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Don Medley
MAJOR WORKS BIOGRAPHY REVIEWS INTERVIEW RELATED WEBSITES BIBLIOGRAPHY
Don Medley, photo courtesy of the author
The Book of Luke (novel) 2004
Biography of Don Medley
by Alex Kassouf (SHS) 2004
Don Medley grew up near Monroe County in Mississippi close to the homes of William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, and Thomas Harris. Growing up as a farmer's son gave him plenty of time to read. After getting through high school and graduating with honors, Medley joined the Air Force and was sent to Japan, Korea, and Okinawa. He became interested in Linguist program and became fluent in Korean. After finishing with the Air Force, he graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Then he went to the University of Mississippi Law School in Oxford with classmates such as John Grisham and the future Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove.
After getting his law degree, Medley worked with two separate district attorneys in south Mississippi and got the experience for criminal work to become a prosecution attorney. Today Don Medley has much work experience and has been in many trials both civil and criminal. He also has a private practice in Hattiesburg which specializes in personal injury and criminal work. He has been acknowledged for his pro bono work by the Mississippi Bar.
Currently, Don Medley lives in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he is the senior partner of the Medley Law Firm. He is the father of two sons, George and Stephen.
A Review of The Book of Luke
by Alex Kassouf, SHS 2004
Alex Kassouf, SHS Researcher
Luke Daniels is a successful criminal prosecutor attorney that has a likable personality and strict business rules. When he breaks one of his professional rules and meets a client out of his office, everything goes wrong. After meeting the beautiful Susan Weeks, his out-of-office client, he completely forgets about why he has agreed to meet her and accept her as a client. He is instantly attracted to her and soon ends up sleeping with her. After Luke leaves that same night, an intruder comes in and murders Susan. To top it off, Luke never found out why Susan came to him for legal advice.
Luke has to deal with the rumors and gossip that gets spread around in the fictional southern town of Hampton, Mississippi and the corruption in the legal system. When Luke is put on trial for Susan's murder, he has to deal with a judge and District Attorney that are out for blood trying to blame this murder on anyone before the upcoming election. Luke is torn between the passion he had with Susan and the accusations that he is the murderer. In the midst of it all, Luke sees what its like to be in the defendant's seat.
I think this book is a good crime suspense novel, and once I started reading The Book of Luke, I did not want to put it down. A lot of time in the book is spent on developing the characters and Medley is very descriptive. However, there are a lot of grammar errors which should have been caught by an editor. I also think the ending was kind of abrupt and should have had a more descriptive and detailed resolution to go along with the well described characters. Overall, I thought this book was good and gave a good setting and plot.
Interview with Don Medley (2004)
What inspired you to write this book?
I have always wanted to write since high school days when I won some writing contests and awards. I have always been strong in English, grammar, literature and after many years of talking about it finally did it.
What made you want to become a lawyer?
I had a strong desire to assist people who seemed to not have a voice and were at a disadvantage in the system.
What was it like writing from the side of the defendant?
My practice involves a considerable amount of criminal work, so I was able to look at the situation from the point of the client.
Who is your favorite author?
I like a lot of different writers, but some of my favorite modern authors are Pat Conroy, Larry McMurtry, James Michener
This is your first book. Do you plan to write other books? If so, are you working on it now ?
Yes, I am working on a story now that has a working title of Three Women, the story of a woman who finds out her husband is having an affair and then kills him and makes it look like an accident.
Have any life experiences inspired you to write this book ?
My research was going to work everyday.
The Medley Law Firm website
Don Medley's LinkedIn Profile
Medley, Don. Email Interview. 17 May. 2004.
"Don Medley." RA Publishing. April 23,2004. May 5, 2004 <http://208.62.116.20:83/don.html>.
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