Bestselling crime novelist Linda Fairstein gives mediabistro.com's Diane Clehane the inside story on drawing inspiration from New York City and her previous career as a sex crimes prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney's office. She also offers her insights into the book industry's current condition:

"Publishing has suffered the same ways every business has suffered because of the economy, but then in different ways because of e-books and publishing on-demand. It's a business in which many of us have been paid way too much in advance. The big money goes to the big authors. It's become a catch-22: if you've got a name, they print more of your books; they advertise you, and you're more likely to be reviewed."

Her advice to people who still want a crack at the big show: "Keep your day job and write." (Be sure to read the full article for all of Fairstein's tips on writing habits, publicity, and web sites, among other topics...)