Landis Wade interview

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

A little introduction:

I write light-hearted legal thrillers and mysteries with a historical or holiday touch (cozies with a bit of a thrill).

I am a recovering trial lawyer (after 35 years of law practice) and host of Charlotte Readers Podcast (where I have conducted more than 300 author interviews). I am proud that my third book—The Christmas Redemption—won the Holiday category of the 12th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards and that my recent novel – Deadly Declarations – was a Finalist in the 2022 International Book Awards in the Thriller/Adventure Category, Winner in the 2022 American Fiction Awards in the Cozy Mystery category, and Bronze Medalist in the 2022 Readers’ Favorite International Awards in the Legal Thriller category. 

My short work has appeared in Writersdigest.com, The Charlotte Observer, Flying South, Fiction on the Web and in various anthologies, including by Daniel Boone Footsteps.

I am an active participant in the North Carolina writing community, and through podcasting, I participate even farther afield, having interviewed authors in four countries and 33 U.S. states.

When I am not writing or podcasting with authors, I enjoy reading, fly-fishing, golf, travel, playing with my grandchild, and spending time in the mountains and at the beach. 

When did your love of books begin?

I enjoyed reading when I was a teenager, but I began reading fiction in earnest when I began practicing law in the early 1980s, because it was nice to be able to read without too much concentration and escape. I could knock out a number of books at the beach, in the mountains, and on planes and that practice has continued to this day.

When did you start to have the wish to become an author?

I became an author by accident. One Thanksgiving in my mid-50s, I was in my study when my wife put in the movie, Miracle on 34^th Street. It caused me to wonder. Could I write a story set entirely in a courtroom two days before Christmas? I began working on it that night and finished the novella length story on Christmas Eve. I printed it out, gave it to my family–who must have thought of the gesture as like a gift of socks–and then the next year, after many edits, The Christmas Heist was a published book. I had so much fun, I wrote a sequel the next year and wrapped it up with a trilogy the following year.

How have you found the process for becoming an author?

The process of becoming an author has been an on-going learning experience. As a lawyer, I had to unteach myself many bad habits. Lawyers like to write in passive voice. They tend to muddle along too, probably because we like to hear ourselves talk. Learning to write in active voice, with a good pace and in a point of view–something I knew nothing about–was challenging, but it has been an enjoyable challenge, because I love learning new tricks. It’s why I became a podcaster when I retired from the practice of law. It was something I knew nothing about and wanted to give it a try. 320 podcast episodes and four books later, I am still learning.

What would you say to those wanting to become an author?

Two things I would say to those who want to become an author are to have patience and to manage your expectations.

Steve Berry, a NYT bestselling author who I interviewed on Charlotte Readers Podcast, said he was an overnight success but it took ten years. 

The fact is: being an author is a lot of work. And unlike the Field of Dreams, just because you build a book and put it into the world–which are too things to be mighty proud of–does not mean that readers will come. An author needs to work on not just the craft side of writing but the marketing side too, because once you publish a book, you are a small business owner, which I jokingly like to describe as my non-profit enterprise.

Finally, write what you love to read and have fun with the writing process. The minute you make being an author sound too much like work, it might sap the joy and inspiration out of you. 

Tell us about your book/books:

As a recovering trial lawyer, I had fun writing my Christmas Courtroom Trilogy, which includes The Christmas Heist, The Legally Binding Christmas, and The Christmas Redemption. They’re books about lawyers trying to save Christmas by springing clients who believe they work for Santa Claus, what one reviewer called “a cross between My Cousin Vinny and Miracle on 34th Street.”

My recent novel is a mystery with historical underpinnings, a bit of a cozy with a thrill. Deadly Declarations  involves an unlikely trio of retirees who try to solve a man’s death, his strange will, and the 250-year-old colonial period mystery of the controversial and long-vanished First American Declaration of Independence, actions which–if successful–will change United States history; that is, if they don’t die trying, what award-winning Chicago mystery writer Tracy Clark said “is what you’d get if National Treasure and The Firm had a book baby.”

Deadly Declarations is based on a true story (or legend, according to the naysayers). I bring into the narrative the dispute between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson about whether the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence existed, and to add a bit of historical spice, I play off the fact that Adams accused Jefferson of concealing the document and worse yet, copying from it when he wrote THE Declaration of Independence.

What do you love about the writing/reading community?

I love how supportive writers are to one another. It can be a lonely business at times to sit alone in a room and write. Having other writers share the journey is helpful.

I also love engaging with readers and appreciate book clubs and organizations that foster reading.

If you could say anything to your readers what would it be?

Knowing how many books there are to choose from in the world, I appreciate any reader who takes a chance on my books. I would say to them: “Thank you. I hope you enjoy the stories.”

One More Thing for Readers and Writers

Charlotte Readers Podcast engages with readers and writers by way of SpeakPipe which allows readers and writers to recommend books and engage with the hosts. Try it here:

https://www.speakpipe.com/charlottereaderspodcast

And for authors looking to practice your elevator pitches, you can submit your 30 second audio pitch to the podcast using the directions on this page: https://charlottereaderspodcast.com/elevator-pitches/

Authors can also submit to be on the podcast at the podcast website. 

Where can people connect with you?

You can find me at:

My author website: www.landiswade.com

Charlotte Readers Podcast website: www.charlottereaderspodcast.com 

Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorlandiswade

Charlotte Readers Podcast Facebook page: @charlottereaderspodcast

https://www.facebook.com/charlottereaderspodcast/

Author Twitter page: @charlottereader

Podcast Instagram: @charlottereaderspodcast https://www.instagram.com/charlottereaderspodcast/

Author Instagram: @landiswrites https://www.instagram.com/landiswrites/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/landis-wade