Lazar Newsletter, Summer, 2026. |
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Hello, dear friends and readers. I hope you’re faring well and finding some wonderful books to read in this glorious summer weather. Although my gardens are rampant with weeds these days, my hardy perennials keep producing beautiful blooms, like the Sarah Bernhardt peony, above, and this climbing English rose, below. This thing has gone wild – and I haven’t tacked it up against the lattice in several years. But I don’t care. It’s gorgeous and full of hundreds of blossoms.
New Book Ideas For those of you dear folks who consistently and gently ask me when the next book will be out – here’s a bit of news. I have some ideas brewing about a book I want to write about childhood, set in the rural northeast in the sixties. It will be quite different from my other titles, and purposefully suitable for all ages to read, hopefully with some useful life lessons included. No murders, abuse, nasty villains, or terrible losses. Boring? Heh, maybe. But I already did that in 28 novels, didn’t I? I want to write a story all my grandkids and future kids can read. Even the youngest ones are asking about my books now, but they aren’t suitable for their ages. I plan to feature the best of country living with a big family, animals, bucolic surroundings, delicious meals, comical scenes, and maybe a rescue or two. I might even find a mystery to include, who knows? We’ll see how the thoughts start to gel and I’ll keep you in the loop. Maybe you can give me some ideas, like you have in the past?
What Else Is New? My daughter has adopted a little mini Dachshund who was having a not-so-nice-life. He’s a year and a half and such a sweet boy. Loving, snuggly, and energetic, he’s been a perfect addition to the family.
“Bear” (previously named and already knows this name) loves to hang out on the porch with Biscuit after they have raced around the yard together. They plop down on the warm floorboards and sunbathe, side by side. The Scooter Fiasco Remember I told you last time that my life now prohibits gardening, walking, swimming, and anything that requires “exertion?” That I’m stuck being wheeled into appointments in wheelchairs and how much I hate it? And about how excited I was about getting my new scooter so I could be independent again? Well, the scooter finally came and is, um, great… as long as I’m riding on it. Only problem is I can’t lift the parts to put it together from the back of the car. It didn’t look nearly that heavy when the rep demo’d it to me. And for a normal person, it is easy. Takes my daughter five minutes. But my oxygen plummets when I lift the base or seat, and I’m in trouble. So… I had to adjust my dreams about independence and realize I need someone with me to use the danged thing. Dreams adjusted: Allison, Biscuit, Bear, and I went to a small, local park on Father’s Day. I scooted around the Conesus lakeside pathways with Biscuit doing a great job at the “heel” command. It was a hot, sunny day, and we had a wonderful time.
I’ll tell you, though, I need more experience with “indoor” scootering. I had a devil of a time getting in and out of a small elevator last month at a doctor’s office. I finally learned to back into elevators when I can, and just drive straight out. (As long as the darned doors don’t keep closing on me!) Still Counting My Blessings… Okay, even though my health continues to decline, it “is what it is” and I’m trying very hard to continue to be thankful for all I have.
In addition to my daughters and grandkids, Biscuit keeps me happy all day long. He’s ever-present, loving, funny, smart, and so comforting… a real blessing. Writing Coach Meanwhile, every morning, seven days a week, I collaborate with authors on their books: editing, writing skills, dialog, plot, etc. And when we both think the book is polished and ready to be published, I help them get the formatting right and we let it loose on Amazon Direct Kindle Publishing. I have room for one or maybe two more authors, so if you have a book you’ve been wanting to write or publish but don’t know exactly how to go about it, send me an email. I’m happy to take a look. Helping writers has been wonderful and has satisfied my love for writing. I’m back working with Marta Stephens on a thrilling new novel – I can’t tell you any more about it yet, but when I’m allowed, I’ll tell you more! (Note: every afternoon, I still work on caning antique chairs. The business is booming!) Nattalia Nealls and I are continuing to develop the third book in her Rocky Mountain Trilogy series, Under a Canopy of Sky. I am loving the process, immersing myself in ranch life in the Lemhi Valley in Idaho. I’m soaking it in, falling in love with the characters and horses all over again, and I’ll be sad when it’s done. Proud for my part in it, delighted to help present it to the world, but sad. I’ll bet you understand that feeling – the same as when you finish a book you absolutely love. Right? Here’s a sneak peek: Under the Canopy of Sky by Nattalia Nealls is third in the Rocky Mountain Trilogy series, a compelling Western saga steeped in the splendor and majesty of the region. Three delightful tales are interwoven, merging a modern-day ranching family with its roots, and welcoming a troubled young stranger into the fold. Enter the world of James C. James on the Lazy J Ranch in Salmon, Idaho. While researching his ancestors—persecuted by vicious laws in the late 1800s—the family discovers that James’ great grandfather, a heroic young cowboy, was thrown together with an endangered young mother and son. Was he able to save her from persecution? Only further digging will tell… An unexpected twist in ranch life occurs when James finds a young vagabond sleeping in his barn. Samuel’s homelife is loveless and cruel, yet James brings his best self forward to rescue the young boy. Can he guide him safely to young adulthood before his controlling father ruins the day?
If you haven’t read them yet, check out the first two books in the series. Rocky Mountain Trilogy New Website! A few years before Dale died, my website host closed up shop. I was so busy trying to keep my darling wife alive that I missed the fact and lazarbooks.com disappeared. This year I finally decided to get “something” up there. The old one I created was so huge! I included everything under the sun, from excerpts, to reviews, to lovely images, to my full life story, lol! But this time I just wanted a simple site for readers to see the books in their respective series, and be able to click on Amazon links if they want to explore more. I hired a young, very amiable and reliable fellow named Samuel to help me. He is so kind and extremely reasonable on cost, so I thought I’d share a little about him here. The website is still lazarbooks.com. Please take a quick look if you can and let me know if it does the trick! If you think it might appeal to any of your friends, feel free to share. Maybe we’ll get some more readers! Interview with Samuel Oladipupo Inioluwa
Tell us a little about yourself, Sam. My name is Oladipupo Samuel Inioluwa, though most people simply call me Sam. I’m an 18 year old university student from Nigeria, currently studying at Ekiti State University. I come from a loving family of five. My father is a photographer, my mother is a nurse, and I have two wonderful brothers. My parents have taught me the importance of hard work, honesty, and always giving my best, values that have shaped both my life and the way I work with clients. Although I’m still a student, I’ve always believed that age doesn’t determine the quality of the work you can produce. I enjoy learning, improving my skills, and helping others succeed through the work I do. How did you get into helping authors and website design? My journey started because of my love for books, technology, and solving problems. As I learned more about website design, email marketing, branding, and online promotion, I realized that many talented authors struggle with the technical side of building an online presence. They write wonderful books but often don’t have the time or experience to manage websites, newsletters, email authentication, or book marketing. I decided I wanted to bridge that gap by helping authors focus on writing while I help with the technology and marketing behind the scenes. Every author I work with teaches me something new, and seeing their excitement when everything comes together makes this work incredibly rewarding. What services do you offer? I help authors build a stronger online presence and connect with more readers. Some of the services I provide include:
My goal is simple: help authors spend more time writing while I handle the technical and marketing side of things. Do you enjoy working with authors? Absolutely! Working with authors is one of the most rewarding things I do. Every book represents years of imagination, dedication, and hard work. Being trusted to help present that work professionally is a privilege I never take for granted. There’s nothing quite like seeing an author’s website improve, watching their newsletter go out successfully, or helping them solve a technical problem that has been frustrating them for weeks. Knowing I’ve contributed, even in a small way, to an author’s success makes the work worthwhile. What are some of your hobbies? One of my greatest passions is playing the keyboard. Music gives me peace and helps me feel close to God. Whenever I sit behind the keyboard, it’s a time of worship, reflection, and joy. I also enjoy learning new technology, reading about digital marketing, discovering better ways to help authors, and continually improving my skills. I believe learning never stops. What are your future plans? My goal is to continue growing my skills while finishing my university education. I hope to build Author Insights Consulting into a trusted resource where authors from around the world can find reliable help with their websites, marketing, branding, and online presence. More than anything, I want my work to make a genuine difference in the lives and careers of the authors I serve. How can authors contact you? Authors are always welcome to reach out. Email: authorinsightsconsulting@gmail.com Or WhatsApp: +234 816 015 7839 I also have a website where authors can learn more about my services and pricing: Website: https://my-site-qy5fh7ca-authorinsightscons.wix-vibe.com/� The website is still growing, and I continue adding new resources and services as my business develops. What’s the most rewarding part of helping authors? The most rewarding part is knowing that my work helps an author’s message reach the people who need it. Books have the power to inspire, comfort, educate, encourage, and even change lives. If I can play even a small role in helping an author connect with more readers and achieve their goals, then I know my work has made a meaningful difference. That’s what motivates me every day. Thank you, Sam! Let’s Keep in Touch You know I love hearing from you. Let me know how you’re doing when you can. Please send your email to aaron.lazar@yahoo.com instead of replying to this note. Bless you all, Aaron Lazar
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