Connie Dial interview with David Alan Binder

Bio from her website:    Connie Dial is a graduate of Citrus Jr. College (AA); California State University at Los Angeles (BA); the University of West Los Angeles (JD); FBI National Academy; LAPD’s Command Development school and The Supervisory Leadership Institute.

Prior to her career in law enforcement, she was a journalist who worked as a reporter and photographer for a chain of newspapers in the San Gabriel Valley and later as an editor for a trade magazine. She briefly wrote news for a local television station.

She joined the Los Angeles Police Department as a policewoman in 1969 but left because at that time women couldn’t promote higher than sergeant and were given very limited assignments. When she returned in 1973 as a police officer, she was among the four women in the first academy class who would be allowed to work as patrol officers and whose promotional opportunities would be unlimited.

She worked patrol for a year and was asked to be an undercover officer for the intelligence division where she reported on groups who planned the overthrow of the U.S. government. After being arrested during a riot in downtown L.A. she left that assignment to testify on behalf of officers who were injured during the melee.

Her career as a commanding officer began in West Los Angeles as a patrol captain. She was there during the earthquake and was the commanding officer who responded to the Nicole Simpson/Ron Goldman homicides. She spent most of the early morning hours watching the WLA detectives do a thorough and professional job at the crime scene before the decision was made to give the investigation to the Robbery Homicide Division.

After returning to the Narcotics Division as the captain for the Field Enforcement Section, she was promoted as the area commanding officer for the Hollywood Division. Hollywood was a productive, high-energy division where she promoted community policing and had an active successful youth program as well as one of the best Community Police Advisory Boards in the city. She received several commendations for community policing and recognition for her work in the community including the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Women of Distinction award.

She graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA and is a member of the FBI National Academy Associates and a lifetime member of both the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the California Narcotic Officers Association. She serves on the board of directors for the Los Angeles Police Relief Association and on the Los Angeles Police Relief and Assistance Foundation board.

Website:      http://conniedial.com/

1.     I’m currently living in California.

 

2.     The most important thing I’ve learned in my writing experience is to keep writing.  If one book doesn’t sell write another.

 

3.     I guess it’s a writing quirk that I believe it’s okay to ignore the rules of grammar provided you know you’re ignoring them.

 

4.     My publisher is The Permanent Press in Sag Harbor, NY.

 

5.     Persistence is the best way to get a book published. 

 

6.     The book stores have guides to literary agents.  Look for those agents who represent writers like you.  Send out lots of query letters or emails until you find one who believes in your work and potential.

 

7.     Write and read as much as you can.  I believe writing is partly talent but mostly hard work.  You must learn how to construct a plot and create interesting characters.  Reading good books helps, but taking classes to develop writing skills is another way.  To get feedback and encouragement many writers join writing groups.

 

8.     Connie’s my newest book, The Third Hell, will be coming out at the end of this month (Feb. 2017).  I’ve written dozens of books and short stories but only eight of my books have been published, seven adult mysteries with The Permanent Press and one young adult mystery with Benfatto Press. 

 

9.     Originality and good writing make a book stand out.  Sometimes it’s just pure luck.

 

10.                        I promote my work with advertising, bookmarks and book signings.  I attend different conferences and participate in panels to introduce new readers to my work.