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Jim Riley

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Jim Riley

Jim Riley was born on the banks of the Cane River in Natchitoches, LA, the heart of the southern cotton patch. Growing up in this rural setting developed the love and passion he has for the outdoors and for the wildlife he hunted.

After graduation from Louisiana State University with a degree in Industrial Engineering, Jim worked in the oilfield for more than twenty years. Now he is happy at home in South Louisiana with his wife.

IN THE AUTHOR’S WORDS

Author interview

Interview submitted .

What inspired you to start writing?

I was incarcerated in the USA Federal Bureau of Prisons in 2015. Ashamed and humiliated, I turned to writing. Other inmates slept, played cards, watched TV, etc. I wanted to make a difference with my time in prison. During the next four years, I wrote over 50 novels and short stories.
When released in March of2019, I gained a contract for Murder in the Atchafalaya in June. The release date was scheduled for March, 2020. The publisher cancelled the contract the week prior to the release.
Two months later, Next Chapter offered me a contract for all 59 manuscripts. Over 25 have already been released. Together, we will publish all of them in the next two years.

Who are some of your favorite authors and books?

While incarcerated, I read over 650 books in four years. I loved John Grisham, Lee Child, Sue Grafton, Robert B. Parker, John Connolly, Janet Evanovich, Nelson DeMille, James Patterson, Dan Brown, and others.

What would you like to tell readers who have just discovered your books, but haven't read one yet?

Enjoy the lush Louisiana environment on every page. Our state is called "Sportsman's Paradise" accurately. Also, enjoy the humor interposed in every book. I believe one responsibility of every author is to make the reader smile.

Who is the favorite character you created, and how did they come into being?

My favorites is Niki Dupre. She is my main character in over three quarters of my mysteries & bullet mysteries. She is an independent private investigator, with a background in martial arts. Her parents were murdered when she was only 16. Instead of becoming a victim, the youngster declared victory over the circumstances in her life.

What are your future plans as a writer?

When in prison, I didn't have a computer, nor even a typewriter. I wrote all my stories with pen & pad. I'm transposing those into text presently. I have about 20 left. After that, I will continue the Niki Dupre series. I love her.

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