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July 29, 2010 |
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| November 13, 2009 |
By: Deborah C. Espana |
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enior Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Barbara Levenson was accustomed to writing orders, legal briefs and opinions. Now she writes for the sheer joy of putting words on paper.
Levenson wrote “Fatal February,” the first in a planned series of novels featuring fictional Miami criminal defense attorney Mary Magruder Katz.
“I’ve lived here 35 years. That’s longer than I’ve lived in any other place,” she said. “I’m one of those writers that believes that you ought to write what you know. I understand that vampires and werewolves are big these days, but I want to write about what I can picture.”
As a child, Levenson wrote short stories to share with her friends for entertainment. When it came time to choose a career, she weighed the money.
“I’ve always loved to write. At the time I went to law school, I was sort of at a crossroads,” she said. “I had to decide between the law or writing. I decided if I became a lawyer, I would have a salary. If I stayed as a writer, I might not.”
Levenson spent several years working as a prosecutor under then-Miami-Dade State Attorney Janet Reno, eventually became a criminal defense attorney and was elected to the bench in 1992. She took senior status in June 2004 and had free time on her hands.
“When I was retired from full-time judge work, I said, ‘This is the time to write,’ ” Levenson said.
She began her new career after taking a class in literary arts at Miami Dade College and participating in a summer writers’ program at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. She gravitated to characters who portray the Miami spirit.
“They just bounced off my head after being in criminal court in so many capacities for so many years — they were all just right there,” Levenson said. “I can’t even tell you how I did that — they just grew. They were Miami in my mind.”
Some of her characters’ personality traits are based on people she crossed paths with.
Her inspiration for one character — a rude man who can’t wait for his turn — was drawn from a chance encounter.
“That actually happened to me. I went to a carwash about the time I was beginning the book. and this handsome gentleman was there. He was lovely, and he was charming,” Levenson said. “When the cars were ready, he was so rude to all the workers I couldn’t believe it was the same person. The characters will remind you of people in Miami.”
The book involves a murder in Miami’s wealthy Coconut Grove neighborhood. Katz is hired to defend the wife of a prominent businessman who is slain as Katz’s career is on the verge of collapsing. The story explores how deceptively business can be done in Miami and how even prominence can’t save the accused from jail.
Her book was published by independent Ipswich, Mass.-based Oceanview Publishing.
Her next Katz novel, coming out next spring, is called “Justice in June.” Her third Katz book, “Outrageous October,” will be set in Vermont.
Levenson will present her book at the Miami Book Fair International, which brings more than 400 authors to Florida. She will read from “Fatal February” at 4 p.m. Sunday in Building 7, Room 7174.
Deborah C. España can be reached at (305) 347-6684. |
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