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I repeated my thirty seconds of speeding up and thirty seconds of rest method, sprinting around the park's track. I was panting hard when I rounded the bend coming back to where I'd started. I veered off the track, my sneakers crunching on the gravel, and I slowed to a walk heading towards the playground area to hit the drinking fountain over by the swings. The swings were moving from the tiniest breeze, but otherwise all was quiet. The water in the fountain was warm, and I let it cascade over the side of the bowl for a minute. I tested it with my hand, then leaned down and slurped some of the metallic-tasting, still-warm water. I closed my eyes and let the water splash into my face, shaking it off like a dog and wiping my eyes with my shirt. "Over here, please help me!" A woman's voice yelped through sobs. -- Elizabeth McCourt, Sin in the Big Easy I am delighted to chat with debut mystery author, Elizabeth McCourt. An executive coach and former trial attorney, she brings a realism to the story, and not just the courtroom scenes. Elizabeth brings nuance to all her characters, but especially her protagonist, Abby Callahan, in the first of a projected series, Sin in the Big Easy. Check out Elizabeth's website here (she's also on Twitter and Instagram), but also don't miss her TEDx talk, which appropriately enough is on the burden of carrying secrets. She also gives a shout-out to one of my favorite reads, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Woot! Sin in the Big Easy also deals with human trafficking, which is a terrifying and important issue. I can't help but mention Peg Brantley's book, Trafficked. Since I interviewed Peg, it has won several awards and continues to add to the national discussion. Also, if you have teenagers in the house, a good way to open up the discussion would be to check out author Pamela Samuels Young's YA version of her own novel, #Anybody's Daughter, which deals with domestic trafficking and teen safety. If you want to learn more or if you know someone who might need help, CNN recently published a list of organizations around the world who are fighting human trafficking. The nonprofit Elizabeth mentions in New Orleans that helps women who have survived trafficking is Eden House. Their mission is "Heal, Empower, Dream," and they offer prevention education as well as resources and recovery services. As always, if you'd rather read than listen, a transcript is below. Enjoy! -- Laura ********************************************************************* Transcript of Interview with Elizabeth McCourt Laura Brennan: Elizabeth McCourt is a certified executive coach, top-ranked financial recruiter, professional speaker -- and now, mystery author. Her debut thriller, Sin in the Big Easy, introduces attorney Abby Callahan, a woman whose personal life is even more complicated than her most recent case. Elizabeth, thank you for joining me. Elizabeth McCourt: Hey, Laura. Thank you so much for having me on your podcast. LB: So you have a fascinating background. EM: Oh, thank you. Thank you. Yes, everyone said to me, really? Mystery writer? Where did that come from? LB: Well, now, how did you start out? Did you start out in the financial market? EM: I started out right after college at Morgan Stanley, as an analyst. But then I went to law school. I didn't like that so much, and so I went to law school in New Orleans and fell in love with the city. Although I didn't stay there; moved out west and then, sort of full-circle, became a headhunter and then a coach. But this love of New Orleans and writing was with me throughout my life I would say. And so it just seemed, as this book evolved, to have it in New Orleans and use my legal background in some way just made sense and worked for the book. LB: Yes, one of those lesser-known uses of law school is getting to write legal thrillers. EM: Exactly! Yes, I feel like I have to use my legal background somewhere and writing i...