Latest Books WINNER’S CURSE with L.A. Starks

The first-ever woman to lead the drilling division of TriCoast Energy, protagonist Lynn Dayton is determined to prove herself capable but finds herself facing more than just the usual water cooler backstabbing.

Undercutting her at every turn is former TriCoast Executive, Henry Vandervoost, who blames her for his humiliating fall from power. Ruthlessly competing with Lynn for control of Bradshaw Energy, his own playboy son’s company that has revolutionary energy technology, Vandervoost enlists the help of attractive young chemist Hannah Bosko to assist him in taking over the company.

Lynn must battle Vandervoost and international power players who conspire to eliminate her and her colleagues, foil conspiracies to sabotage natural gas plants, and complete a merger that will ensure that the technology remains in the hands of those who will use it to benefit the world.

L.A. Starks recently sat down with The Big Thrill to discuss her latest genre, WINNER’S CURSE.

L.A. Starks

Can you pinpoint a moment or incident that sparked the idea for this book?

I work in the energy business and so over time have learned some of the personal challenges and conflicts–the stories–of its players.

A novel is such a major undertaking; there’s the writing of it, of course, then you’re spending months and months revising, polishing, and then promoting it. How did you know this was the book you wanted to spend the next couple of years on?

Super-high stakes, unusual characters, little-known but world-vital thriller subject (energy) combined with the very real family and personal dynamics of unique west Texas (and Chicago, and global–Hungary, Russia, Israel, Egypt) environment and settings.

Were there any particular books, movies, or songs that were knocking around in your head while you were writing this one?

I’ve read so many great thrillers–and novels–it is hard to pick one!

When you first created your protagonist for this book, did you see an empty space in crime lit that you wanted to fill? What can you share about the inspiration for that character?

Yes. It is quite normal for news and media to lag real life: I know (and consider myself to be among) many women who are scientists, engineers, and investors bringing a factual, tactical, skeptical (in other words, scientific) approach to our work, typically combined with an ability to discern and successfully navigate very different cultures. The potential for high-stakes conflict–the driver of any novel–is limitless.

In addition to a great read, what do you hope readers will take away from this story?

Access to affordable primary energy in all forms–oil, gas, coal, hydro, nuclear, solar, wind, even geothermal–is the great driver for humans’ ability to create, improve, and lift ourselves out of grinding poverty.
Simple (though more technically advanced) US example–the buzz about artificial intelligence breakthroughs relies on lots of 24/7 electricity: 24/7 electricity in turn relies on primary sources like nuclear, natural gas, and coal.

What can you share about what you’re working on next?

I’m not far into it, but I have more untold scenes and settings. I want to extend to more cultures, different countries, and even different continents. The next book is still likely to have the energy biz as the background and Lynn Dayton as the protagonist.