CLEARFIELD – The Wednesday Book Talks, sponsored by the Clearfield Area Branch of AAUW, continue at Shaw Public Library. This week’s presentation featured Clarington, Pa., author Andrea Zug and her husband, Mike.
Ms. Zug is the author of a series of detective novels entitled Lancer Inc., which features private detective husband and wife team, Mike and Angela Lancer.
Zug recounted to the audience that she had always wanted to write. But she actually began writing the Lancer series as a way to help her husband, Mike.
Mike served in the Vietnam War as a reconnaissance scout. He came home from the war a changed man, dealing with what’s now identified as PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). For many years, he would not talk about his time in Vietnam.
As a way to draw him out, Ms. Zug decided to start writing a book about her husband. She asked him questions about his youth. He had a group of friends who called themselves The Lancers, the origin of the name for her series.
Gradually her questions led up to his time in Vietnam. Over the years, she and his counselor have helped Mike return to the personable, outgoing man he had been before his wartime experiences.
There are five books in the Lancer Inc. series: Lancer, Inc., Death Conspiracy, South of the Border, Vengeance and Wildcat Four.
Ms. Zug related that Wildcat Four was the name of her husband, Mike’s recon team in Vietnam. The plot of this book involves the hero being hunted by someone from his past in Vietnam.
Ms. Zug is currently working on a sequel to Wildcat Four but noted the other books can be read in any order.
Ms. Zug shared that her writing draws on experiences, family and places they have visited. Family and friends of the Zug’s appear as characters in her novels.
She commented that it is not unusual for family members to call and ask, “Can I be in your next book?”
Mr. Zug shared with the audience that he and Chief, his best friend on the recon team, dreamed of working together as private investigators after their tour in Vietnam ended. Tragically, Chief was killed on a mission. From these remembered dreams, the theme of Lancer Inc. was born.
Ms. Zug’s books are available on Amazon and Kindle. She and her husband donated a copy of each of the five Lancer Inc. novels to Shaw Public Library.
These were gratefully accepted by the library staff who indicated that patrons were already inquiring if the library had the books as they left the event.
The final Wednesday Book Talk featuring DuBois author and speaker Kristine Gasbarre will be held on Wednesday, April 3 at 1 p.m. Gasbarre is back by popular demand following her participation in the book talk series last year.
A luncheon including soup and salad will be served. Reservations for the program may be placed at the front desk of Shaw Public Library or by calling 814-765-3271 by Monday, April 1 at 5 p.m.
A donation of $5 for the meal is requested. Proceeds benefit the local AAUW’s Delayed Studies scholarship.
