We recently connected with Laurie Buchanan and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Laurie, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I grew up with extraordinary role models—my parents. Both of them worked hard, genuinely enjoyed their jobs, and showed up with unwavering consistency. When my dad retired after more than thirty years with his company, colleagues remarked that he had never (ever!) taken a sick day. When my mom retired from her own career, they praised her for always being there, without fail. Reliable. Steady. Present. Watching that kind of dedication day in and day out left a lasting imprint on me. Their example shaped the work ethic I carry with me today.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I write the Sean McPherson crime thriller series, published by She Writes Press. The novels are set in historic Fairhaven, Bellingham, WA, at the fictional Pines & Quill writing retreat. It’s an idyllic setting—lush, creative, and full of promise—but also isolated, which makes it the perfect backdrop for crime fiction.
Writing retreats invite creativity, quiet, and community. Yet they also heighten vulnerability. Writers arrive with their secrets, ambitions, and insecurities, and when danger intrudes, the retreat’s seclusion magnifies the stakes. It’s a place where inspiration and menace coexist, where the line between imagination and reality blurs, and where justice must ultimately prevail.
What excites me most is weaving together forensic detail, psychological nuance, and layered metaphors to create stories that resonate emotionally while keeping readers on the edge of their seats. My brand is built on suspense with heart—crime thrillers that explore not just the “who” and “how,” but the deeper “why.”
Looking ahead, the next installment in the series, Innocuous, will be released in April 2027. Readers can expect pulse-pounding tension, unexpected twists, and the continuation of Sean McPherson’s journey.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, three qualities stand out as most impactful in my journey.
Skill: Before becoming a novelist, I was a holistic health practitioner. At HolEssence, my private practice, I worked with people of all ages and backgrounds. That experience taught me how to “listen between the lines”—to hear what wasn’t being said. It’s a skill that now serves me well in developing layered, authentic characters.
Quality: I care deeply about our world and the people in it. That compassion infuses my writing with hope, even in the midst of crime and suspense. It reminds me—and my readers—that justice and resilience matter.
Knowledge: Attending writing conferences and belonging to writing groups turbo-charges my growth as a writer. Those communities sharpen the mechanics of storytelling and provide invaluable support and accountability.
Advice for those early in their journey:
Practice listening—not just to words, but to silences and subtext.
Nurture compassion; it will give your work heart and resonance.
Invest in your craft by seeking out conferences, workshops, and writing groups. The connections and knowledge you gain will accelerate your progress.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
I believe it’s important to lean into our strengths—but not to ignore our weaknesses. Sometimes the very areas we avoid hold the key to unlocking our full potential.
When I was a practicing holistic health practitioner, one of my clients was a Mensa—brilliant, off-the-charts intelligent. Yet they kept hitting a ceiling at work because promotions required in-person presentations, and public speaking terrified them. It was full-on deer-in-the-headlights panic.
After much encouragement, they joined Toastmasters. Progress didn’t happen overnight, but step by step, they built confidence. That single decision—to invest effort in an area of weakness—changed the trajectory of their career. Today, they travel internationally and speak to packed rooms with ease.
The lesson is clear: strengths will carry us far, but addressing weaknesses can open doors we never imagined. My advice for those early in their journey is to embrace both—celebrate what you’re naturally good at, but also be brave enough to tackle the areas that hold you back. Growth often lives right at the edge of discomfort.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lauriebuchanan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauriebuchanan.author/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TuesWithLaurie/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebuchananauthor/
- Other: SUBSTACK — https://lauriebuchanan.substack.com
Image Credits
Len Buchanan
