Injustice For All (Joe Dillard)">A few years ago, a new writer came to us with a manuscript he wanted professional help with before seeking publication. His editor, Renni Browne, immediately saw its potential. The author was Scott Pratt, his debut novel AN INNOCENT CLIENT. We sent the final draft to Philip Spitzer at the Philip G. Spitzer Literary Agency, and Philip got a three-book contract from New American Library. Scott's second novel starring his lawyer protagonist Joe Dillard, IN GOOD FAITH, was published last year, and the third, INJUSTICE FOR ALL has recently hit bookstores in May. If you like legal mystery/thrillers, how can you resist this blurb?

Prosecutor Joe Dillard watched in shock as friend and fellow lawyer
Ray Miller was pushed to the brink of suicide in the court of Judge
Leonard Green. So when Joe arrives at a crime scene to see Green swinging from a tree, it is duty rather than remorse that drives him to catch the killer. But soon the investigation takes Joe away from the halls of justice into his own home. And he's not sure he can face the answer he'll find...

These days, Scott is taking a break from his Dillard series and has turned his attention to a literary suspense novel. "It's the story of a young woman just out of law school, who is led to a stash of gold on her property. As you might expect, danger and other complications arise as a result.of the find. I'm taking the opportunity to explore some themes that are close to my heart--the ever-growing divide between the classes in our society, the dehumanization of the legal system and of society in general, the corrosive and corruptive power of instant wealth."

We asked Scott how working with Renni and the experience of publishing multiple books changed his perspective on writing. "I think I spin a tighter, better yarn now, I'm better at characterization, and I've become more introspective and analytical about the way I tell the stories," he said. "I've also come to realize that this is one of the most bizarre businesses on the planet. One minute you're the greatest thing since sliced bread, then an editor moves or a new vice president comes on board and all of a sudden you're invisible. Authors have control over only one thing - the content and quality of their product. Everything  else is hit or miss."

Renni says working with Scott is a pleasure. "You throw a ball over the plate, and he knocks it out of the park. Like me he's not satisfied with a good scene or an appealing character--he wants to take everything to the max. And he has a great ear for dialogue, which is one reason why any Scott Pratt novel is so much fun to read."

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Scott Pratt gave us permission to reprint selections from his early work with Renni Browne to share a glimpse of the editorial process with others. If you've ever been curious about professional editing, you might enjoy these outtakes.To see the final product, pick up any of Scott's books at your favorite bookstore, or read excerpts on his web site, scottprattfiction.com.