Fall Author Boutique Spotlight: Meet R.A. DeMarco

An Author Q&A

One of my favorite parts of planning The Fall Author Boutique has been getting to know the incredible authors who will be joining us this September. Every conversation reminds me that behind every book is a unique journey—and Robert DeMarco's is one that immediately caught my attention.

Before becoming a published author, Robert spent more than two decades serving as a detective with the New York City Police Department. His debut novel, The Line That Held, is inspired by a real internal corruption investigation that shaped both his career and his life. Rather than writing a memoir, Robert chose to tell the story through fiction, giving readers a gripping police thriller rooted in authentic experiences while exploring difficult questions about integrity, loyalty, and the personal cost of doing what's right.

On Saturday, September 26, Robert will be joining us at The Fall Author Boutique: A Cozy Literary Pop-Up Experience in St. Augustine, where he'll participate in our live Nonfiction & True Story Author Q&A Panel and meet readers throughout the afternoon. If you've ever wondered what it's was like to investigate fellow officers, transform real-life experiences into fiction, or navigate the journey from detective to novelist, you're going to enjoy getting to know Robert.

I recently had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about his writing journey, the inspiration behind The Line That Held, and what readers can expect when they meet him at the Fall Author Boutique.

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1. Tell us a little about yourself and what first inspired you to become a writer.

I never planned to become a writer, but in many ways, I have always written.

During my years as an NYPD detective, writing detailed reports and documenting investigations was an important part of my work. I learned how to organize complicated events, pay attention to small details, and explain what happened in a way that others could clearly understand.

After retiring from law enforcement, I continued into a second career in healthcare, but the story behind The Line That Held never really left me. I had lived through an investigation that consumed nearly two years of my life and affected me long after it ended. Eventually, I came to believe that the story was too compelling, and too important to remain untold. That was what first pushed me to sit down and turn those experiences into a novel.

2. What is your favorite part of being a professional writer and published

author?

My favorite part is knowing that the story is finally being shared. For many years, it existed only in my memories and in the official records of an investigation that most people knew very little about. Now readers can experience that world and understand some of the difficult choices, pressures, and personal consequences that came with it.

Becoming a published author also gave me a tremendous sense of accomplishment. Writing the book was one challenge, but completing the editing, formatting, publishing, and marketing process was an entirely different one. Seeing the finished book in someone’s hands and hearing that the story stayed with them makes all that work worthwhile.

3. What’s something readers would be surprised to learn about you?

Readers may be surprised to learn that I am very reserved and quiet. People sometimes expect a retired New York City detective to be loud, outgoing, or constantly telling police stories, but that has never really been my personality.

I tend to listen more than I speak, and I am usually observing what is happening around me. That probably helped make me a good detective. Investigations often depend on noticing what other people overlook, listening carefully, and allowing someone to reveal more than they intended.

Those same qualities also helped me as a writer because I naturally focus on behavior, small details, and what remains unsaid.

4. Paint a picture for us—what does a typical writing session look like?

Most of The Line That Held was written during the middle of the night. I work best when

everything is dark, quiet, and still, so writing often became an all-night event. Once the house settled down and there were no interruptions, I could completely immerse myself in the story.

My ideal writing environment is simple: a silent room, my computer, and a cup of coffee beside me. I do not listen to music while I write because I find it distracting. I need to be able to hear the characters and replay the scenes in my mind. There were many nights when I became so involved in the story that I would look up and realize the sun was beginning to rise.

5. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring authors?

Do not rush to publish. Finishing a manuscript is a major accomplishment, but it does not

necessarily mean the book is ready to be released. Take the time to have it properly edited, carefully proofread, and professionally formatted. Then check it again. Small mistakes that seem insignificant before publication can become very frustrating once the book is already available to readers.

I would also recommend having a marketing plan in place before the book is released. Writing the book is only one part of becoming an author. Readers cannot buy a book they do not know exists. Think ahead about how you will reach your audience, build awareness, gather reviews, and continue promoting the book after the initial excitement of publication has passed.

6. What are you working on next?

I am currently working on the second book in the Tony DeLuca series. It follows Tony after the events of The Line That Held as he attempts to leave Internal Affairs behind and rebuild his reputation as a precinct detective.

The next story moves into a different period of his career and explores new investigations, new partnerships, and the difficulties of trying to move forward when the past continues to follow him. Like the first novel, it will be inspired by actual cases and experiences from my law enforcement career, while continuing Tony’s personal journey.

7. Where can readers connect with you online?

Readers can connect with me on Facebook, where I share updates about The Line That Held, upcoming appearances, interviews, reviews, and progress on the next Tony DeLuca novel.

My Facebook page can be found under Robert DeMarco (@robert.demarco.378489.) They can also visit my website at robertademarco.com

8. What inspired you to tell this true story?

I lived through the investigation that inspired The Line That Held, and for nearly two years it consumed almost every waking moment of my life. It was not simply another case. I helped create the investigative plan, watched it develop, and then had to live with the consequences after it was over.

I believed I was doing what was right, but doing the right thing did not protect me from the fallout. The investigation affected my career, my relationships within law enforcement, and the way some people viewed me. Those experiences stayed with me for decades. I wanted readers to understand not only how an investigation like this unfolded, but also what it cost the people involved, especially those who were expected to investigate members of their own profession.

9. Was there ever a moment when writing became emotionally difficult?

Yes. Writing the book brought back emotions that I had carried for many years regarding both the investigation and its aftermath. Some scenes were easy to describe factually, but the emotions connected to them were much harder to revisit.

There were moments when I found myself questioning whether everything I had done had been worth the personal cost. I had believed that doing the right thing would be enough, but the reality was much more complicated. Writing forced me to confront feelings about loyalty, isolation, acceptance, and the effect the investigation had on the rest of my career. At times it was difficult, but it was also necessary to tell the story honestly.

10. What do you hope readers take away from your experience?

I hope readers place themselves in Tony DeLuca’s position and ask what they would have done.

It is easy to say that we would always do the right thing when there is nothing at risk. The real test comes when doing the right thing could cost us friendships, acceptance, career opportunities, or our place within a group that means everything to us.

Most people want to belong. We want to be respected and accepted by those around us. But what happens when telling the truth threatens that acceptance? Would we continue, knowing what it might cost, or would we look the other way? I do not necessarily want to tell readers what conclusion to reach. I want them to think about the decision and decide for themselves where their own line would be.

11. Why did you choose to write the story as fiction instead of a memoir?

Writing the story as fiction gave me the freedom to protect the identities of people who were involved and to avoid unnecessarily reopening wounds for individuals and families who may still be affected by events that occurred more than thirty years ago.

It also allowed me to change names, compress timelines, combine certain individuals, and alter some outcomes to create a more cohesive novel. A memoir would have required me to remain strictly tied to every date and detail. Fiction allowed me to preserve the truth and emotional reality of what happened while shaping those experiences into a story that could fully engage the reader.

12. The Line That Held is inspired by real events. How much of the novel comes

from your own experience?

The foundation of the novel comes directly from my own experiences. Tony DeLuca’s career, the central corruption investigation, the creation of the operation, and many of the incidents depicted in the book were inspired by events I personally witnessed or participated in during my NYPD career.

Names were changed, the timeline was compressed, and some characters and outcomes were altered for privacy and storytelling purposes. However, the central investigation, the pressure surrounding it, and the personal consequences are rooted in reality. I often describe the book as being closer to nonfiction than fiction because so much of its core actually happened.

13. What was the most difficult part of writing The Line That Held?

The actual writing came more naturally to me than I expected. Once I began, the story was already in my head, and many of the scenes had remained vivid in my memory for decades.

The most difficult part came afterward. Editing, proofreading, formatting, and preparing the book for publication became a long and sometimes frustrating process that lasted for months. I learned that finishing the story is not the same as finishing the book. There are countless technical and publishing decisions that must be made before a manuscript is truly ready for readers. That part of the process tested my patience far more than writing the novel itself.

14. Was it difficult to write about police corruption after spending your career in

law enforcement?

It was extremely difficult because I have always believed deeply in the police profession.

I grew up wanting to become a police officer, my father served in the NYPD, and the badge became a major part of my identity. I spent twenty three years in law enforcement and retired as a First Grade Detective. I remain proud of that service.

At the same time, no organization as large as the NYPD, or any major police department is immune from having individuals who abuse their authority. Acknowledging that does not diminish the service of the overwhelming majority of officers who perform an incredibly difficult job honorably.

The personal difficulty came from being asked to investigate other police officers. There were professional risks, internal politics, and the unwritten expectations associated with the thin blue line and police brotherhood. I believed that protecting the integrity of the badge sometimes meant confronting those who dishonored it, but that belief came with a price. The tension between loyalty to fellow officers and loyalty to what the badge is supposed to represent is at the heart of the book, and it continues to affect me today.

15. What are you most looking forward to about participating in the Fall Author

Boutique?

I am looking forward to meeting readers and sharing the experiences behind the book in a more personal way. A novel can tell readers what happened, but a live conversation gives me the opportunity to explain the emotions, decisions, and real-life circumstances that inspired the story.

I hope the panel discussion will help bring The Line That Held to life and allow people to better understand the world Tony DeLuca enters. I am also looking forward to meeting the other participating authors, hearing about their journeys, and connecting with readers who genuinely enjoy discovering new books and the stories behind them.

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Author H.R. Burkett writes fiction about messy people, complicated relationships, and beautifully imperfect lives.

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