Featured Author: Laurie Buchanan, Author of the Sean McPherson novels
Laurie Buchanan, the architect behind the pulse-pounding, award-winning Sean McPherson crime thriller novels, was once a Holistic Health Practitioner. Scroll for the giveaway!
Hi there. I’m Laurie Buchanan, the literary architect behind the pulse-pounding, award-winning Sean McPherson crime thriller novels. As a Pacific Northwest aficionado, my readers find much of my experiential knowledge of the misty forests and rugged coastlines in my book series.
I’m married to Len Buchanan. He isn’t just a chef—he’s a culinary wizard and wine connoisseur. His dishes dance on taste buds, and his wine pairings—well, they’re like whispered secrets in the moonlight. Many of the menus he crafts find their way into my books, adding flavor to the suspense. He’s also a private pilot.
Henry is our not-so-standard eighty-six-pound Standard Poodle. A loyal companion, he trots beside us on daily walks, explores new cities during travel, and joins us on flying excursions when the weather’s nice, and Len’s tooling around the sky in a Cessna 182.
If this brief glimpse into how my personal life affects my writing life whets your appetite and you’d like to learn more, I invite you to keep reading because I’m giving away a signed copy of Indelible: A Sean McPherson Novel, Book One, to kick off the series for one lucky U.S. resident.
Before becoming a full-time novelist, I was an HHP—Holistic Health Practitioner. My private practice, HolEssence, was in Crystal Lake, Illinois. During that time, clients often said, “You need to write a book.” So I did. Two, in fact:
Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth
The Business of Being: Soul Purpose In and Out of the Workplace.
When we relocated from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest, I retired from working with clients to pursue writing crime fiction, one of my favorite genres to read. I devour books like a detective on a caffeine binge. I read and review over a hundred crime fiction novels a year. My favorite authors? The maestros of suspense: David Baldacci, Robert Bryndza, Ann Cleeves, Robert Dugoni, Hank Phillippi Ryan, and Louise Penny.
Between diving into humanity’s gritty crime fiction underbelly, I like to cleanse my palate. Enter romcoms—the literary equivalent of a bubble bath. Katherine Center, Jenny Colgan, Emily Henry, and Sophie Kinsella sprinkle her reading world with laughter and heart.
The first book in the Sean McPherson crime thriller, Indelible, was released in April 2021. The second book, Iconoclast, was released in 2022, and the third, Impervious, was released in 2023.
All of Sean McPherson’s novels feature Hemingway, an Irish wolfhound. He was inspired by my real-life Irish wolfhound, Willa. Though she’s no longer with us, she will always hold that place of honor.
In later books in the series, I introduce Maggie (short for Sister Margaret Mary McCracken), a black-and-white Standard Poodle and guide dog for Ivy Gladstone. Her inspiration comes from our real-life Standard Poodle, Henry. (pictured above)
My latest literary creation, Iniquity: A Sean McPherson Novel, Book Four, hits the shelves on April 9.
Readers can expect to be plunged and lifted to emotional heights and depths—love, hate, joy, grief, and loss. Real-world experiences on Mount Baker and the Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington State inspired the setting, from hikes and trails to forests and meadows. Then there’s the Nooksack River Valley and waterfalls, Picture Lake, and Heather Meadows and its Burroughs, with the piece de resistance being Artists Point (Mount Shuksan). From here, you have a spectacular view of the summits of the Northern Cascade Range.
Did you notice that all of the Sean McPherson titles start with the letter “I” and have four syllables? It’s my secret sauce—a signature that binds the series. I write the entire book around the potential crime aspects of a single “I” word. And I only use it once in the book. It’s become fun for my readers to be on the lookout for that single instance.
I’m often asked about my process for developing Sean “Mick” McPherson. As readers, we all want a character who’s not only believable but relatable. So, I continue to develop Mick by introducing new fears (he will become a father), hurdles, and the outside perspectives of secondary characters. These lead to turning points that test his mettle and hone his personage.
And, of course, all heroes must have a flaw. Sean McPherson’s is the almost unbearable weight of survivor’s guilt. Initially, it was his partner Sam’s death. But now his sister’s brother-in-law, Father Paddy, and his father, Connor McPherson, have been murdered.
Book five, Illusionist, is simmering with the publisher for a spring 2025 release. Meanwhile, Innocuous is under the watchful eyes of beta and sensitivity readers. And as you read this, my pen’s dancing across the pages of Insidious, book seven.
With a publishing contract of nine books in the series (so far), I’ve been asked, “What advice would you give to aspiring authors?” When I speak at writing conferences, I talk about this. Here’s what I share:
SHOW UP. You can’t produce much if you don’t sit at your desk daily and write.
BE CONSISTENT. Treat writing as you would any other professional career. Establish a schedule, stick to it, and protect it. Your friends and relatives won’t honor your writing time if you don’t.
STAY ON BRAND. The Sean McPherson novels pivot to different geographic locations from Pines & Quill, a fictitious writing retreat in the Fairhaven Historic District of Bellingham, WA. When creating social media graphics, I maintain a specific font, color palette, and Pacific Northwest theme. Yes, writers must consistently be on at least one social media platform.
DON’T BE BUSY. BE PRODUCTIVE. Many people are “busy” and have nothing to show for it at the end of the day. True writers write. At day’s end, they have tangible results.
Another question I’m asked is, “Where do you get the energy?” I walk six miles each day in three two-mile increments. Additionally, I lap swim on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at the YMCA, clocking a mile during each session. I ride my bicycle three seasons out of the year, and in the spring and summer, I enjoy working in my pollinator garden. Those activities boost energy and are great for stirring writing inspiration.
Occasionally, I’m asked, “Why do you write crime fiction when there’s already so much crime in the world?” That’s a great question. The Sean McPherson series is about hope and getting through hard times. But, it’s also about justice—that each person receives what s/he deserves (positive and negative). Justice sees that the law is administered for the crime and, whenever possible, the victim(s) receive restitution. True justice also ensures that the punishment doesn’t outweigh the crime. Note: Sean McPherson does not administer vigilante justice (someone who enforces the law but doesn’t have the legal authority to do so).
The Sean McPherson series is published by SparkPress and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Each novel is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
Last chance to win: I’m giving away a signed copy of Indelible: A Sean McPherson Novel, Book One, to kick off the series for one lucky U.S. resident.
For more about Laurie Buchanan and her series, visit www.lauriebuchanan.com
I enjoy how in interviews you mesh your personal life and experiences with your books. Readers will no doubt realize quickly how authentic your books are in addition to their "pulse-pounding" quality. Congratulations on your next release less than one week away! I look forward to the rest of your series.
Love this because it's a prescription for how to be an author and not just a writer. You work efficiently and consistently. Congratulations on the new novel and a successful series!