Many people ask how I accomplish all that I do. The simple, and practical answer, is “schedule, schedule, schedule.”

I’ve mostly been sticking to my Monday through Friday morning writing routine, which sometimes includes reading the daily digital newspaper with my coffee and breakfast, and sometimes I head right to the computer before the paper, and certainly before checking Facebook or email.

I’m enjoying the cooler temps as I sit in the loft of my condo in Prescott, where I’ll be for about a month. I’ve got my computer, printer and coffee warmer set up, and it’s a very conducive spot to write, especially with the rain we’ve had recently. Love the pitter-patter sounds of raindrops on the sky light.

Prescott condo writing loft

Prescott condo writing loft

I’m about half way through the first draft of Dead Air, Book #2 in the “Behind the Mic Mysteries.” It includes a double homicide of two police officers, a weeklong manhunt for the suspect, a hostage situation and much more. The cold case is about a young girl who is abducted and sexually assaulted at age 4, but is now an adult. She helps our radio reporter, Lisa, try to find the rapist. Meanwhile, the murder mystery podcast is a 1940s film noir theme, and there are new episodes on the “Excerpts/Short Stories” page of my website at www.ReadLaurieFagen.com.

A few who have heard excerpts from the “Murder in the Air Mystery Theatre” podcast, called “L.N. Pane, Private Investigator,” say she may have to have her own series.

Two of my favorite lines from the new podcast include her retort to the gent who walks in her office, looking for the “private dick:”

            “Yer lookin’ at her,” I say for the tenth time this week, and it’s only Tuesday.

And, when the man says “a broad can’t be a P.I,” she answers:

             “Oh, yeah, why not, big guy? We broads got a few bulges that most gum-shoes don’t, and I ain’t talkin’ about no cup size.” With that, I swivel my chair around, and slowly cross my right leg over my left, lettin’ my skirt reveal just a tiny bit of the thigh holster…with my Remington Over/Under .41 derringer with a heckuva kick.

It’s chock full of 1940s gangster type slang, and I will have an entire glossary of the words used, thanks to William Denton, who has given me permission to use portions from his compilation called Twists, Slugs and Roscoes: A Glossary of Hardboiled Slang.

From “skirts, sisters and kittens” as references to women; to “gams” and “getaway sticks” which are words for women’s legs; and where a “C” is a $100 bill, it will hopefully transport you back to the days of “Sam Spade,” “Mickey Spillane” and other film noir characters back in the day.

In addition, for those fans of the alliteration from Book #1, Fade Out, you’ll be happy to know there’s plenty in Dead Air, such as “tart tomato in the tight attire,” and “the feasts his frau has been fixin’ for him.”

I know some writers suffer badly with writer’s block, but I guess from my days writing with a small child—knowing I only had a couple of hours of a naptime—I have rarely had that afflication.

In addition, I’ve usually really enjoyed writing, whether it was a freelance magazine or newspaper article; a spec screenplay; or a TV news story. But I have been pleasantly surprised at how much fun I’m having writing the second in this mystery series, especially the podcast portion. Most days I can’t wait to get to my computer to write, and am disappointed when something interrupts my schedule.

Do you have a great place to write? Post photos of your office, kitchen table, coffee shop chair or wherever you enjoy writing on my Read Laurie Fagen page on Facebook and I’ll send everyone a free copy of Equalizer, my prequel novella to Fade Out.