John Cain

I was born and raised in Eldora, Iowa. I am a lawyer in Tacoma, Washington. I lives with my wife, three dogs, and two cats. I has lived in Washington State since 1979. In 1983 I graduated from the University of Puget Sound School of Law. Many criminal defendants ago I graduated from the Iowa Writer’s Workshop.

I met many fine writers and individuals while at the Iowa Writers Workshop. I have never forgotten Marvin Bell’s advice that when faced with two alternative lines use the one with the fewer words. He also counseled that one has to have life experiences to write about life. That is hard to hear when I was young but in my case very true. I did not start to write these John Abel mysteries until I was in my fifties. I was assigned to the poet Richard Murphy’s workshop one semester. i turned in some poems for him to review at the start of the semester. His first words to me when i met him are “Your poems are filled with self-pity.” I didn’t speak to him again, but he was right. Over ten years later after a near fatal car accident I began to realize that how right he was and that I needed to change my life. I do not recommend going through a windshield at fifty miles an hour but for me that was slap up head that I needed to get busy living and appreciating life.

I have tried to write entertaining stories that reflect the practice of law which is often not a very entertaining at all. I enjoy being a lawyer. It is a great way to meet people and learn about people and if possible help them.

I consider The Anatomy of Murder by Robert Traver the best lawyer/crime novel I have ever read. The film is excellent as well. The Rumpole of the Bailey stories by the barrister John Mortimer should be required reading in all law schools and the British series required viewing. The book and movie To Kill a Mockingbird are often cited as inspirations for young lawyers. They are great but I think there is more to be learned about trial lawyering in the movie My Cousin Vinny.

The BookViral Review about my latest book begins, "An intensely intriguing Legal Thrill that fires on all cylinders, A Cup of Malice is one of those rare novels that promises much for the its opening apples and delivers beyond our expectations."

My favorite book is the book is which ever one am writing and have not yet finished. Writing for me is a great way to discover things about the world and about myself that had I not sit down to write I would never have discovered.

Thank you for visiting this page. I hope you find a book of mine that you enjoy.