L. A. Starks Newsletter, Fall 2026

L. A. Starks Newsletter, Fall 2026

Welcome to all new and returning newsletter readers. This twice-yearly newsletter features book recommendations, updates on the Lynn Dayton thrillers and my other publications, and summary paragraphs on the energy biz. I have worked in the energy sector for many years, and it informs the Lynn Dayton thrillers. Energy is, quite simply, foundational for the entire global economy, for everything we do. Energy is conflict, power, money, culture—all perfect for thrillers.

Print editions of each book, published by Nemaha Ridge Publishing Group, LLC through Ingram/Lightning Source, can be found at or ordered from any Barnes & Noble or independent bookstore. All formats (print, e-book, audiobook) are available through Amazon. The end of the newsletter contains metadata for my publications.

Anthology and Award!

I’m happy to announce that my short story, “Contingent on Death,” was selected as the Grand Prize winner in a new anthology, Short Stories by Texas Authors, Volume 11 from Texas Authors Press, overseen by fellow Texas author and all-around arts pro Alan Bourgeois. I’m honored that my short story was selected among this group of talented authors.

Fun media facts: Short Stories by Texas Authors, Volume 11 is available in print from Amazon and Barnes & Noble, in e-book format from Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and in a creative addition by Alan Bourgeois at Texas Authors Press, in three collectible formats (anthology, author, and single story).

Indeed, “Contingent on Death” has its own illustration in both the anthology and collectibles editions.

I hope you’ll pick and read one or more of the anthology formats from these sites:

Amazon.com: Short Stories by Texas Authors: Volume 11: 9798295457708: Bourgeois, B Alan, Starks, L A, Correll, Derek: Books

Short Stories by Texas Authors: Volume 11 | Barnes & Noble®

Short Stories by Texas Authors, Volume 11 | Literary Collectibles Registry

More Awards for Winner’s Curse: A Lynn Dayton Thriller

I’m also pleased that Winner’s Curse: A Lynn Dayton Thriller has recently won a few awards:

*Finalist in the Action category for the 2025 IAN (Independent Author Network) Book of the Year Awards. (November 2025),

*Finalist in the 2026 Indies Today Awards. (April 2026), and

*Book Readers Appreciation Group (B.R.A.G.) 2026 Medallion (earned by only 10-25% of applicants).

I was also pleased to participate in a local author signing for all four Lynn Dayton thrillers at the Midland, Texas, Barnes & Noble during May 2026.

The Goodreads group, A Good Thriller, selected Winner’s Curse for its July 2026 Book of the Month feature. I enjoyed participating, particularly for the Q&A. Thank you, Goodreads!

Energy

The Lynn Dayton thrillers have the global energy picture as their background. In the last several months, we have seen dramatic conflicts resulting from the closures of the Strait of Hormuz AND Bab el-Mandeb (the choke point at the Red Sea). Even the newly opened relief Saudi pipeline was attacked. These attacks led to big price increases for oil and LNG. Because refineries in Russia and the Middle East have also been damaged, the price of gasoline, and now diesel, has also jumped.

Energy costs are part of everything, especially transportation of people and goods. In the medium and long term, this is self-correcting: high prices bring low prices because demand drops. But in the short term, pain at the pump and from high utility bills is very real. It hurts.

Although energy prices may fall if demand declines sufficiently or if more oil from Venezuela comes online, the biggest price factor will be whether the war ends in the Middle East between Iran and the US (and their allies).

Reading

Since my spring 2026 newsletter, I have read 36 books, six of which were nonfiction. In this shorter list of my top picks, the book title is on the left, and the author (last name first) is on the right. These are in reverse chronological order; e.g., I finished The Murder Rule most recently. They include books in one series by Michael Pronko and another series by Beverly Long.

I highly, highly recommend both books by Jurica Paviĉić, a Croatian author.

As always, you can find my book reviews on Goodreads.

More on Writing and Publishing

After completing audiobook editions for all four books, I did minor revisions to the print and e-book editions of Strike Price, Lynn Dayton Thriller #2 and The Second Law, Lynn Dayton Thriller #3. I also completed copyright registrations for all four books.

The ongoing saga of Anthropic’s and other AI companies’ wholesale ingestion of books continues. No guesses, but this is clearly an intellectual property concern for authors.

I have considered titles, settings, characters, and plot for the fifth Lynn Dayton thriller. I plan to begin deeper work on it soon.

For additional copies or if you want to dive into the books in the series you haven’t read, you can find Lynn Dayton thrillers online at Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. All are available in audiobook (Virtual Voice), e-book (Kindle), and print editions.

Until next time,
L. A. Starks

Fiction (books) by L. A. Starks– in reverse order (The Lynn Dayton Thrillers):

WINNER’S CURSE: A Lynn Dayton Thriller
Publisher: Nemaha Ridge Publishing Group, LLC.
Print ISBN 9780991110759, August 2024, $22.95.
US Copyright Number: TX 9-557-407
E-book ASIN B0DBFKG71J, August 2024, $9.98.
Audiobook with Virtual Voice narration: B0DWTCYLQ1, January 2026, $1.99.

THE SECOND LAW: Lynn Dayton Thriller #3
Publisher: Nemaha Ridge Publishing Group, LLC.
Print ISBN 9780991110742, October 2018, $22.95.
US Copyright Number: TX 9-557-834
E-book ASIN B07JLDGTVL, October 2018, $8.12.
Audiobook with Virtual Voice narration, ASIN B0FB6X5H11, May 2025, $1.99.

STRIKE PRICE: Lynn Dayton Thriller #2
Publisher: Nemaha Ridge Publishing Group, LLC. 3^rd revised edition
US Copyright Number: TXu 1-816-738 and Cover Copyright Number: TX 9-559-240
Print ISBN 9780991110704, March 2014, $18.95.
E-book ASIN B01K5Y406A, August 2016, $8.99.
Audiobook with Virtual Voice narration, ASIN B0F2RM2MV1, March 2025, $1.99.

13 DAYS: THE PYTHAGORAS CONSPIRACY-Lynn Dayton Thriller #1
Publisher: Nemaha Ridge Publishing Group, LLC. 2^nd edition
US Copyright Number: TX 9-555-017
Print ISBN 978-0991110711, August 2016, $18.95.
E-book ASIN B015LI65GI, September 2015, $7.99.
Audiobook with Virtual Voice narration, ASIN B0CTXNVNY2, February 2024, $3.99.

Other Short stories by L. A. Starks, in reverse chronological order

• “Risk Reduction,” in RECKLESS IN TEXAS, Metroplex Mysteries Volume II, March 2023. Print ISBN 979-8385749362, $11.99. E-book ASIN: B0BW2KJPJW $4.99.
• “Josh Rosen & Bubbe” gives insight into the series character Josh Rosen and his relationship with his grandmother when she falls ill. 2014. ASIN: B00O854YKA, $0.99. (Amazon Kindle)
• “A Time for Eating Wild Onions” introduces two key characters in the second Lynn Dayton book, STRIKE PRICE. The tragedy that befalls them profoundly shapes the next generation. 2007. ASIN: B003NE6DGA, $0.99. (Amazon Kindle)
• “Robert and Thérèse Guillard: Choices” is a story about 13 DAYS’ Parisian antagonist and how it feels to fly in a wing suit. 2007. ASIN: B003NE6D74, $0.99. (Amazon Kindle)
• “Gumbo Filé,” which also provides some of the backstory for THE SECOND LAW, was originally published in DREAMSPELL NIGHTMARES, 2010. (out of print)

Flash Fiction by L. A. Starks

“Why Are You Running?” in A YEAR OF SHORTS and DOG DAYS OF SUMMER anthologies.

*A YEAR OF SHORTS: FLASH FICTION, Print ISBN: 979-8519555579, June 2021, $5.99. E-book ASIN: B096Y7WBH6, June 2021, $1.99.

*DOG DAYS OF SUMMER: FLASH FICTION, May 2021, E-book ASIN: B095J998Q9, $0.99.