Politics of Justice #4: The Private Mind of a Public Judge — Judged 17 – 24
In this episode of Politics of Justice, I revisit Chapters 17–24 of Judged, where the focus shifts away from courtroom drama and into the quieter mechanics of power. These chapters trace Sheila Harrison Grant’s internal calculations as she manages appearances, alliances, and expectations within a tightly knit political ecosystem—one where nothing looks overtly corrupt, but […]
The Politics of Justice #3 – A Child Taken, a Judge Empowered: Inside Aime Austin’s Judged
In this episode of Politics of Justice, I revisit Chapters 11–16 of Judged, where Olivia is abruptly removed from her home and left waiting in a police station, shuffled between multiple social workers with no clear advocate or explanation. The scene captures how quickly children can disappear into systems that are overstretched, fragmented, and indifferent […]
The Politics of Justice #2 – My Life in Judged: How Olivia and Casey Reflect My Own Story
In this second episode of The Politics of Justice, I walk through Chapters 4–10 of my legal thriller Judged and uncover the personal history woven into Olivia and Casey’s early stories. These chapters explore themes that come directly from my own life—growing up Black in predominantly white spaces, navigating complicated family dynamics, and watching how […]
Episode 62: A Time to Thrill – Conversation with Aime Austin – featuring Caitlyn O’Leary
It’s Caitlyn O’Leary! I think she’ll be my fourth SEAL author! Today, we finally find out what makes SEALs so arresting! This episode is sponsored by Audible. (Click my link for many great offers from Audible.) My recent audiobooks: Julie Chan is Dead, and Beautiful Ugly. Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can […]
The Politics of Justice #1 – The Personal Politics That Shaped Judged: Race, Alcoholism, and the System
In this first episode of The Politics of Justice, I revisit the opening chapters of Judged—the story that launched the Casey Cort series and, in many ways, the story that shaped me. These chapters are rooted in my real life: • growing up as a Black girl trying to fit into an overwhelmingly white school […]