What happens when the person you once trusted most becomes the architect of your worst nightmare?

In this episode, award-winning broadcaster Terry Shepherd sits down with psychological thriller author Liz Lazarus to discuss her unsettling new novel, Dawn Before Darkness. Liz opens up about shifting from a "left-brain" career as a corporate engineering executive to crafting high-stakes, realistic suspense fiction.

They dive deep into the terrifying reality behind her latest book—including Liz's personal 10-year battle with the probate court system , the meticulous research that went into portraying the real-world anxieties of stalking , and her highly structured "plotter" approach to writing using color-coded spreadsheets.

It’s an eye-opening conversation about creative resilience, the flaws in our legal system, and why every family needs to have a difficult conversation about their future before it’s too late.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Fiction Rooted in Fact: How Liz’s real-life struggle to free her mother from a predatory guardianship inspired the legal nightmare in her new book.
The Anatomy of a Thriller: Why Liz structures her novels in Excel and her unconventional secret weapon for perfect chapter pacing.
Real-World Stalking: Insights from Liz's interviews with 10 stalking survivors and the shocking truth about the limitations of restraining orders.
A Cautionary Tale for Families: Why Dawn Before Darkness is a passionate plea for listeners to organize their wills, powers of attorney, and family affairs today.

About the Guest: Liz Lazarus

Liz Lazarus graduated from Georgia Tech with an engineering degree and spent 20 years at General Electric before answering her true calling to become a writer. She is the author of four gripping, socially-themed psychological thrillers, including Free of Malice, Shades of Silence, Plea for Justice, and her latest release, Dawn Before Darkness.

Connect with Liz: Learn more and find her books at LizLazarus.com.

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