Home
>
Writing
>
A Writers Life

A Writers Life

Ever wonder what an author's life is like? What that breathing, sweating, hungry, weary, bona fide guy does when he's not at the keyboard? How does his "day job" affect his writing? When he's mowing the lawn, grocery shopping, or babysitting grandchildren ? what goes through his mind? Is he sucking up every sensation as he moves through his day, tucking tidbits away for a future piece? Or, does he simply journey through life, just ? doing ? these things?

How do I define myself? Am I Aaron Paul Lazar, with the obligatory middle name, author of the LeGarde Mystery Series? Sometimes. At book signings, indeed. In the grocery store, frequently. But more often than not, I'm Papa, Dad, Honey, and just plain, old Aaron.

My day job pays the mortgage. I'm an electrophotographic engineer. I know, that term is really overwhelming. But it's what I do! I have worked with the same terrific set of colleagues for 24 years. Electrophotography is the science behind the digital presses that we design and manufacture at NexPress Solutions Inc. in Rochester, NY.

Strange as it may seem, my "day job" is not unrelated to my writing career. One might be hard put to understand how such work - data, science, formulas and hardware - could be even remotely related to writing. When I'm on a project, whether it's the development of a new toner to meet impossibly stringent standards, or solving a reliability problem in a complex system, there's always a mystery that needs to be solved! It's that challenge, that incredibly exciting contest that gets my blood pumping. And, of course, there is always the human drama that occurs in real life to stimulate a writer's emotions and imagination. My colleagues have experienced appalling trials, and these traumas spark fears. What would I do if I lost either of my baby grandsons? How would I deal with the sudden death of my wife? What if I experienced a life-changing heart attack? Those are the fibers that make up the cloth of every day life. Not unlike breaking news events, they generate the germ of an idea that may blossom and grow into a storyline. Most of the themes I've used have come from my own life, but the influences of those around me cannot be denied.

What about hobbies? Do they figure prominently in an author's work? My passions, which include gardening, cooking, photography, classical music, and art find their way into each of the LeGarde mysteries. Each experience, however commonplace, worms its way into a story in one way or another. Between the chase scenes, the fights with the villains, or the rescues, life happens. My characters live their lives as I do. Whether my protagonist is preparing a large feast for his extended family, planting peas, or changing a diaper, real life scenarios are intimately wound into the stories in various permutations. Routine activities, like digging in the dirt, provide vivid, gritty color for the books.

I adore photography. When you think about it, a very specific talent is required to frame a nice shot. I think it's this same appreciation of the "visual feast" that provides writers with that extra perceptive eye he or she needs to bring a reader into a scene. I've been told that the LeGarde series offers a strong sense of place. Of course, the Genesee Valley is where I live, it's where my characters live, and it's infused into every chapter of each of the nine books that have been written to date.

Some day, life might be different. The fire may crackle in the hearth as I snuggle down to write my current New York Times Bestseller and sip a fine Riesling that didn't come from a jug! If it's snowing, I'll cheer - more snow to ski on and no worries about commuting back and forth to Rochester. But for now, please accept my invitation to visit the website. You can read excerpts from the first three books in the series, check out reviews and readers' feedback, and browse through some lovely photos of the Genesee Valley while listening to Chopin mazurkas and waltzes. Feel free to visit: www.legardemysteries.com

Aaron Paul Lazar resides in Upstate New York with his wife, three daughters, two grandsons, mother-in- law, two dogs, and three cats. After writing in the early morning hours, he works as an electrophotographic engineer at NexPress Solutions Inc., part of Kodak's Graphic Communications Group, in Rochester, New York. Additional passions include vegetable, fruit, and flower gardening; preparing large family feasts; photographing his family, gardens, and the breathtakingly beautiful Genesee Valley; cross-country skiing across the rolling hills; playing a distinctly amateur level of piano, and spending "time" with the French Impressionists whenever possible.

Although he adored raising his three delightful daughters, Mr. Lazar finds grandfathering his "two little buddies" to be one of the finest experiences of his life. Double Forte', the first in the series, was published in January 2005. Upstaged, number two, is in production. With eight books under his belt, Mr. Lazar is currently working on the ninth, which features Gus LeGarde and his family. www.legardemysteries.com

post construction cleaning Deerfield ..

In The News:

Holiday shopping scams surge as fake refund emails target distracted consumers during Black Friday and holiday seasons, costing Americans billions annually.

The AI-powered IRMO M1 exoskeleton features four modes, including turbo, eco, training and rest for hiking, running, cycling and sports with eight-hour battery life.

OpenAI announced upgrades for its ChatGPT Images platform on Tuesday, saying the program can now make more precise edits and produce images more quickly.

Chrome for Android now turns web articles into AI-powered podcast conversations. Get hands-free browsing with Google Gemini's natural audio summaries.

LastPass faces $1.6 million fine from U.K. regulators after 2022 data breach exposed 1.6 million users. Password manager failed proper security controls.

Petco disclosed a data breach exposing customer Social Security numbers, financial account details, and driver's license information due to a software error.

Baseball teams can now analyze complete swing mechanics in normal training environments using Theia's markerless AI system that processes standard high-speed footage.

Smart home hacking fears overblown? Expert reveals real cybersecurity risks and simple protection tips to keep your connected devices safe from hackers.

MIT develops needle-free glucose monitor using light technology. Revolutionary device could replace painful finger pricks for diabetes management.

The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.

Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.

Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.

Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.

Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.

Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.

Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.

Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.

Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.

New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.

A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.

AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.

A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.

A Writers Life

Writing