Speaking about books
Laurie Fagen will be the guest speaker for an Ahwatukee book club on March 13 via zoom about her debut novel, “Fade Out.” She will also talk about “Fade Out” on April 21 for the Valley Unitarian Universalist book club.
If you’re looking for a dynamic, entertaining speaker, Laurie Fagen is available to speak in person or via Zoom for book clubs, service organizations, critique groups or whomever wants to hear about her writing journey.
Topics include about writing mysteries, making the transition from journalist to novelist, writing strong female characters among other topics. Email her at Laurie@ReadLaurieFagen.com for her availability.
Welcome
Happy New Year!
Do you make resolutions?
I am one of those who likes to make one or two resolutions each year. They must be practical and do-able, and I usually get them to stick. Like the resolution a few years ago to get a monthly massage. That has become a solid, much anticipated event in my life.
For 2022, I resolve to spend more quality time with friends and family. Coffee, lunch, happy hour, dinner or just to sit and chat is something I’m looking forward to.
“Focus” is not often in my vocabulary, and I did try this a few years ago to not much success, but I’m going to try to focus more on writing this year. I feel like I have a little more control over writing than art, both from the standpoint of being able to write from anywhere, and with the resources for marketing and sales. I will continue to try to market my fiber art and jewelry, but will look for gift shops and boutiques who are interested. If you know of any, please let me know. If you didn’t know about my fine art side, visit www.FagenDesigns.com for a glance into my wall art and wearable art.
So, for 2022, I am excited about starting a new series called “Behind the Lens” mysteries, about a tough freelance television digital journalist/videographer who covers major crimes and traumatic events. As I develop her character, I know “TJ Banks” is going to be fun to write. Plus, I can send her around the world, which will be a great challenge.
But no worries — Lisa Powers is not going away! I probably have at least a couple more books in the “Behind the Mic” series, and who knows: she might meet TJ at some point.
Meanwhile, my latest crime fiction novel, “Bleeder,” book #3 in my crime fiction novel series “Behind the Mic Mysteries,” launched in Nov. 2021. I will be recording and releasing the audiobook for “Bleeder” in 2022. You can get it here in print and ebook and in Kindle Unlimited: https://tinyurl.com/GetBleeder
If you’re in the Phoenix area, I’m happy to personalize a book for you or for a gift – email me at Laurie@ReadLaurieFagen.com.
And let me know what resolutions you are making for 2022 in the comment section below.
Meanwhile, here’s the general logline for the different plotlines you’ll find in “Bleeder:”
While covering the crime beat for KWLF Radio in Chandler, AZ, reporter Lisa Powers witnesses a powerful domestic violence incident that forever changes her.
She investigates a cold case to find those who gunned down a divorced mom outside her home, but the killers find her first.
Lisa must put her emotions aside to cover the trial of cop shooter T-Bone Peters 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 missing piece of art.
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 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 fictionalized.
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!
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 available in e-book, print and audio book on Amazon at https://tinyurl.com/BuyDeadAir.
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
Just Another Writer’s Blog
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