Writing/Life Lessons
Jim Grayson
Jim Grayson has always been a man who works to live. His pursuits have included flying airplanes and helicopters, SCUBA instructor, ski patrol, sailing, and other adventures designed to pry him off the couch. His professional law enforcement career began in the 1970’s, where he served as patrol officer, sergeant, watch commander, and patrol division commander. Jim’s tenure has always emphasized de-escalation techniques or calming the waters during potentially violent encounters. That career was followed by 22 years in security management and consulting, including 5 years with UCLA’s Southern California Injury Prevention Research Center exploring crime prevention in schools and small retail establishments.
Jim’s interests have always included writing in various forms, including reports, poetry, songs, and short stories. His writing interests shifted to novels in the last 10 years. Jim has written 4 novels with one self -published work: Trailer Vamp – Love Bites. Jim’s life has always been characterized by an ability to think outside the box—more accurately it may have been his inability to think inside the box.
Contact Jim at [email protected]
Presentations
01
Writing
Storytelling–Fitting the Pieces Together
Every story is made up of parts that come together like a beautiful mosaic.
02
Writing
Creating Characters Who Will Thrive in Your Story
The best stories have characters who take on a life of their own.
03
Writing
Using Outlines and Mind Maps to Overcome Writer’s Block
Every writer has faced the horror of a blank page and blank mind. This presentation will help you get over the hurdle and become productive again.
04
Life Lessons
How Technology Changes Culture and Those Who Write About It
Technology is ubiquitous. It has affected every aspect of our lives. This presentation will show how we can make technology work in our favor.
05
Life Lessons
Police Work: A View From the Inside
The true work of police is very different from what is portrayed in movies and on television. This talk will explain how things are on the inside from someone who has been there.
06
Life Lessons
The Secrets of De-escalation– How to Calm the Waters
This presentation will help those in your organization learn how to bring a volatile situation to one of calm and reason. .
07
Life Lessons
Understanding K-12 School Security
We live in a time where we are just waiting to hear about another terrible school event. Learn how to minimize the chances of this having at your schools.
08
Life Lessons
Using Environmental Change to Reduce Crime
There are simple things stores and businesses can do to bruild relationship with the community and cut down on crime.
09
Life Lessons
Using Customer Service to Reduce Crime
Learn how to build trust between your business and the community. Vandals and criminals rarely attack a business that creates a relationship of respect.
Publications
The Love Bite
Josh Blackthorn frowned, recalling his former life as a successful bio-engineer. He was now finishing his second year as a vampire. Not that it had been a terrible life. Vampires had become quite civilized over the years. His hand touched the bite mark on his neck. Becky Truman, the high school girl of his dreams, had given him that love bite, turning him into a creature of the night at his ten-year high school reunion. Becky left him the same night. If only Josh had known that Becky would soon rejoin him to face religious vampire hunters, outlaw bikers, and a sinister, Old World vampire with an army of hit-vamps and an evil plan to take over Chicago. After that, who knows. Maybe Dubuque.
Wolf Tales
Josh Blackthorn is back! Someone has been kidnapping werewolves from Northern Illinois. You may ask yourself: where is the problem? But a budding friendship with the Illinois werewolves, and concern for his own vampire community, means Josh Blackthorn must work with Chicago Police Lieutenant Sean O’Brien and Suzy the sexy werewolf to find out what happened to them. Becky Truman will be at Josh’s side as they deal with sinister kidnappers, subversive paramilitary organizations, and a robotic kidnapper with a surprise inside.
Sunshine and Shadow
Romance blooms as Josh Blackthorn and Becky Truman attend their fifteen-year high school reunion as an engaged couple. Since the pair are attending with two other vampires and a werewolf, the night promises to be memorable. Josh, Becky, and friends will face a dangerous assault from the Chicago Mafia. And the vampire and werewolf communities must work together in a specially trained unit of the Chicago Police Department to deal with a few disgruntled dragons busy pillaging the Windy City. Will vampires and werewolves really be able to work together?