Speaking gigs coming back
Laurie Fagen is working on a number of events this fall, including over the Labor Day weekend in Chandler, for the Scottsdale Society of Women Writers Nov. 17, and in Hanapepe, Kauai in December.
She’s able to chat via Zoom for book clubs, service organizations, critique groups or whomever wants to hear about writing mysteries.
Topics include about writing, making the transition from journalist to novelist among other topics. Email her at Laurie@ReadLaurieFagen.com for her availability.
Welcome
‘Bleeder’ coming this fall
I’m thrilled to say I have been back at my writing desk, working on “Bleeder,” book #3 in my crime fiction novel series, “Behind the Mic Mysteries.”
I just sent what I think is a pretty solid draft to my faithful beta readers, and am looking forward to their comments.
Meanwhile, I’m starting the process to create the cover with my favorite graphic designer, Tad Smith, who has done my other covers.
If all goes well, I will send it to my Short on Time Books publisher, Karen Bryson, for editing, formatting, uploading and publication by this fall.
Meanwhile, here’s the general logline for the stories:
While covering the crime beat for KWLF Radio in Chandler, AZ, reporter Lisa Powers witnesses a powerful domestic violence incident. She takes the opportunity to educate her listeners by doing a series of stories on the subject, including about survivors and how police officers deal with “DV” cases.
She investigates a cold case of a divorced woman gunned down outside her home, thought to have ties to family issues.
Lisa must put her emotions aside to cover the trial of cop shooter T-Bone Taylor from book #2 “Dead Air,” and deal with the illness of one of her beloved rescue cats.
The campy murder mystery podcast she writes and produces is called “Art of the Steal” about an art gallery owner found dead and a piece of art missing.
The domestic violence story that launches Chapter 1 is mostly from my imagination, with a little help from various Writers Police Academy sessions I have attended over the years. Some of the cop information about “DV” are also from talking to law enforcement at those workshops as well.
Thanks to a couple of friends who gave me personal stories about similar situations they’ve been in.
The cop shooter tale is a continuation of the primary book #2 “Dead Air” story, which is based on an actual incident I covered during my television reporting days at an NBC affiliate in my home state of Iowa. In “Bleeder,” Lisa is sent to cover the trial of the cop shooter, moved on a change of venue to Prescott. This, too, is similar to the Iowa trial, which was moved from Waterloo across the state to Council Bluffs, which I covered for about two weeks.
The cold case is based on one I found in the online files for Chandler Police Department, but heavily fictionized.
And the podcast story is loosely based on some of my experiences running a contemporary art gallery in Chandler – but no one ever died there!
I’ll have more information as we get closer to publication, and you’ll be able to pre-order the book soon.
Thanks for all your support!
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About my books
Bleeder, the third book in the “Behind the Mic Mysteries,” is the continuing saga of intrepid radio reporter, Lisa Powers, who covers the trial of the cop shooter from the Dead Air book. I get to include details about the lovely mountain town that was my second home for five years. Lisa will also cover a domestic violence case, and the podcast is entitled “Art of the Steal,” about a crime in an art gallery.
I have have two audio books for “Fade Out” and “Dead Air,” both available on Audible and Amazon. My son, audio production engineer Devon J. Hancock, handled all the editing and mastering duties, as well as adding sound effects and original music (www.DevonJHancock.com)
If you like crime fiction mysteries, check out the novella “Deadly Misfire,” by Short on Time Books (www.ShortOnTimeBooks.com), which is available on Amazon. It’s the story of a mysterious man who stalks reporter Lisa Powers at a radio convention, and every day ramps up threats against her. She and her co-worker/boyfriend Dean Jeffries fear for her life as tensions build on the final night with an awards presentation for which Lisa is in the running with another reporter from New York, who coincidentally looks similar to Lisa. Info: https://tinyurl.com/BuyDeadlyMisfire.
“Dead Air,“ book #2 in the “Behind the Mic Mysteries,” is now available in both e-book and print on Amazon at https://tinyurl.com/BuyDeadAir. In addition, the audio book for Fade Out is is also online at Amazon and Audible.
Dead Air cover by Tad Smith of The Design Idea
The cold case Lisa works on is a 15-year-old sexual assault of a 4-year-old girl, who is now 19. The young victim has not had any closure all this time, and Lisa is determined to help her find the rapist.
Lisa’s “podcast,” which she writes for fun at night after covering gritty crime stories during the day, is a “film noir” style story of a 1940s private eye and a dame. Only L. N. Pane, P.I. is the dame and the gentleman seeks help finding out why someone is out to kill him.
There are other stories Lisa covers in “Dead Air,” and as well as a new potential love interest for our heroine.
You can hear an interview with me on Golden State Media Concepts, about my books, my background and many other subjects, includin
g my latest novella called “Deadly Misfire,” one of seven stories in a multi-author series called “Tawnee Mountain Mysteries.” Check out the podcast and blog cast at https://t.co/9WfsjTFBYw
For more details about my other novels, check out the “Novels” page above.
Equalizer cover by Tad Smith of The Design Idea
Fade Out cover by Tad Smith of The Design Idea
There’s additional information about my writing on my Amazon Author Page at amazon.com/author/lauriefagen. I would greatly appreciate a short review there, as my publisher says “it’s all about the algorithms” on Amazon.
Make sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter so you stay informed about my speaking engagements, contests, and other details. Visit the “contact page” to sign up.
“Fade Out” and “Dead Air” are available at Chandler public libraries; Sibley’s West Gifts, Chandler; Dog-Eared Pages, Phoenix; Peregrine Book Company, Prescott Center for the Arts Gallery and Prescott Library, Prescott
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