Author Spotlight: Author Ross Gallen
Author Ross Gallen is a compelling storyteller whose work left a lasting impression on me. I was genuinely struck after reading Betrayed. Today, I’m giving him this space to share a few insights about himself and his journey as a writer.
"All days are good days. Some days are better than others."
I am a novelist and storyteller and lifelong litigation attorney exploring the intricate intersections of memory, place, and the human spirit.
From years of observation and a deep-seated passion for literary craftsmanship, I invite readers into worlds that are emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating. My writing philosophy is rooted in the artisanal—each sentence carefully weighted, each character breathed into life with purpose and empathy. I am dedicated to weaving tales that linger long after the final page is turned.
Religious extremism in Iran has disrupted individual security. The Mullahs and the IRGC threaten western civilization. Preaching “Death to America” is not acceptable free speech. We are the inheritors of the Magna Carta and through our Constitution uphold the dignity of the individual. Extremist Iranian Muslim elements would destroy our values and leave us to the capricious conduct of religious fanatics.
My colleagues questioned why I would pursue writing of novels when my career as a litigation attorney was full. My explanation was simply that while prosecuting and defending a plethora of criminal and civil cases, I was privileged to look through the window of many individuals' minds and explore the reasons for their behavior. I was driven by the urge to record what I observed. I wanted to record the good and the bad and put their thoughts into real characters who could be appreciated by readers, allowing each reader to arrive at his or her own conclusions.
In my professional life, I have seen good and evil as well as brutality. I believe words can be used to present a transparent reality. When there is transparency without deception, it is difficult to perpetrate evil conduct. Truth isn't requested, it is demanded! Deception lurks around every corner.
I graduated from the University of Redlands, simultaneous earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. After a brief time in graduate school at the University of California, I pursued law at California Western School of Law, where I earned my Juris Doctor degree.
I am a member of the State Bar of California and the State Bar of Texas. As a Deputy District Attorney, I had the privilege of arguing the landmark case of In re Kay before the Supreme Court of California.
I refined my courtroom skills as a Deputy Public Defender, representing clients charged with capital murder and other serious felonies, before becoming a managing partner in a civil litigation firm.
Over the years, I served as a Judge Pro Tem of the Orange County Superior Court and have been recognized in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Pre-eminent Lawyers in America.
Today, I devote my time to writing fiction and continuing the practice of law—two professions that, in different ways, allow me to explore justice, human nature, and the enduring importance of Constitutional freedoms.
Ross Gallen
Attorney at Law
