Author: K.V. Fischer

K.V. Fischer’s diverse experiences as an attorney, certified civil mediator, registered dietitian, teacher, speaker, and published author with more than 20 years’ experience in the corporate, government, and private sectors have fueled her desire to assist people live fuller, richer lives. Although she is extensively published in nonfiction, with one book and more than 100 articles (the majority of which were ghost-written), her passion has always been writing suspense thrillers. Search Beyond Lies is the first in the Search & Recovery International Series and her second suspense thriller. With 2 grown children, one a neurosurgeon and the other a radiation health physicist, she is fortunate to have go-to experts for some of her research. She lives in Colorado with her husband and their dog Brady; practices law in Colorado and Florida; and travels nationwide speaking and teaching.

When Life Happens – Expect Surprises! After the Verdict is Available for Pre-order!

When life happens, expect communication delays among others. Such was my life, which accounts for my blog hiatus.

I’m excited to announce the marriage of my son, J.C., to a beautiful, amazing woman – Priscilla. Their marriage took place in Hawaii – the setting for Book 4 in the Search & Recovery International Series.

My next exciting announcement is the availability of After the Verdict, Book Two in the Search & Recovery International Series, for pre-order. The release date is January 11, 2024.

To give you a glimpse of what you can expect, check out the cover and back cover copy:

A missing groom, a murdered attorney, a massive snowstorm—what else can go wrong with what was supposed to be a storybook wedding?

Gutsy Colorado lawyer Briana Bertelli has just successfully prosecuted a serial killer…or has she? Betrayed in previous relationships, she’s vowed to remain single and dependent on no one but herself. All goes according to plan until her best friend’s wedding rehearsal.

Highly decorated, retired Special Forces veteran Kale McLaren has seen much death and is ready to experience a new life. Now the Chief Operating Officer of a global special ops organization, he’s looking forward to a relaxing weekend at a friend’s wedding. The last thing he expects is to be brought face-to-face with death and the most intriguing woman he has ever met … Briana.

With the highest of stakes and time running out, can Briana and Kale combine forces to discover what happened after the verdict?

Why wait to release it in 2024? According to the experts, if a book isn’t ready for release by the 15^th of November, you shouldn’t release it until the next year. The series I’ve started will go into more detail on the why’s, so stay tuned.

A suspense thriller with a dash of romance, Search Beyond Lies tells the story

suspense thriller, romantic suspense, Colorado, Rocky Mountains, action — Search Beyond Lies, Book One in the Search & Recovery International Series

of the search for a missing scientist, a top-secret project, and a ticking clock. Desperate to find his friend and mentor, James Frankel knows that only former Army Ranger, Charlie Sommer can help him. But how can he trust a woman who’s keeping secrets?

As a former Army Ranger, Charlie Sommers garnered the reputation of having the highest search and rescue success rate, but she’s plagued by the one she left behind. Now she’s on the verge of an exciting new beginning as a part of Search & Recovery International where her secrets are safe. There’s only one problem: the new assignment will take her back to Colorado and the loss that still haunts her.

The clock is ticking down. With their lives–and their hearts–at risk, Charlie and James join forces in an attempt to save the scientist and the world from catastrophe while finding the truth beyond lies in this action-packed thriller. It is available at https://amzn.to/3ueVmTO.

Just Released: Against the Wind by Amanda Cabot

Against the Wind – Book 2 in the Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing by Amanda Cabot is finally here! If you’ve read the first in this series, After the Shadows, I know you’ve been chomping at the bit to get a hold of this next book. I was.

If you enjoy well researched historical romances with loveable characters you can relate to, you won’t want to miss this book. The secrets add an extra thrill – no, I won’t let you in on them.

Sneak peek:

Doctor-in-training Louisa Vaughn has no intention of remaining in Sweetwater Crossing. She’s just there for a few days to help a friend. But she can’t abandon the injured man she finds at the side of the road. Until his broken leg heals, she’ll serve as the town’s doctor and midwife. She may not be fully qualified yet, but surely she’s better than nothing.

Josh Porter’s plans to win his grandfather’s challenge and fulfill his father’s final wish to gain full control of the family business hit a roadblock when he breaks his leg. But his enforced stay in Sweetwater Crossing gives him new ideas about the expansion of the company into new territory–ideas Louisa could help turn into reality.

If only the town were more accepting of Louisa’s talents! Someone is determined to convince her to abandon her dream of healing others. Can Josh help her uncover the person behind the threats before it’s too late? And is there any future for them together when neither of them plans to stay?

after the shadows

If you haven’t read After the Shadows, you don’t need to read it first to enjoy Against the Wind, but you’ll definitely want to read it.

Here’s a glimpse:

Emily Leland sheds no tears when her abusive husband is killed in a bar fight, but what awaits her back home in Sweetwater Crossing is far from the welcome and comfort she expected. First she discovers her father has died under mysterious circumstances. Then the house where the new schoolteacher and his son are supposed to board burns, leaving them homeless. When Emily proposes turning the family home into a boardinghouse, her sister is so incensed that she leaves town.

Alone and broke, her family name sullied by controversy, Emily is determined to solve the mystery of her father’s death–and to aid Craig Ferguson, despite her fears of men. The widowed schoolmaster proves to be a devoted father, an innovative teacher, and an unexpected ally. Together they must work to unmask a killer and escape the shadows of their own pasts in order to forge a brighter future.

Bestselling author Amanda Cabot transports you to 1880s Texas Hill Country for a new series that will have you flipping pages to solve the mystery and get to the happily-ever-after you long for. Both books, as well as all of Amanda’s books are available worldwide. For your convenience, here is the Amazon link.

amanda cabot

Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of more than forty books and a variety of novellas. Her books have been honored with starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Award, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers’ Best.

You can find Amanda Cabot at:

Book Marketing & the Reader – Part 1

I recently attended a virtual Summit on Bestseller Secrets and wanted to share a few tips I gleaned for book marketing. As a reader and not just an author, I did not necessarily agree with each speaker’s ideas and points, but you may. Author and reader input is requested! The highlights and relevant tips for Part 1 follow.

Amazon’s category change

L.A. Sartor, Christmas, Best-Selling Author, job, goal, burnout, Prince of Granola, The Chunky Method Handbook, Thyme for Writers

Amazon revamped their categories which could drastically affect readers finding your books on Amazon. Rather than going into detail here, L.A. Sartor published a great blog titled, Authors, Big Amazon News. I highly recommend you check it out.

Newsletters

We’ve all heard over and over the critical nature of sending regular newsletters. Key in creating newsletters is to have a subscriber list you can send it to, and the more the merrier. Growing it is no easy task, especially when as authors, we want to spend time writing our books. Authors, what do you need?

Writer’s Retreat (from left to right) with Donna Wichelman, L.A. Sartor, Sandi Rog, K.V. Fischer, Audra Harders, Candee Fick

First on the list is a giveaway — something your potential subscribers would like to receive in exchange for signing up to your list. If you are a nonfiction writer, this can include something as simple as a helpful checklist. But alas, fiction writers don’t get off that easily. We need to provide what we love – story. I intend to write the story behind how and why Search & Recovery International was created. Would you be interested in that story? If you choose to subscribe to my Mailing List before it’s ready to be released, you will still receive that story as well as any other giveaways I provide.

The next question is based on frequency. How often should you email your subscriber list? Every single speaker at this summit pushed daily emails to grow your subscriber list. Hmmm.

I subscribed to several of them to see what they did and how I felt about it. One week later, I unsubscribed to all but 2, and one of those 2 only sent me one email because it was her birthday and she let me know she will not be sending emails that week. We’ll see how long she lasts before I unsubscribe. Frankly, I find it harassment, but each of these speakers have evidently found it successful for them. What are your thoughts?

The Marketing Plan

It was unanimous – to sell books, you must have a marketing plan in place prior to your book’s release. More on that to come. By the way, tomorrow Search Beyond Lies is available as an Amazon Countdown Deal for 1 week. It will be available for .99 for 3 1/2 days and then move to $1.99 for 3 1/2 more days before it goes back to 3.99. If you have Kindle Unlimited, it’s free.

Do you have a plan?

A suspense thriller with a dash of romance, Search Beyond Lies tells the story

A Writer’s Inspiration When Life Drops Lemons in Your Lap

This was not the article I intended to write, but on my recent birthday, life dropped lemons in my lap. However, I intend to create delicious character driven lemonade with these lemons.

In an earlier Fact or Fiction article, Search Beyond Lies – Fact or Fiction, I wrote about the creative process and the inspiration that real people, places, and events provide writers for their stories. In this article you’ll get a sneak peak into my birthday lemons which will provide the inspiration behind some incredible characters.

Birthday Plans

I have an August birthday – not exactly a time when you choose to be in Florida, especially when Florida has been experiencing extraordinarily high heat and humidity. However, my parents are elderly, and I thought I’d spend it with them. Between my writing and my legal practice, I predominantly work remotely so I could work from Florida as easily as Colorado.

We had plans for dinner at a special restaurant when my 90-year-old dad fell and hit his head on the wood floor. I’m a lawyer and not a doctor for a very good reason – I don’t do well with blood. There was blood everywhere.

I knew head wounds bled profusely, even if not a serious wound, but I would not let my dad get up off the floor. My parents have Life Alert and my mother hit the button. I brought washcloths and a pillow and told my dad to wait.

Within 5 minutes, we had 6 members of Fire Rescue entering my parents’ home. I was very impressed with Life Alert and how quickly we had help. Frankly, until that moment, I didn’t realize how valuable Life Alert was. It wasn’t over with that initial call. Life Alert had reached out to everyone on the emergency contact list and followed up to assure everything was fine.

Needless to say, birthday plans changed drastically.

The Heroes

These 6 gentlemen assessed my dad and helped him up. Yes, my dad repeatedly told me he could get up and would be fine, but I wanted to make sure. These first responders agreed with him.

He was fully bandaged and refused to go to the ER – my dad said it wasn’t necessary and as a physician, he said he’d know if it was. They agreed that he didn’t need to go to the ER and we signed off.

While 5 Fire Rescue members were taking care of my dad, another was obtaining medical information from my mother. This guy had a wonderful bedside manner and was patient and kind to my mother who was trying to find the information he needed. He also belonged on the cover of GQ, he was that drop dead gorgeous with a physique to match. My only regret is that I did not take his picture. Rest assured, this gentleman will inspire a future character.

Thankfully, I did take a picture of the group surrounding my dad and bandaging him up which I included in this post.

I thank all First Responders and Life Alert! Please share any experiences you have had with first responders or Life Alert. They are amazing!

A suspense thriller with a dash of romance, Search Beyond Lies tells the story

COVER REVEAL – After the Verdict

I am excited to reveal the cover for Book 2 in the Search & Recovery International Series – After the Verdict! We are well on our way to ensure a release date in 2023! If you’re interested in knowing what this book is about, keep reading…

After the Verdict – Sneak Preview

A missing groom, a murdered attorney, a massive snowstorm – what else can go wrong with what was supposed to be a storybook wedding?

With the highest of stakes and time running out, can Briana and Kale combine forces to discover what happened after the verdict?

Have I intrigued you? I certainly hope so!

The Artist Behind the Cover

In my last article, I introduced the amazing artist, L.A. Sartor – a true Renaissance woman. She is not only a creative genius when it comes to creating covers, but her books are true page turners. Check out her books with more amazing covers and stories at: L.A. Sartor.

Fact or Fiction

I’ve blended fact and fiction to create this book, just as I did with the first of the SRI series, Search Beyond Lies. If you haven’t read it, now might be the right time, while you’re waiting for this book to be released.

Stay tuned!

Let me know what you think of this cover!

A suspense thriller with a dash of romance, Search Beyond Lies tells the story

Search & Recovery International – What’s Next?

Today’s article will give you a sneak peek into what is next. The last article, Search Beyond Lies: Fact or Fiction – The Scientist, is the last fact or fiction article for Search Beyond Lies unless I receive specific questions or requests. If you have one, feel free to ask!

Book 2 in the Series

After the Verdict is the second book in the Search & Recovery International Series. I am excited to announce that it will be ready for release later this year. I recently received the final edits, and I’m happy to say it’s definitely in the home stretch.

The Characters

The hero in After the Verdict is Kale McLaren, the Chief Operating Officer for SRI. You will see a few of the characters you met in Search Beyond Lies and meet a few more you will love, and of course those you will love to hate.

You will meet Briana Bertelli, a gutsy Colorado attorney who successfully prosecuted a serial killer – or did she?

The Cover

The cover is still in process, but I am excited by its development. The artist, L.A. Sartor, created the cover for Search Beyond Lies and has assured me that she will create the covers for the entire series. She is an author in her own right and a true Renaissance woman. Her books are page-turners you won’t be able to put down. You can visit her at: www.Lesliesartor.com

Expect a cover reveal in the near future! I can hardly wait!

The Setting

The story is set in a mountain town at the mouth of Rocky Mountain National Park. I don’t want to reveal too much at this point, but I’ll share the back cover copy once the cover is revealed.

Fact or Fiction?

After the Verdict is a work of fiction, but as in most fiction, there is inspiration found in reality. After its release, you will be able to uncover what is fact and what is fiction through my Fact or Fiction blog series.

Stay tuned!

A suspense thriller with a dash of romance, Search Beyond Lies tells the story

Search Beyond Lies: Fact or Fiction – The Scientist

Independence Day is the perfect day for this Fact or Fiction article in honor of Brian Perri, a veteran who was dedicated to protecting our country’s freedoms. We are in the midst of the 5-year anniversary of that fateful day when Brian went missing. This special Search Beyond Lies: Fact or Fiction article will explore what is fact and what is fiction behind the character Brett Powers, who was inspired by Brian.

The Five-Year Anniversary

In Search Beyond Lies: Fact or Fiction – Missing , we saw that the last selfie taken by Brian Perri was June 30 on Mt. Meeker’s summit, but no one knew he was missing until he failed to show up for J.C.’s graduate school defense on July 5. Hence, we are in the midst of the anniversary period. The specific facts surrounding his failure to show up are found in this article. However, we will delve deeper into the character.

The Scientist’s Backstory

The backstory surrounding Brett Powers for the most part belongs to Brian, from his background working at a nuclear power plant back east, to his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Radiation Health Physics and being one of the rare scientists who has earned both Health Physics certifications. He was a nuclear “genius.” As a novelist, I do confess to taking liberties since this story, although inspired by real-life, is classified as fiction.

A Deeper Dive

Brian went through SERE training with Kimo as noted in the last Fact or Fiction article, Search Beyond Lies: Fact or Fiction – SRI’s Chief Operating Officer. As described within the novel, Brian passed SERE at the top of his class and did in fact stay out the maximum number of days before they had to bring him back in.

As noted in the last article, he was a member of Special Operations as a paratrooper rather than Special Forces. Like the character Brett, he was fluent in Arabic and proficient in Russian.

The graduate school ties between J.C. and Brian are fact. Since Brian’s family was back east, he joined our family for most if not all of the holidays during his graduate school tenure. This gave me the opportunity to get to know this amazing man.

The End

The search ended when a body was found on Mt. Meeker. This was fact. The description of the body and how it was handled as noted in the book, are facts. But is the happy ending fact or fiction? What transpired after the funeral in Search Beyond Lies, is fiction, however the glasses … Check out the story behind the glasses in Search Beyond Lies: Fact or Fiction – The Clues: Part 2.

Brian & J.C. hiking wearing the infamous sunglasses.

When you look at the fact that Brian was a former member of Special Operations, a nuclear genius fluent in Arabic and proficient in Russian, and then add the glasses… Rather than a tragic ending, could there actually be a happy ending? Let me know what you think.

A suspense thriller with a dash of romance, Search Beyond Lies tells the story

Search Beyond Lies: Fact or Fiction – SRI’s Chief Operating Officer

In my last fact or fiction article, we explored the character names. This article will delve into the character, Kale McLaren, Search & Recovery International’s (SRI) Chief Operating Officer, and explore what is fact verses the fiction behind this character.

The Inspiration Behind the Character

Brian Perri’s former army buddy and close friend, Kimo McEwen inspired the character, Kale McLaren. Once Kimo learned that Brian was reported missing on Rocky Mountain National Park’s most dangerous mountain, Mount Meeker, he reached out to my son, J.C., who was gathering volunteers to help with the search.

This special man asked if he could camp in our backyard so that he could help J.C. search. Needless to say, the answer was a resounding “NO” – he was required to stay inside our home, as part of the family. The fact that he came from sea level, was a disabled veteran, and had no hiking experience at the elevations in the park did not deter him. Day in and day out for 3 straight weeks, the two of them did not give up. They not only put their lives on hold, but they risked their lives in the search.

The True Background

Kimo did go through SERE training with Brian. Although the character Kale was a former Special Forces member, Kimo and Brian were both a part of Special Operations as paratroopers. Like the character Kale, he was fluent in Arabic and proficient in Russian.

Basically, their friendship, special army ties, and some of Kale’s physical characteristics are based in fact, while the association with SRI is fiction.

What’s to Come

Although Kale is a secondary character in Search Beyond Lies, he is the hero in After the Verdict, Book 2 in the Search & Recovery International Series. Look for it in December 2023!

A suspense thriller with a dash of romance, Search Beyond Lies tells the story

Search Beyond Lies: Fact or Fiction – The Character Names

Since Search Beyond Lies, is inspired by a real-life tragedy involving real people, key characters are inspired by these same people. In this fact or fiction article, we’ll explore what is fact and what is fiction regarding the character names. First, we’ll look at a few rules of thumb regarding choosing character names.

Rules of Thumb

The way writers choose character names differs among writers, but there are a few rules of thumb for the reader’s benefit.

1.You never want to confuse the reader by choosing names with the same first letter or the reader will have difficulty keeping the characters straight.

2. The names should fit within the era and culture. For example, if you write historical romance, like Amanda Cabot, you won’t want to pick a new generation contemporary name like Aurora.

Before we uncover the selection process for the character names in Search Beyond Lies, a brief look at its inspiration is in order.

The Tragedy

On July 5, 2018, Brian Perri was reported missing on Mount Meeker, one of the most dangerous mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park, after a selfie revealed his last known location as the summit.

Inspired by my son’s role in the search that was covered by news media far and wide, I penned Search Beyond Lies, Book One in the Search & Recovery International Series (SRI). Though a work of fiction, the book’s inspiration lies in the rare type of friendship my son, J.C. Fischer, and Brian’s former army buddy, Kimo McEwen, had with Brian, where they put their lives on hold and jeopardized their safety and well-being to search for him.

Key Character Names

As the back story revealed, I chose the key character names based on the initials of the real people that inspired them with one exception.

J.C. Fischer inspired the hero, James Frankel.

Brian Perri inspired Brett Powers.

Kimo McEwen inspired the COO of SRI’s Kale McLaren.

The exception was Charlie Sommer whose inspiration was Priscilla Jane Kurtz Williams. To avoid confusing my readers, I had to come up with a name that didn’t violate the first key rule. After brainstorming with my writers’ group, Charlie Sommer was chosen because of the character’s military background and the letter “C” was not used for any other character.

Basically, the initials are fact, while the actual name is fiction.

My fellow readers, what rules of thumb do you believe should be added? Writers, how do you choose your character names?

A suspense thriller with a dash of romance, Search Beyond Lies tells the story

Search Beyond Lies: Fact or Fiction – The Presidential Letter

In Search Beyond Lies, a call back was issued via Presidential Letter to Brett, who we know was inspired by Brian Perri. Is there such thing as a call back? If yes, could it be possibly done with a Presidential Letter? Before we explore the reality behind the Presidential Letter in Search Beyond Lies, we need to know whether it exists, and if it does, the history behind it.

veterans, call back — Can veterans be called back?

Can you be called back to active duty?

Yes. Once in the military, you can be kept longer than planned or be recalled after you get out or retire. There are many ways this can occur. Typically, the recall is at the behest of the Secretary of Defense (10 U.S. Code Section 688) and there are various ways this can occur:

Stop-Loss Program

Military Working Dogs, Military Service Dogs, Parachute Dog, Silent Heroes

You can be kept on active duty longer than your discharge date if you have a particular valuable skill or “in the interests of unit cohesion.”

Mobilization of the National Guard

Without a state of emergency, the president can recall up to 200,000 reservists for at least 400 days. A state of emergency allows the president to activate up to one million reservists by his order.

By the way, since November 14, 1979, when President Jimmy Carter issued Executive Order 12170 after the start of the Iran hostage crisis, the United States of America has been in a state of national emergency. President Donald Trump continued that order in November 2017.

Officers and Retirees

An officer’s commission usually remains in force and effect even after retirement. Why? It’s for the privilege of retaining the legal right of being addressed by their military rank and receiving their retirement benefits. Although they can resign their commission, very few do. Because of this privilege, they can be recalled to active duty.

Presidential Letters – Fact or Fiction

The president can recall officers in the state of emergency as well as mobilize the National Guard, which as noted has been ongoing since 1979. Is it common? A few years ago I was a guest speaker at Romance Writers of America and attended a session on Military Characters. I met 2 officers who were recipients of the Presidential Letter. I was informed that you either “go back or go to jail.” No doubt, the Presidential Letter is fact.

The Possibilities

The existence of the Presidential Letter is reality. Whether Brian Perri actually received a Presidential letter is a mystery. But when you consider the glasses … .

What are your thoughts about the possibilities?

Search Beyond Lies is available on Amazon.

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Sneak peek:

after the shadows

amanda cabot

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Amazon’s category change

Newsletters

The Marketing Plan

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Birthday Plans

The Heroes

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After the Verdict – Sneak Preview

The Artist Behind the Cover

Fact or Fiction

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Book 2 in the Series

The Characters

The Cover

The Setting

Fact or Fiction?

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The Five-Year Anniversary

The Scientist’s Backstory

A Deeper Dive

The End

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The Inspiration Behind the Character

The True Background

What’s to Come

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Rules of Thumb

The Tragedy

Key Character Names

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Can you be called back to active duty?

Presidential Letters – Fact or Fiction

The Possibilities

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