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
Ashley limo service .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIt's 6:00 p.m. You're dead tired, but instead of an... Read More
As a student of Spanish, my goal was to think... Read More
1. SECRETS TO SUCCESS2. MAKING A POWERFUL FIRST IMPRESSION3. AVOID... Read More
The tiniest things can be so useful when you come... Read More
I call it cheap therapy. That gushing, near-religious, poured-from-the-body stress... Read More
1 - Join a reading or writing group. Ask members... Read More
If you are looking for copywriter books, you'll want to... Read More
You have a great idea for a poem, a story,... Read More
Have you heard the term 'ghostwriter' and wondered what they... Read More
SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER?Many people have entertained... Read More
1. What Is A Premise?A premise is the point you... Read More
As a freelance writer, it is important to present yourself... Read More
Not long ago, I took stock of my unrealized desire... Read More
Tips for your writing journeySo, you'd like to be a... Read More
Freewriting is a release from the prison of rules. It... Read More
How do you choose a name? Do you put down... Read More
If you are like most writers, you're constantly searching for... Read More
There's nothing that kills a scene like hackneyed dialogue. Just... Read More
"No one will ever know who I am, I'm a... Read More
Let's Discuss Publisher Ethics:If you are an ezine publisher or... Read More
Communication is effective when we follow certain rules. These rules... Read More
Beginning writers often tend to think of a book as... Read More
Business etiquette is fundamentally concerned with building relationships founded upon... Read More
Write Right - You have an all important business letter... Read More
First impressions count in writing too! So it is always... Read More
car service from Midway Arena ..At first, I noticed that I could have written many... Read More
Effective screenwriting relies on the good understanding and use of... Read More
Every writer expends a great deal of creative energy developing... Read More
Making Money from Freelance WritingIt's the question that every aspiring... Read More
Complaint letters aren't always fun, but sometimes they need to... Read More
Today Norm Goldman, Editor of sketchandtravel and bookpleasures is honored... Read More
The Hottest Word on the WebDid you know marketing people... Read More
Writing is a personal and introspective process. To share with... Read More
Compiling a list of the history's ten best writers is... Read More
Here's something from my mailbag. "Dear Michael, do you need... Read More
Next time you're tempted to use italics for emphasis... STOP!"Why?"... Read More
According to one of my previous articles, whenever a Southerner... Read More
"This is just brilliant. The whole interview is incredible? I'm?... Read More
(excerpted from the "How to Use a Journal" audio series... Read More
Wired Online has recently announced its plans to drop capitalization... Read More
Readers often send me interesting and exciting e-mails about the... Read More
What a wonderful resource the Internet is!Students find information to... Read More
By far, I have found that the lack of discipline... Read More
Just about every marketer on the Internet claims to be... Read More
How to Come Up with Fresh Story Ideas When Your... Read More
What is Sense of Place? It's the image of a... Read More
----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute,... Read More
Every part of your book can be a sales tool.... Read More
I've been in the communications business a long time?over 25... Read More
I recently read a book where everything was akimbo. Arms... Read More
Writing |