We’re halfway through 2023, and my blog posting has been abysmal. Why? I’ve been working hard to finish the next book in the series. Here’s a sneak peek look at the incredible cover by Cheri Foxley:

If you read the sample chapter at the end of Book Two, you know that in the middle of a brutal storm, Davia discovers some men burglarizing Bryce’s Boutique—and she doesn’t come out the better for the encounter.

I do a lot of research both before and during my writing. Some of the books and documentaries I read or watched to prepare for Book 3 include:

• Filthy Rich by James Patterson
• Trained to Kill: Soldiers at War by Theodore Nadelson, M.A. M.D.
• “Contraland” A documentary about child sex trafficking by Veterans for Child Rescue (V4CR)

What other topics did I research for this book?

• Human and labor trafficking
• PTSD
• Global home invasion organized crime burglary rings
• Luxury store theft
• Amenities in the homes of billionaires
• Gun collections
• Domestic turkeys
• High-end security measures
• Relationships
• Social media influencers…and MUCH MORE.

Click Here for a Sneak Peek Video of Scenes from Posh & Perilous

 What else have I been doing?

Clubhouse

If you want to listen in on the problems of being a mystery/thriller writer, join me along with co-moderators Collings McCrae and Judy Hutson on Clubhouse.

We meet on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. PST to discuss the writing craft in The Thriller/Crime Mystery Space room.

All of our sessions are recorded and available for replay. My fantastic narrator, Stacey Lind, joined us..and sounded a bit like Davia Glenn.

Reading/Editing

The best way to improve as a writer is to get honest feedback. I submit work regularly to trusted readers and The Beta Reader Book Club on Clubhouse and love how the critiques have improved my writing.

I type sections of Elmore Leonard’s books to learn from a master of dialogue, setting, and craft. I recently finished reading LaBrava, a 1983 mystery that earned Leonard the Edgar Award. If you haven’t heard of Elmore Leonard, perhaps you’ve heard of the TV show Justified or the movies based on his work: Get Shorty, Be Cool, 3:10 to Yuma, Jackie Brown, Out of Sight.

One of my favorite books by Leonard is Tishomingo Blues.

When’s the Release Date?

August 22, 2023

The book will be available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Ingram Spark. Stacey Lind will narrate the audiobook, which will be available on Audible and iTunes once the engineer finishes. I will announce that date when we have a better timeframe.

Do you miss me? If so, I encourage you to stalk me on social media:

Instagram @thelauraakers

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TikTok @thelauraakers

Twitter @LauraAkers

BookBub:  Laura E. Akers