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Carrie Stuart Parks | Drawn to Forensics
August 14, 2015
The old adage “write what you know” was the starting point for my novel writing
career. As a forensic artist for the past 34 years, and a forensic art
instructor for over 27 years, I had a wealth of information and case studies to
use as story templates. In writing my second novel, THE BONES WILL
SPEAK, I combined three of my major cases together: the Robert Lee Yates
serial killer, the Phineas Priesthood, and the Aryan Nations. Robert Yates
murdered at least thirteen women, all of them prostitutes, between 1996-1998 in
Spokane, Washington. In addition, he murdered other women throughout the
Pacific Northwest. I did several composite drawings for the Spokane Police
Department to help identify the killer. He is currently on death row for his
crimes.
With the Phineas Priesthood, a violent white supremacist group setting bombs
and robbing banks, I developed sixteen composite sketches for the task force
which included FBI, ATF, and the Spokane Police and Sheriff’s Department. The
four men were finally identified and arrested in 1997 and I had a chance to see
them when the local television station hired me to do the courtroom drawings.
It was quite a rush to finally see the faces I’d been drawing over and over!
The Aryan Nations compound was about forty miles away from me, and I was often
called to do some form of forensic drawing to aid law enforcement. My work with
this group culminated with becoming the courtroom artist for their much
publicized trial. The Southern Poverty Law Center, in September of 2000, won a
$6.3 million dollar judgment for plaintiffs Victoria Keenan and her son Jason.
I found myself in some odd situations during this trial. At one point I was in
the ladies room with Victoria Keenan and the wife of the second in command of
the Aryan Nations. I decided to stay in the bathroom fussing with my hair until
Victoria left safely. At another point, I walked outside of the courthouse
between a group of skinheads cussing on one side and Irv Rubin, the chairman of
the Jewish Defense League, on the other. Oh my!
Of course, a novel allows my protagonist, Gwen Marcey, a chance to do what
forensic artists don’t usually get a chance to do: work more of the case. In
real life, a free-lance forensic artist will be called in to do a drawing, then
go home. The outcome of the case, the success of the drawing, the details of
the investigation are only gleaned by reading the newspaper or watching TV. In
fiction, Gwen is in the thick of the terribly dangerous world of the criminals
she draws. Her life is threatened and she must use all of her skills to keep
from getting killed.
As a law enforcement instructor, my whole class is filled with a mixture of
officers, detectives, chiefs of police, FBI, Secret Service, RCMP, Texas
Rangers, dispatch operators, clerks, crime scene technicians, coroners, and a
host of other professionals. If I have a question on some aspect of my book, I
just ask my class. They are most generous in providing me with the authentic
details.
Although my first two novels don’t have romance in them (the third one will
have a romantic thread,) I found romance in my forensic field. I’ve been
married to a fellow forensic artist, Rick Parks, for the past 26 years. We met
in the romantic halls of the FBI Academy while both attending a forensic art
class. Rick worked as a visual information specialist for the FBI when I met
him. We now team teach our classes across the US and Canada.
I hope, if you’re a fan of suspense-thrillers, you will discover the forensic
art world of Gwen
Marcey. You’ll be in for quite a ride.
GIVEAWAY
Are you fans of forensic thrillers? Do you like to see a little romance with
your mystery? Leave a comment below and be entered for a chance to win a copy
of THE
BONES WILL SPEAK and sketch paper and drawing pencils!
Carrie Stuart Parks is an award-winning fine artist and internationally known
forensic artist. Along with her husband, Rick, she travels across the US and
Canada teaching courses in forensic art to law enforcement as well as civilian
participants. She has won numerous awards for career excellence. Carrie is a
popular platform speaker, presenting a variety of topics from crime to
creativity.
Animals have always been a large part of her life. Her parents, Ned and Evelyn
Stuart, started Skeel Kennel Great Pyrenees in 1960. Carrie inherited the
kennel and continues with her beloved dogs as both an AKC judge and former
president of the Great Pyrenees Club of America. She lives on the same ranch
she grew up on in Northern Idaho.
Website | Blog
A killer with a penchant for torture has taken notice of forensic expert
Gwen Marcey . . . and her daughter.
When Gwen Marcey’s dog comes home with a human skull and then leads her to a
cabin in the woods near her Montana home, she realizes there’s a serial killer
in her community. And when she finds a tortured young girl clinging to life on
the cabin floor, she knows this killer is a lunatic.
Yet what unsettles Gwen most is that the victim looks uncannily like her
daughter.
The search for the torturer leads back in time to a neo-Nazi bombing in
Washington state—a bombing with only one connection to Montana: Gwen. The group
has a race-not-grace model of salvation . . . and they’ve marked Gwen as a race
traitor. When it becomes clear that the killer has a score to settle, Gwen
finds herself in a battle against time. She will have to use all of her
forensic skills to find the killer before he can carry out his threat to
destroy her—and the only family she has left.
Comments
37 comments posted.
Re: Carrie Stuart Parks | Drawn to Forensics
I am not usually a fan of "real" mysteries that are too
detailed. Yes, I do like some romance but I also do not have to
have the romance too detailed. Good luck on your third book.
(Leona Olson 8:51am August 14, 2015)
Well, Carrie!! You sure lead a busy and exciting life!! Between those beautiful dogs, your forensic work, and your writing, it's a miracle that you found time to come here to tell us about your latest book!! I'm so glad that you did, however, because I'm itching now to get my hands on a copy. In answer to your question, I'm not sure about the Romance aspect, although I'm sure it might make the topic at hand not so heavy, if you know what I mean, which could make it a good thing. So I could go either way, as long as the Romance isn't overpowering in the book. Congratulations on your latest book, and I'll be looking forward to reading it.
(Peggy Roberson 9:29am August 14, 2015)
This sounds like a fascinating book, love reading these types of stories.
(Jean Patton 10:35am August 14, 2015)
I'm a fan of every kind of romance including thrillers and
mysteries.
(Maria Smith 10:50am August 14, 2015)
Yes , I love Thrillers and yes I love a Romance story in with it . Thanks for this chance to win this book, it sounds like a very exciting story .
(Joan Thrasher 11:00am August 14, 2015)
I love to see romance with my thrillers! I am a hopeless romantic and I
probably wouldn't read a thriller novel if it didn't have a romantic storyline.
(Lily Shah 11:24am August 14, 2015)
I like a bit of romance in thrillers but it's not a requirement.
(Kerry Shaw 11:35am August 14, 2015)
What a captivating and intriguing novel which interests me
greatly. Romance is fine but not a requirement. Your life is
certainly exciting.
(Sharon Berger 12:04pm August 14, 2015)
It's sounds like you have a very interesting life. The book sounds great.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com
(Theresa Norris 12:40pm August 14, 2015)
I do enjoy forensic thrillers with a touch of romance... they really grab my attention... draw me in! Thanks for sharing!
(Colleen Conklin 1:07pm August 14, 2015)
I love forensic thrillers, and I do enjoy a touch of
romance. I just don't want the romance to overtake the
forensics.
(Deb Philippon 1:24pm August 14, 2015)
I love forensic thrillers in books and on television. Romance makes everything better.
(Robbie Bauldree 1:29pm August 14, 2015)
I enjoy thrillers with a touch of romance. What an
interesting life you have and so glad you still have time
to write forensic books that captivate the reader.
(Shirley Sego 1:50pm August 14, 2015)
I like romance in foreensic thrillers
(Marissa Yip-Young 2:05pm August 14, 2015)
I love forensic thrillers. I can take or leave romance in them - depends how it is done.
(Lindsey Andronak 3:33pm August 14, 2015)
I do like romance mixed into my thrillers!
(Mary Hay 6:36pm August 14, 2015)
I love a good thriller filled with romance.
(Mary Smith 6:52pm August 14, 2015)
I love forensic mysteries! More science the better!
Romance is OK but I'm more interested in the mystery. It
takes a very strong person to sit each day in a courtroom
and listen to the horrors visited on others.
(Janis Milford 7:18pm August 14, 2015)
Sounds like a great book!
(Audrey Burke 6:52am August 15, 2015)
I like the forensics stuff...like to try and figure it out. I prefer the romance to be just romance.
(Tammy Anderson 7:55am August 15, 2015)
I enjoy detailed crime stories. "Just the facts ma'am."
(Judy Gregory 8:07am August 15, 2015)
I enjoy forensic thrillers (have been a fan of forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs for some time)but the view from the forensic artist sounds intriguing. As far as romance - as long as it doesn't overwhelm - it's OK.
(Rita Melton 11:17am August 15, 2015)
I love books that forensic is involved in it. Your book sounds like a winner for me. It always seem to have a romance in a story like this somewhere , usually the detectives. Thanks for the chance to win. By the way - your dog is gorgeous
(Ann Hengst 2:59pm August 15, 2015)
I love thriller or adventure novels with a little romance.
(Jane Bennett 5:37pm August 15, 2015)
I like romance in just about everything!
(Karen Mikusak 7:02pm August 15, 2015)
i only read a few Mystery romance. i like alot of romance
in my mystery books
(Emily Stemp 8:02pm August 15, 2015)
I usually like reading either a forensic thriller or a romance novel, not the two combined. I suppose a little romance would be alright, as long as it doesn't distract from the main plot of the thriller.
(Heidi Ingalls 8:16pm August 15, 2015)
I enjoy the details. Thanks.
(Dianne McVetty 11:47pm August 15, 2015)
I do enjoy forensic mysteries. Adding romance give that extra
spice.
(Debra Guyette 8:35am August 16, 2015)
Wow! Have you ever written a non fiction book on your
experiences?
(Sandy Mangarella 10:35am August 16, 2015)
Looks like a very good book.
(Kathy Church 10:35am August 16, 2015)
only read a few Mystery romance books.
(Emily Stemp 2:57pm August 16, 2015)
I am a fan of books on serial killers and crime mysteries!
This book sounds great!
(Cris Henry 6:38pm August 16, 2015)
I love murder thrillers. Added forensics procedures makes
them more realistic. When there is also a romantic theme,
it makes the characters more dimensional and makes them
more interesting.
(LaCinda Jameson 12:26pm August 17, 2015)
I have gotten more into suspense and mystery mixed up with romance - we see it in shows like NCIS (which my son and I LOVE) - I think that forensic artists are so cool!
(Felicia Ciaudelli 6:52am August 17, 2015)
Oh I love mysteries. Any type of mystery and I am in!
(Denise Austin 1:58pm August 17, 2015)
(Wow, lots of junk comments today.)
What a fascinating career path! I've read more non-fiction crime novels in
which forensics played a part, than I have fiction-- but I'm very interested in
forensic technologies and reasoning. Thanks for writing about these!
(Mary Ann Dimand 4:54pm August 17, 2015)
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