “Law of Attraction,” I tried to answer the question, “Why doesn’t she just leave him?” My heroine is a beautiful young prosecutor named Anna Curtis, who suffered a violent childhood herself. She takes her job personally. And she’s devastated when a DV victim lies under oath to protect her abusive lover. The man goes free, the victim turns up dead, and Anna is heartsick and determined to bring the killer to justice. Standing in Anna’s way is her own boyfriend, a public defender representing the accused. As her personal and professional lives collide, she struggles to understand why she and so many women are attracted to men who hurt them.
Although the story covers some serious themes and weaves through the grittiest streets of D.C., there’s some good old-fashioned fun: a wine-soaked summer romance, inter-office flirtations among Washington’s Ivy-League lawyers, and of course plenty of mystery and courtroom drama.
I’m thrilled when I hear that folks are enjoying the novel. But, I’m also happy to think that, while enjoying the story, readers will also learn what it’s really like to prosecute the most intimate crimes in D.C. – and why some women don’t “just leave him.”
This essay was originally posted as an interview on Jungle Red Writers, to commemorate National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is this October. All the views expressed here are mine alone, and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Terri says
1 November, 2010 at 7:55 pmCONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ll search for it on Amazon right away! :<) :<) :<) :<)
Terri says
1 November, 2010 at 8:03 pmOn my Kindle- I can’t wait to read it, Allison.
(How long from full-out query to publication? Did you hire an editor before you sent out your partials? Oh yeah….you know where my head’s at…doncha just miss those days? – not-)
Allison Leotta says
2 November, 2010 at 1:46 pmThanks, Terri! Let me know what you think of “Law of Attraction”! I got really lucky with querying. The first person I called was a talented author named Julie Buxbaum (“The Opposite of Love”). We’d both graduated from Harvard Law School, but several years apart. Although we hadn’t met before, Julie was extremely kind, gave me some pointers, and asked her agent, Elaine Koster, if she’d be interested in my book – and Elaine agent was. I sent her my manuscript, and Elaine offered to represent me a week later! I felt like I’d won the lottery.
Barb says
2 November, 2010 at 8:48 pmI loved this post! You’re insight into domestic violence and the victims is wonderful. I can’t imagine the frustration prosecutors must feel when trying to prosecute these cases. Loved the book, too!
Allison Leotta says
4 November, 2010 at 8:21 pmThanks, Barb!
Terri says
3 November, 2010 at 9:01 amOMG, that’s a one-in-a-million story, Allison. I met Susan Isaacs at a Brooklyn Law School (my husband’s alma mater) function about a month ago. She got her agent because her husband (Elkan Abramowitz, you probably know him) had a client in publishing…(sigh) Maybe I should check in with the Georgetown Law Alumnae Office to see who’s gotten into writing novels. (Think Greta Van Sustern would take my call? Hmmm.)
I linked to your book and interview on my site, BTW. Hope it helps. (I saw those great reviews on Amazon, which should REALLY help!) No question I’m going to love it -I will certainly let you know, and post on Amazon too.
[Selfish question here: I’m thinking of hiring an editor before sending my MS to agents. If you get a chance to look at my first 5 chapters on scribd, I’d really appreciate your opinion on whether I should do that. Here’s the link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/38779252/Scribd-first-5-Chapters%5D
Allison Leotta says
4 November, 2010 at 8:28 pmThanks, Terri! I didn’t use a private editor, but I do have a talented husband who helped edit my stuff. I also asked a few smart, dear friends to take a look at my MS, and their suggestions were very helpful. I’ll try to take a look at your chapters soon — it may be a few weeks, though, between promoting, writing, mommying and lawyering!
Terri says
5 November, 2010 at 11:30 amI just finished Law Of Attraction (commented on another of your posts on SVU) – Great read!
[Although I must admit, I was waiting for a juicy love scene with Jack — Poor Jack just gets to hold hands with Anna and give her a kiss, when Nick gets a lot more skin time :<( :<O !!!!]
Allison Leotta says
5 November, 2010 at 12:07 pmThanks, Terri! I think I owe poor Jack some serious skin time in the sequel.
Terri says
8 November, 2010 at 8:38 amDefinitely. More pecs and abs, for sure. (Glutes, too, maybe?!) And I’m thinking he might be begging for some serious attitude, too, next time around…. (even though he’s such a nice guy)!