Interview with Author Aaron Paul Lazar

Aaron Paul Lazar

Finger Lakes, New York

Oh, I have a real treat for you this morning, V&Vers, Aaron Paul Lazar, who writes to soothe his soul. I have long admired this work and his book covers. He's an award-winning, bestselling Kindle author of three addictive mystery series, thrillers, love stories, and writing guides. Aaron enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in upstate New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his website at http://www.lazarbooks.com and watch for his upcoming release, Voodoo Summer: a Gus LeGarde Mystery.

Good morning, Aaron, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the place for Art and Authors. Can you tell us what you're written?

LEGARDE MYSTERIES                                             

1. DOUBLE FORTÉ

2. UPSTAGED

3. MAZURKA

4. FIRESONG

5. TREMOLO: CRY OF THE LOON

6. DON’T LET THE WIND CATCH YOU

7. THE LIAR’S GALLERY

8. SPIRIT ME AWAY

9. UNDER THE ICE

10. LADY BLUES

11. VOODOO SUMMER (coming 2016)

THE LEGARDE MYSTERIES OMNIBUS

GREEN MARBLE MYSTERIES

1. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BILLY MOORE (formerly Healey’s Cave)

2. TERROR COMES KNOCKING

3. FOR KEEPS

TALL PINES MYSTERIES

1. FOR THE BIRDS

2. ESSENTIALLY YOURS

3. SANCTUARY

4. BETRAYAL

PAINES CREEK BEACH SERIES (LOVE STORIES)

1. THE SEACREST

2. THE SEACROFT

3. THE SEADOG

BITTERSWEET HOLLOW SERIES (ROMANTIC SUSPENSE)

1. DEVIL’S LAKE

2. DEVIL’S CREEK

3. DEVIL’S SPRING (coming in 2016)

WRITING ADVICE

WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volumes 1, 2, 3

My, goodness! Very impressive list. You have been a busy boy. What is your favorite genre to write?

Mysteries and Romantic Suspense

Favorite food. 

Thai cuisine, Honeycrisp Apples, Kale (seriously!), and anything from my garden.

Tea or coffee? 

Like ‘em both but gotta have my coffee!

Pizza or ice cream? 

Ice cream, especially love vanilla with hot raspberry sauce drizzled over it!

Wine or beer? 

I love Finger Lakes semi-dry Riesling

Where would you like to visit? 

I’ve never been to a tropical island, would love to be to a turquoise ocean and sand.

May I suggest Aruba? It's gorgeous. The water is the most magnificent shade of aqua, almost fluorescent turquoise. Favorite musical artist. 

Puccini

Love Puccini. Do you listen to music when you write? 

Yes, lots of artists from The Beatles to Loon Songs to opera. 

What makes you laugh?

My grandchildren. ;o) And watching Everybody Loves Raymond on TV! That show cracks me up.

Favorite work of art or sculpture. 

Any of Monet’s paintings. I can’t choose from his 1708 works, it’s just too hard.

How old were you when you started writing? 

I wrote lots when I was a teenager, but didn’t start writing novels until age 44 when my dad died.

Describe your perfect evening. 

Having a gourmet meal with my wife that we cooked together from my gardens, a nice glass of wine, and settling in to watch a movie together with our dogs at our side.

Where do you get your inspiration? 

From life: from my friend’s traumas, from the news, from my own life challenges. Plenty of material there!

What do you do when you get a writer's block? 

I stop writing for a little while and just “live life.” Pretty soon the well refills and I can’t stop writing for a long time.

Who is your favorite author? 

John D. MacDonald, Dick Francis

Best book you ever read. 

To Kill a Mockingbird.

Last book you read. 

Causing Chaos by Deborah Ledford.

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer? 

I’m an engineer in my day job.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why? 

My father. He was a true Renaissance man, a pianist, lover of art, family, nature, and animals.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why? 

My mother. She just died in June and I miss her dreadfully.

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?  Write every day, even if you think it’s not “good” writing. Let your mind go. Let the words flow. It’s the best way to become a “real” writer. The process will help train you to produce on a regular basis.

THE SEADOG: A LOVE STORY. http://www.amazon.com/Seadog-story-Paines-Creek-Beach-ebook/dp/B01AY4877O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454941155&sr=8-1&keywords=THE+SEADOG

AWARDS:

Devil’s Lake

·       2015 Finalist Readers’ Favorites Awards

·       2015 Semi-finalist in Kindle Book Review Awards

The Seacrest

·       2015 Semi-finalist in Kindle Book Review Awards

·       2014 Best Beach Book Festival WINNER, Romance category

·       2013 ForeWord Book Awards, Romance, FINALIST

Double Forté 

·       2012 ForeWord BOTYA, Mystery, FINALIST

Tremolo: cry of the loon –

·       2013 Eric Hoffer Book Awards: Grand Prize Short List

·       2013 Eric Hoffer Book Awards: Honorable Mention, Eric Hoffer Legacy Fiction

·       2011 Global eBook Award Finalist in Historical Fiction Contemporary

·       2011 Preditors & Editors Readers Choice Award – 2nd place Mystery

·       2008 Yolanda Renée's Top Ten Books

·       2008 MYSHELF Top Ten Reads

For the Birds

·       2011 ForeWord Book Awards, FINALIST in Mystery

·       2012 Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Top 10 Reads

Essentially Yours

·       2013 EPIC Book Awards, FINALIST in Suspense

·       2013 Eric Hoffer Da Vinci Eye Award Finalist
The Disappearance of Billy Moore (formerly titled Healey’s Cave)

·       2012 EPIC Book Awards WINNER Best Paranormal

·       2011 Eric Hoffer Book Award, WINNER Best Book in Commercial Fiction

·       2011 Finalist for Allbooks Review Editor's Choice

·       2011 Winner of Carolyn Howard Johnson's 9th Annual Noble (not Nobel!) Prize for Literature

·       2011 Finalists for Global EBook Awards

 Terror Comes Knocking

·       2013 Global Ebook Awards, Paranormal – Bronze

For Keeps

·       2013 Semi Finalist in Kindle Book Review Book Awards, Mystery Category

Spirit Me Away

·       2014 AuthorsdB book cover contest, Silver medal.

Under the Ice

·       2015 AuthorsdB “Bronze” Cover Award

Websites:

www.lazarbooks.com

www.murderby4.blogspot.com

www.aaronlazar.blogspot.com

Social Media:

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

LinkedIn

Google+