Please welcome Lauren Wagner author of Misquided Trust to This Writer’s Life…
GENRE: Eco Thriller
BLURB:
Following a catastrophic nuclear war, Sara lives in a town where the government controls every drop of water. Strict rationing tightly regulates residents’ lives, and to fall sick is to be executed. Sara’s life becomes more dangerous and complicated when she first hides and cares for a small boy who has fallen sick, then takes him in when his parents are taken by the authorities.
Determined to care for the helpless child while struggling to keep alive the memory of her long-dead best friend, Sara leans on her friend’s older brother, Josh, an employee of the domineering water company that controls the water rationing. But Josh is under suspicion, and the city’s enforcement unit begins to observe their daily activities. Despite knowing that she’d be executed if her actions were known, Sara finds herself deeply and distressingly attracted to the lead investigator, navigating a complicated romance and finding a glimmer of hope in a world long dominated by fear and control.
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Excerpt
United Region Water Laws: Established May 2167
Water restoration and conservation laws formed with the intent to restore and maintain the physical and biological integrity of the nation’s waters are our nation’s highest priority. Any ill citizens will be removed from government-proclaimed safety zones for the public’s well-being.
Black SUVs line the street, their dark tinted windows and their sparkling silver rims reflecting impending doom. But the windows cannot keep out the screams. Not the cries, nor the banging from inside the vehicles. It’s random health inspection day, and dozens of citizens have already failed, by the count of SUVs.
Josh stands to greet me with a kiss on the cheek, his silence speaking louder than words. I smile back and try to ignore the ominous SUV’s and to ignore what is happening.
“Sit down. Don’t draw any more attention to yourself than necessary,” Josh says.
My pulse is pounding, and my chest rises and falls quicker than I can control. Sweat drips from my brow. My stomach is tied in knots. I assess my body for early signs of illness. No sore throat. No muscle aches. No nausea. All I can do is wait in silence. Our words would be lost anyway, so I sit down at the table.
AUTHOR BIO
Lauren Wagner’s love for reading started as a young adult after discovering her town’s public library. After carrying out piles of books at a time, and re-reading them over and over again, she discovered her love for writing. She writes fantasy and science fiction as well as post-it notes about her future stories.
She grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago where she presently resides with her husband and two children. She currently teaches upper elementary students to love and obsess over written works of art.
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LoloWags
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Misguided-Trust-Lauren-Wagner/dp/1962308340
Guest Blog by Lauren
Several years ago, an author visited the elementary school where I teach. We try to bring in authors as often as possible to inspire our students, but there was one particular visit that left a lasting impression on me. The author was Aaron Reynolds—best known for Creepy Carrots, Fart Quest, Caveboy Dave, and many others.
Before hearing Aaron speak, I had never truly connected with an author on a personal level. But his presentation changed that. He spoke candidly about what inspired him to write and the challenges he faced in getting published and recognized. His honesty and passion made the writing world feel tangible and accessible.
That day didn’t just inspire my students—it reminded me of the power of storytelling and reignited my own love for literature. I wrote him a letter after that, letting him know how much he inspired me. It was good old-fashioned snail mail (yes, with a stamp and everything), and to my absolute delight, he wrote back. Not a form letter or a quick note—but a thoughtful, personal reply. That letter sat on my desk for weeks, like some kind of creative good luck charm.
That simple act of connection was the final push I needed. I knew what I had to do: write more- not just for myself, but with intention. I began carving out time, jotting down ideas that had lived in the dusty corners of my brain for years. Knowing someone like Aaron had once been in my shoes made it feel less daunting.
It’s funny how one school assembly can change the trajectory of your creative life. That visit reminded me that stories have the power to cross age gaps, genres, and self-doubt. And sometimes, all it takes is one person to spark that fire.
Lauren will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner