Jennifer Jefferson is an attorney who worked on child abuse and neglect cases in the New Jersey Family Courts for several years. She has also practiced in the areas of domestic violence, custody, child support, divorce, and divorce mediation; devoting the majority of her practice to indigent clients. She received her J.D. from the City University of New York School of Law, and her M.F.A. from the Columbia University writing program. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and three sons.

Jennifer can be contacted by email: Jennifer@JenniferJefferson.net

Q & A

What inspired you to write Defending Violet?

My basic intent was to write a book about a criminal defense lawyer who takes a case that deeply affects her on a personal level; about the effect that the case has on her and the people she is close to.  I also wanted to explore the notion that facts as set forth in a court of law are not necessarily truth; that truth is not always absolute and can be open to interpretation; and that culpable is not necessarily the same as guilty.

You tackle the subject of child abuse in the book. That's a grim subject. Why write about it?

I needed to find a crime to write about and got the idea to write about shaken baby syndrome from a New Jersey case. I did not work on that case -- it was a criminal matter and I worked in the family courts. However, when I was midway through the book I started working on a case of shaken baby syndrome. That case, involving a real family, made me thoroughly examine my novel to ensure that it was accurate, both factually and emotionally.

Do you have a dog? Many author notes mention their dogs.

Writing is lonely work and dogs are good companions. And yes, I have a dog. An Australian Shepherd named Casey.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Read. Watch sports, especially the New York Giants and the New York Mets. Go hiking with Casey. Bake cookies. Read. Listen to ESPN radio and shows and archives on WFUV radio. Read. Spend time with my family. Read.