I’m happy to welcome author Lauren Wagner. Today, Lauren shares her creative journey and new release, Misguided Trust.
Here’s Lauren!
What was your inspiration for this book?
Misguided Trust was created after considering how important cenotes were to the ancient Maya. When a long drought happened, water became scarce, which helped cause the collapse of many Maya cities. I just put a modern twist on the same idea. Instead of a historical event, I made water the key to a dystopian society. But while working on it, I hit a point where the plot needed an extra spark. That’s when a particular song completely took over my brain: “Redneck Crazy” by Tyler Farr. I must’ve listened to it on repeat a hundred times, trying to visualize the perfect scene that would match its raw, emotional energy. I didn’t just want the song to inspire a scene —I wanted it to become part of the story. So, I built an entire relationship around it, one that felt real, messy, and honest. That song didn’t just push the plot forward—it gave it a pulse.
What is the best part of being an author? The worst?
Writing isn’t my full-time career. By day, I wear a different hat—working hard, juggling responsibilities, and making sure the people I love know they come first. When I come home, I shift into family mode, surrounded by a house full of wonderful, chaotic, loving energy. And when the day finally winds down and I sink into the couch, it’s not to unwind with a show—it’s with my laptop on my lap, slipping into the quiet comfort of a world I get to create.
That’s the best part of writing for me: the escape. It’s not about deadlines or page counts—it’s about losing myself in a space where I’m free. Free from pressure, from perfection, from the noise of the outside world. There’s no right or wrong on the page—just thoughts, feelings, and stories pouring out, raw and real.
The hardest part? Without a doubt, it’s the expectations I put on myself. The little voice that tells me I should be doing more, writing faster, hitting some invisible benchmark that only exists in comparison to others. I have to remind myself constantly that my process is my own. My word count doesn’t define my worth as a writer. It doesn’t all have to be perfect the first time—or the tenth. Some nights I write a paragraph, others I write pages. And that’s okay. Progress is progress, no matter how small.
Which authors have inspired you?
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 one particular visit 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. After that, I wrote him a letter letting him know how much he inspired me. It was good old-fashioned snail mail…and the fact that he wrote back was the final push I needed. I knew what I had to do.
Any advice for aspiring writers?
I think it’s easy to get lost in your writing, in the best way. You fall into the world you’re creating, and suddenly, hours pass like minutes. But with that immersion comes the risk of losing your thread, especially when you’re deep into a story. The best advice I have? Always reread what you wrote yesterday before you begin writing today. It helps you reconnect with your tone, characters, and momentum. If you hit a wall—and believe me, we all do—don’t panic. Step away for a few days. Let your mind breathe. Then, when you’re ready, start reading it again from the beginning. Often, the pieces that felt stuck will shift into place naturally. Writing isn’t just about pushing forward—it’s about listening to your story, even in the quiet moments when it doesn’t want to speak.
What are you working on next?
I’m currently working on a ghost story with a sixth-sense twist, where reality and memory blur in a kingdom lost to time. The main character, Mia, is a young woman caught between duty and desire—betrothed to a distant, terrible king, yet feeling like a stranger in her own story. As she wanders the halls of the crumbling castle, she begins to sense the presence of others—ghosts bound to the past, their stories lingering like whispers in the stone. But one spirit stands out. Mysterious, kind, and heartbreakingly real, he draws Mia in. She doesn’t know if he’s alive or lost to history, but as their connection deepens, she’s faced with a choice: follow the path laid out for her, or chase a love that is impossible to follow.
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.
Excerpt
Interfering with water restoration and conservation laws is strictly prohibited.
I scrutinize the large mahogany desk positioned before me as I sit in my shrink’s office later that afternoon. The legs curve out into claws with such immaculate details. I can’t help but wonder if the claws are supposed to symbolize each one of her patient’s secret desires to claw away at their skin. It’s morbid, really. It just makes people yearn for it more, long for the inevitable pain that accompanies the fight. Place a sword in a knight’s hand, and he will want to fight. Put a claw in a psychiatrist’s office and make it resemble a razor blade.
“Sara? Sara, are you even listening to me?”
Dr. Hammid slides her glasses down her nose and glares at me.
The black rims make her face look pointy and sharp around the edges.
I look up at her without changing the expression on my face. She is an older woman with wrinkles forming around the smile lines on her face. Her short hair makes her look captivating. She is actually brilliant, in small doses. And only brilliant on the days I am willing to listen to her. It’s like eating a piece of chocolate. Tasting one makes you want another, but it leaves you feeling nauseous after a handful.
Author Bio and Links
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 | Amazon Buy Link
Giveaway
Lauren Wagner will be awarding a $10 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Find out more here.
Follow Lauren on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here.
A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, novels of suspense, and books for kids. Marilyn’s middle grade novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children’s Book Council “Children’s Choice.” A new edition, the first book in a series of four, came out in 2023. Rufus and the Witch’s Drudge, the second book in the Rufus series, was released in 2024. Her YA horror, The Devil’s Pawn, came out in a new edition in January, 2024. Soon to be published are new editions of And Don’t Bring Jeremy, which received six state nominees, and Getting Back to Normal.
Joanne Guidoccio 