Meet Author CHUCK STORLA in Conversation with Author/Musician MIKE SHAW

Chuck Storla began his writing career at an early age. He started with block letters and after mastering both upper and lowercase moved on to cursive. In addition to writing, he has been an avid reader of chapter books for much of his adult life.

After graduating from college, he ignored his muse once he saw her checks bounce because of insufficient funds. Instead, he joined a well-known and occasionally well-run computer manufacturer working as a systems engineer. While there, he eventually quit working altogether and became a manager. Upon leaving the corporate world, he rediscovered his inner artist. He also discovered the great thing about being a writer is that the barrier to entry is incredibly low.

As of this date, his works have been printed in dozens of fonts across the globe. While he doesn’t like to brag, he has given up on waiting for others to do it for him. If he were to brag, he would mention his short work of humorous fiction, “I Chat, Therefore I Am” was recognized as runner-up for the 2023 Terry Kay Prize for Fiction as well as making the Shortlist for the Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction (July–August 2023). Based on this, he now claims to be an Almost Award-Winning Writer.

Welcome to the Estates at Chestnut Lake, home of perfect lawns, matching houses, and an inconvenient M**der or two.

This hilarious and compelling whodunit mystery has the “crime close to home” feel of Only Murders in the Building and is perfect for readers who loved Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect and Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.

Brad Hanson’s life in his suburban Atlanta subdivision is unremarkable. He investigates insurance fraud, which is as dull as it sounds, though if he’s able to get a good bonus this year, his wife, Rhonda, will finally get to have her new kitchen. His highest achievement in life is being secretary and de facto parliamentarian on the homeowners association board, which is the center of all the neighborhood drama.

As frustrating—and heated—as the arguments over tennis court resurfacing and dog droppings may be, much like his subdivision compatriots, Brad would never K*ll a neighbor, but… he might enjoy thinking about it from time to time. (Who hasn’t?)

When someone murders cranky old Inga Oskarsdotter—a frequent source of complaints to the HOA board—a literal smoking gun turns Brad into the chief suspect. But Brad is not waiting around to be arrested—after all, he is an investigator by trade—and he takes it upon himself to find the real killer. Then the body count starts to rise.

One thing is sure: A murderer on the block is not good for property values.

Mike Shaw is an Atlanta-based writer and musician. A singer-pianist, he began touring in the late 1960s, performing in nightclubs and on concert stages, solo and with jazz combos, ultimately settling in New Orleans in the late ‘70s. As a writer, he counts more than 15,000 published articles, from investigative pieces adopted by 60 Minutes and ABC 20/20 to articles, white papers, and blogs for corporate clients. He has founded and presided over three Atlanta-based marketing agencies. In addition to his novel, The Musician, released by Blue Room Books in June 2021, he co-authored Understanding Economic Equilibrium, published in May 2021, and The Leadership Edge, published in November 2024, both by Business Expert Press. His podcast with jazz pianist Kevin Bales, Music Life & Times, is available on all podcast platforms.

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