Toftoy is a highly decorated Vietnam veteran and an Arlington resident. He has written two novels: “It’s in the Eyes” and its sequel, “Eyes of Cold Case Killers.” He has a bachelor’s from West Point, a master’s from Tulane University and a doctorate in business administration. Toftoy taught for the School of Business at George Washington University for 17 years and is now a professor emeritus. He is married with two children and two Yorkshire terriers.
Was it a lifelong dream to write a novel?
I never thought about writing mysteries until 1994.One of my top business students was raped and murdered by two men in the area. It stayed on my mind, and I couldn’t let it go. Two to three years later, I decided to start writing my first book and dedicated it to her. It took nine years to write the first book.
You published your second book this year. What inspired you to write a sequel?
Everybody was saying, “What about a sequel?” … I dedicated “Eyes of Cold Case Killers” to all the police officers who have died in our surrounding area — Alexandria, Fairfax, Arlington and Falls Church. A portion of the proceeds received from the book will be donated to Heroes Inc., an organization dedicated to providing support tofamilies of fallen law enforcement officers and firefighters from the Washington metro area.
How much research goes into your writing? Are your books based on real crimes?
I interviewed homicide detectives, police chiefs and use real cold case files to research and create my book. I also use real places as I’m constructing my stories. I don’t want to be one of those authors that people laugh at when they read the story. I don’t think I admire anyone more than those cold case detectives, and that’s another reason I got inspired to write this book — Arlington County alone has 22 unsolved cases.
– Sara A. Carter
