Bestselling author David Baldacci ’86 is writing a new chapter for some students at the University of Virginia School of Law. Through a $1.5 million donation, he is endowing a scholarship, public service summer fellowship and public service loan forgiveness fund in his name.
He’s punctuating that gift with a visit to the school Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. in Caplin Pavilion to discuss his new book, “A Calamity of Souls.” In the book, set in Virginia in 1968, a duo of white and Black lawyers defend their wrongfully accused Black clients in a racially charged murder trial. Amazon named “A Calamity of Souls” as one of the Best Books of the Year So Far 2024. Baldacci will sign copies of the book, which will be available for sale by UVA’s Courts and Commerce bookstore, after his talk.
Baldacci has published 50 novels for adult readers, starting with “Absolute Power” in 1996, which was made into a movie by director Clint Eastwood, who also starred in the film. All of Baldacci’s novels have been national and international bestsellers, and several have been adapted for film and television. Baldacci has also written seven novels for young readers. The Virginia native earned his bachelor’s degree at Virginia Commonwealth University before graduating from UVA Law.
In a Q&A, Baldacci discusses his new book, how UVA Law librarians helped with research for it, and why he gave back to his alma mater.
What inspired your latest book?
Growing up in Richmond, Virginia, during the Civil Rights Era made a huge impact on me. I started writing “A Calamity of Souls” on Christmas Day in 2012. I did the first 150 pages by hand in a journal that my wife gave me as a present. Then I set it aside for nearly a decade, continually going back to it and wondering if I had the capacity to finish it. Finally, seeing how the country was going at many levels, I felt the story still had relevance. So I spent the last two years finishing it. It’s autobiographical in many ways, and that is a humbling endeavor for any writer, particularly one used to producing fiction.
You’ve written 57 books. How do you keep things fresh for yourself as a writer?
I keep challenging myself to get out of my comfort zone. I’ve written family dramas, historical fiction, fantasy. I never want to lapse into formula, asking myself how did I do it last time. I think that’s also why I write so many different series; with each one I have to create a brand-new world from scratch and conjure characters to inhabit that new territory.
How did you have time to write as a young lawyer starting out? Did your legal training help?
I’d been writing since I was a child. When I was at UVA Law School, I remember being back in my apartment trying to write short stories while my classmates were sensibly trying out for law review and moot court. It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do with my life. Being a lawyer certainly helped that cause. The only arrows in my quiver as an attorney were words. And as a lawyer, I was a storyteller. I had the same trial record as the other side, but I had to fashion creative arguments and polemics that would convince a judge or jury to consider my version the most plausible. Plus, the business background that I gained from practicing has served me well in doing my own publishing and film deals.
We heard you called on the UVA Law Library and others for help with your latest book. What did they assist with?
The UVA Law Library staff were able to find a rules of evidence publication as well as a litigator’s courtroom and investigation procedural reference work from around the time period the book was set, which was enormously helpful. In addition, Emeriti Professors Richard Bonnie and Mildred Robinson read an early draft and provided valuable and insightful feedback.
What’s a fond memory of your time from law school?
When I studied the UCC [the Uniform Commercial Code], I did an old-fashioned version of a spreadsheet, namely I taped 20 or so pages of copy paper together and worked out how each UCC article worked with and flowed into the next. When I went to the library, I would unroll it across the floor and my study mate and I would use it to prepare for class and exams.
My first day of school, my car wouldn’t start, so I had to walk hauling all of my books. I went through neighborhoods to get there since Route 29 was not pedestrian-friendly. I got hopelessly lost, got directions from multiple people I passed and ran the last half-mile or so, spurred on by my having been told that if you didn’t show they would give your seat to someone on the waitlist. [He made it to class with 10 minutes to spare.]
Which of your books would you recommend for the UVA Law audience, and why?
“A Calamity of Souls” and “The Simple Truth.” Both are law-dominated and have lawyers as main characters.
What advice do you have for lawyers dreaming of one day spending more time on writing?
Ask yourself why you want to write. If your answer is “I hate my day job and want to sell the film rights and retire,” not so good. If you love words and love even more using them to build stories, then you should proceed. Find something you don’t know a lot about, but would like to know a lot about, and then immerse yourself in that world. That fascination and passion will elevate your characters, plot and prose.
Why did you want to give to UVA Law? What do you hope your gift will do?
I give to UVA Law because a law degree can be used for so many different endeavors that can positively impact society. People joke that we already have too many lawyers. That may be the case in some ways, but in other ways I feel we don’t have enough lawyers using their degrees to push for actions, precedents and laws that can help millions realize better lives and thereby uplift society as a whole. A high bar indeed, but why not shoot for the stars? I hope my gifts funding scholarships, and stipends and debt forgiveness for those going into public-sector careers, will help to push such an agenda forward.
Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.
