James Shipman: The Books Behind The Lawthor

I usually joke that I work two jobs. In a sense, that’s true. I carry a full time litigation and mediation practice as an attorney, and I’m a writer in the evenings and on weekends. I guess I’m a “Lawthor”.

I’m currently reading A Man on the Moon: The Voyages of the Apollo Astronauts by Andrew Chaikin. It’s an amazing book, outlining in detail each of the landings on the moon. The challenge for Chaikin was to make each subsequent landing interesting. Frankly, after 11 and 13, that’s a tall order. He did a wonderful job detailing the specifics of each mission.

The High King by Lloyd Alexander. I came across the Prydain Chronicles in fourth grade and read them over and over again. That launched my love of fantasy works.

I wrote a poem in third grade for Veterans’ Day and it was selected to read to the entire Elementary School. I thought I was pretty hot stuff!

An attorney, writer and a doctor. So I hit two out of three.

I think my school aged self would be pretty happy with how things have turned out. There were plenty of times along the way where I wouldn’t have believed I was going to do much with my life.

A History of the Modern World by R.R. Palmer, Joel Colton and Lloyd Kramer. I found this one volume history book to be the most concise, well written depiction of the world from the fall of Constantinople forward.

I read quite a bit, but it’s where and when I’m able. I read at home in bed at night for a few minutes, and also at the office at lunch. I’ve enjoyed Audible, with the option to have a Kindle book sync with the audio version. That way I can listen when I’m coming to and from work, but then pick up the story at lunch time or in the evening on my phone or my Kindle.

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. I found this book in college, and started utilizing the organisational tools. First and foremost, it helped me carve out little spaces of time each week to work on what is important to me. Without that, I would never have been able to find the time to write.

First, work on your writing consistently. Not only the actual writing but working with others and studying the craft. Second, be fearless. Keep writing, sending emails to agents and publishers, work your social media, self-publish, and go, go, go until you make it.

Going Home. That’s my last title. The book is a true story based on my Great Great Grandfather Joseph Forsyth. My father helped me do the research for the book. He died of cancer in 2013, but before he passed away, I was writing the book. I just wished he could have seen the published product.

In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick. A dreadful movie but the book is so well done. I also love the fantasy series The Belgariad by David Eddings. A fellow Snohomish former resident!

I love non-fiction history and fiction fantasy. Oddly, I don’t read much historical fiction.

I couldn’t imagine a life without reading. For me, reading is the same as breathing. I have never met anyone who constantly reads, who is not at the same time well rounded, interested in the world, open to new ideas, and a deep thinker.

I just reread the epic non-fiction series of the Civil War by Shelby Foote; it made my 2016.

I have switched to Kindle in the past few years. I love the ease of use, multiple formats, ability to store many books in a small place, etc. However, I love physical books. I have about 2,500 books in my home. Many of them are civil war books from my Dad’s collection. My library is my pride and joy.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Everything you need to know about humanity is within those pages.

Most recently, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. I think it’s the most beautifully written book I’ve experienced in the past ten years, and it pushed me to take my own writing to the next level.

Every Nathaniel Philbrick book. I love George RR Martin for the sweeping hot mess he’s created, breaking every literary rule along the way. Everything CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien.

The Right Stuff by Tom Woolfe and Apollo 13 by James Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger, I’m on a non-fiction space kick right now that I can’t seem to shake. My family is getting very tired of me suggesting space movies every time we sit down to watch something.

Persistence.