Keith Bettinger is a retired Suffolk County (N.Y.) Police Officer. He’s been writing for law enforcement publications for more than 25 years and has received 18 awards for his articles, stories, poems, and books. He has a Master’s Degree in Human Relations with a major in Clinical Counseling. During his career he received the department’s Bravery Medal, Silver Shield Award, Meritorious Police Service Award, Special Service Award, Professionalization Award, Department Recognition Award, five Headquarters commendations and six Precinct commendations. He also was a field training officer and an instructor on Post Shooting Trauma and Critical Incidents.
Keith has written two books, Fighting Crime With “Some” Day and Lenny, and End of Watch. He has also contributed stories to the following anthologies: Cop Tales 2000, Charity, True Blue, To Protect and Serve, and Dad’s Bow Tie. He also shares with Jack Miller, the screenplay Master Cheat. Keith lives in Las Vegas with his wife Lynn.
BMH: How many times do you redo the opening of your stories before you are satisfied with it?
KB: I would say I have redone quite a few openings to stories.
BMH: How do you choose the names for your characters?
KB: I like names that roll off the tongue. I like “T”’s in the name of my characters, especially the lead characters. I hate when writers have characters named very similar to the other characters.
BMH: What do you do to prepare yourself to write?
KB: I like to have a diet Coke handy so I don’t have to go get one while working and wish I remembered to shut off incoming telephone calls from telemarketers. I like to have a solid idea of where my thinking is going to lead to. I use a big handmade desk my son made for me.
BMH: How do you put yourself into the skin of someone of the opposite sex to write a strong character who is not of your gender?
KB: What’s sex? Seriously I like gentle love scenes. Things I wouldn’t have been afraid to show my mother yet get the message out that these characters are about to make love – not have wanton sex.
BMH: It has been said that there is a little good and a little evil in all of us. Do you believe that? If so, do you believe you pull a bit of the bad out of you and put it into your villains?
KB: Yes, but I believe it comes about by people being naïve. My wife’s cousin a brilliant engineer was watching TV and the cop lied. Surprise it’s done all the time. There is even a judicial case that allows cops to lie.
BMH: What do you consider the most important thing in writing a good plot?
KB: Keeping up with my main character. Is he humorous? What are his faults? Can he carry the role? I enjoy Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, but now Harry is old with bad knees and a sub character, a female detective name Rena Ballad to help carry the load. Connelly probably never thought when he started how popular Harry would be and live in print.
BMH: Has your writing ever gotten you into any trouble?
KB: Maybe early in my police career but as I got older my letters to bosses explaining what happened got me and my partner out of trouble.
BMH: What are your hardest scenes to write?
KB: I would have to say two types of scenes. First would have to be romance scenes. It’s like the three bears, “this is too much romance, this is too little romance and somewhere I’m supposed to find what’s “Just right”. The second is comedy. What is funny to one person, is not funny to another. The little comedy book I did, Fighting Crime with “Some” Day and Lenny was bounced story by story off my critique group before submitting it for publication.
BMH: What is your favorite thing about the writing process?
KB: It keeps my senior brain working. I get to share stories, events and ideas with friends and potential friends.
BMH: What is the most difficult part of your artistic process
KB: I think the most difficult part is trying to find mediums for my work. Magazines are limiting space for submitted materials. Advertising is important to keep the publication fund raising.
BMH: What is the best encouragement/advice you’ve received in your writing journey?
KB: When I moved to Las Vegas 20 years ago, I decided to take another writing course at the community college, hoping it would be better that the ones I took in New York. I had the good fortune to sign up for a writing course given by Robert Cawley – a genius. He ran a fantastic class where you couldn’t wait for the next class to begin. He was a father figure to many writers here in Las Vegas and in Hollywood.
BMH: When did you first know you were going to be a writer?
KB: In 1983 I was going for my master’s degree. I was writing about nightmares in police who were involved in shootings. I interviewed an Law enforcement trainer and offered him a copy of my paper, Dreams Related to Post Shooting Trauma. He said he would like it. He liked it so much he gave it to one of his editors who bought the rights to the article.
BMH: What is something you wish someone would have told you before you became an author?
KB: Too keep a pen and pad next to the bed so when you get woken from a sound sleep with a brilliant idea WRITE IT DOWN! I wish someone would still give me that advice.
BMH: Why crime fiction?
KB: Crime fiction because it can be taken in so many different directions and still tell a story. However, I just don’t write fiction. Murder In McHenry is true crime.
BMH: What is something you’ve never written about, but hope to some day?
KB: I would have to say the urge to write something new hasn’t struck me yet.
BMH: How big a part did your upbringing have on your writing?
KB: My mother and father were divorced. We lived with my grandparents for quite a while and the foster children they raised. When my mother remarried the family grew. I recently wrote stories about the family and gatherings. The two generations before me are all gone now. I’m the oldest of the next generation.
BMH: In real life, who is you hero/heroine? Why?
KB: That’s easy, my wife Lynn. We met on a blind date. First two dates were terrible. Told her one more date if it doesn’t work out that’s it. That was almost 50 years ago. She has comforted me on the days when children were dead or injured on the job. She was there for me when I was involved in a fatal shooting – and we weren’t even married 2 months at the time. And most importantly, she is the comma queen of my writing abilities. She can always find a place in need of a comma.
BMH: What two words best describes your writing style?
KB: 3 words – tearful at times.
BMH: What are you working on now?
KB: I am working on my next book STATIONHOUSE TALES. Being published by Next Chapter books. Stories of police work, fact and fiction, that you the reader must decide. I won’t tell. Not only is the print version being worked on but so us the audio version. I can’t wait.
BMH: Where can people find out more about you?
KB: Well if you google Keith Bettinger you will find there are a handful of us – surprised me too. In the photos I’m the round one with no knowledge of global warming, like the other one does. If you really want to get ahold of me I am but an email away at keithbett@cox.net.
