By: Charlie Bridges
Writing a compelling legal drama is no small feat, but for father-and-son team David and Humberto Cancio, it’s a labor of love rooted in storytelling and family ties. Their debut novel, ‘Gabriel Lock: Bound by Law,’ takes readers on a journey through the life of a lawyer navigating the complexities of his profession, personal relationships, and moral dilemmas. Set against the vibrant and gritty backdrop of 1980s Miami, the story intertwines legal intrigue with deeper societal issues like corruption, crime, and the elusive pursuit of the American Dream. In this exclusive Q&A, the Cancios delve into their unique writing process, revealing how their own father-son relationship helped shape the heart of the story. Together, they’ve not only spun a gripping tale of justice but also layered it with the richness of personal experience and a deep understanding of life’s ethical struggles, leaving readers eagerly anticipating what’s next for Gabriel Lock.
How does Gabriel’s relationship with his father shape his journey in both his professional, personal, and spiritual life?
Humberto: In our backstory for Gabriel, which may or may not appear in a novel at some point, Gabriel would go to his father’s office to do his homework as a young boy and later as a young man because his mother, who was a teacher, would also help his father at the office when the school day was over. Gabriel would observe his dad interact with his clients and thought that being a lawyer was something he would like to be when he grew up.
Did your father-son relationship influence this aspect of the book?
David: It did as a basis for describing their workflow and working together. A lot of their interactions are modeled on how my father and I have executed our outlines and planning, character development, and his explanation of the law, as much as mine for the narrative. So I would say a lot from an objective point of view.
In the book, Gabriel must balance his duties as a lawyer with the search for truth. How did you approach exploring the tension between legal obligations and personal integrity?
Humberto: Professionally, there is a fine line drawn by the ethical rules of the legal profession, and those must always be followed. For instance, a lawyer is allowed to present his client’s story before the court no matter what that may be, but he is not allowed to ask a witness questions about that story if he knows it is a lie. So consequently, in prepping, the lawyer wants to know everything he needs, but not to the point where the client or any witness confesses that what he or she is saying is a lie. The attorney can go forward with presenting the client’s side of the story even if he or she suspects it’s not true as long as the attorney does not know for a fact that it is a lie. That is a tough rule for personal integrity and why you sometimes hear lawyers espouse what seems to be a ridiculous theory of the case. They simply reflect the client’s version of the facts that they are stuck with. We see a version of this problem in the book.
What challenges did you face while writing a legal drama that was set several decades ago?
David: Apart from the difference in customs and values of the time, practically speaking, there was no internet, cell phones, barely computers, etc., faxes had just come into use so technological and historical accuracy was paramount.
Did you find it necessary to research the legal system of the 1980s to accurately portray Gabriel’s world?
Humberto: Luckily, I was there, and that made the process a whole lot easier, but I did make a mistake when we wrote a good storyline about a lottery winner who gets divorced only to find out that the lottery started a few years after the necessary data for the story. We had to scrap the storyline after it was fully developed and almost completely written.
How does *Gabriel Lock: Bound by Law* address the broader societal issues of the 1980s, such as corruption, crime, and the pursuit of the American dream?
David: The book addresses the intimate part of those issues through the cases. These show the cost to the clients and describe their difficulties in achieving the American Dream because of these issues.
Humberto: The perseverance necessary to continue to fight to attain the American dream is a relevant but hidden theme throughout the book. All these issues are a backdrop that runs through the book and rears its ugly head at moments but never overwhelms the personal drama of the characters in the storylines.
What are your plans for Gabriel Lock’s character?
David: Someone said that you don’t finish a book you only stop writing it. We will stop Gabriel when he says all we want Gabriel to say. So far, it’s seven books: One is now published, and two others are basically finished. Another two are fully outlined chapter by chapter. The Sixth one is conceptually developed with all the storylines in place, and the last one is thematically developed.
Do you envision his journey continuing in future books or other mediums like television or film?
Humberto: As David mentioned, we have seven novels planned for the series. We don’t want to peek into the future, but the structure of the Gabriel Lock Series is such that it lends itself to episodic television. It would be an inexpensive series to produce because the sets are mostly indoors, and the costuming is 1980’s business clothes, which is not necessarily elaborate. So yes, we confess to having thought it out. It’s almost impossible not to dream when creating something new.
‘Gabriel Lock: Bound by Law’ is now available on Amazon—grab your copy today and dive into this gripping legal drama!
Published by: Khy Talara
