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MISGUIDED TRUST
Lauren Wagner
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GENRE: Eco Thriller
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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.
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EXCERPT:
United Region Water Laws: Established May 2167
Water restoration and conservation laws formed with the intent to restore and maintain the physical and biological integrity of the nation’s waters are our nation’s highest priority. Any ill citizens will be removed from government-proclaimed safety zones for the public’s well-being.
Black SUVs line the street, their dark tinted windows and their sparkling silver rims reflecting impending doom. But the windows cannot keep out the screams. Not the cries, nor the banging from inside the vehicles. It’s random health inspection day, and dozens of citizens have already failed, by the count of SUVs.
Josh stands to greet me with a kiss on the cheek, his silence speaking louder than words. I smile back and try to ignore the ominous SUV’s and to ignore what is happening.
“Sit down. Don’t draw any more attention to yourself than necessary,” Josh says.
My pulse is pounding, and my chest rises and falls quicker than I can control. Sweat drips from my brow. My stomach is tied in knots. I assess my body for early signs of illness. No sore throat. No muscle aches. No nausea. All I can do is wait in silence. Our words would be lost anyway, so I sit down at the table.
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW:
Tell me about yourself. Where are you from?
amazing kids, and the four-legged ruler of our home—Duke, our ridiculously
charming King Charles Spaniel. Fun fact: I used to be terrified of dogs—like,
cross the street to avoid them, scared. But then Duke trotted into my life with his
big eyes and royal attitude, and now I'm full-on enamored.
young minds through the magic of reading and writing—two things I’m wildly
passionate about. When I’m not planning lessons, ’m juggling carpool duty.
I secretly love it—not just because my kids are awesome, but also because
it gives me a few quiet minutes to read if I get to the parking
lot too early.
What genre do you read? Who's an author you read? Name your top 5 authors.
LW: I read a lot of Fantasy, Young Adult, and Science Fiction, but I will read
almost anything someone hands me. My top five favorite authors are:
Jennifer A. Neilson
Veronica Rossi
Jessica Shervington
Andy Weir
Sarah J. Maas
What book are you reading right now, and what do you like about it?
LW: I am currently reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
I pulled me in from page one. It’s a messy mix of time travel and the
unpredictability of love.
Favorite sports.
totally cheer at the right moments and pretend to know what’s
happening—but I’ve yet to find one that makesme rearrange my weekend plans or yell at the TV
like it personally betrayed me.
Favorite thing about your state you live in.
How long have you been writing?
first child. There’s something about those months—maybe the hormones,
maybe the anticipation—but my dreams were wild, vivid, and relentless.
I needed a way to capture them before they vanished, so I started
writing them down when I woke up. And once I began, I
couldn’t stop.
What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?
LW: My writing process is a bit backwards—literally. I always start with a
specific scene stuck in my head, like a movie clip on repeat. It’s usually
some dramatic, emotional, or totally random moment I haveto it get on the page. Then I work in reverse, figuring out how the story
could possibly lead up to that point. Once I’ve built a solid runway to
that scene, I finally zoom out and map out how the rest of the plot
unfolds and wraps up. It’s kind of like writing the middle of the book
first and trusting the beginning and end will catch up eventually.
How did you come up with the ideas for your series?
documentaries about archaeology and recent discoveries. I like to create stories
that take these real-life discoveries and turn them into something
meaningful to me. For example, my first bookwas inspired by the story of the sacrificed Incan children in Peru.
My most recent 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.
My next one is creating a society of people in the Sky Caves of
Nepal- making them not only real to history, but real in my head.
How do you celebrate finishing a book?
commitment, and emotional involvement, it's really hard for me to “let go.”
There’s a sense of pride and accomplishment, but also sadness, like saying
goodbye to something that’s been a part of me for so long. It’s the end of
a journey but also the beginning of a new one—the publishing journey.
What would you tell a writer who is just starting out? What program do you
use for writing? What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
What’s your writing software of choice?
you’re creating, and suddenly, hours pass like minutes. But with that immersion
comes the risk of losing your thread, especially when 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 because
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.
you have to use what works best for you.
LW: I tend to write in bursts. Some days, it’s all I can think about—then I’ll write nonstop
for several days in a row. Then, I might take a break for a few days. When my kids were younger,
it was easier to find a routine. I’d write during nap times or after they went to bed. But as they’ve
grown and their bedtimes have crept later and later, my writing schedule has changed a lot. Even
though they don’t need me quite as much now, the rhythm of our home is different. These days,
I write more in the moment- whenever inspiration strikes.
As an author, what would you choose as your spirit animal?
waiting for the exact moment to grasp the right opportunity. And let’s be honest—owls
are amazing because they’re mysterious, a little bit magical, and totally unbothered
by chaos. They stay up all night, thrive in silence, and have that whole “wise
but slightly intimidating” vibe.
Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?
LW: My husband is my biggest supporter. He’s the one who told me to finish writing my
first story and jump right into the second. Whenever self-doubt creeps in, he’s
the steady voice reminding me to keep going. He’s never once questioned whether
I should write—only how soon I’ll start the next writing project. Having
someone who believes in you that deeply? That’s a gift I never take for granted.
How do you name your characters?
popular names from a specific time or place in history. Sometimes, I think
about character traits and how they might be reflected in a name. A strong,
stoic character might have a short, blunt name, while a whimsical or mysterious one
might have a more lyrical or unusual name. Ultimately, the right name should
feel as natural to the character as their voice or actions.
Can you describe a typical day in your writing life?
LW: Writing isn’t my full-time career—it’s my passion, the quiet joy I turn to after a full
day in the classroom. By day, I teach elementary students, helping them discover
the magic of reading and the power of their ownwords. There's something incredibly rewarding about watching young
minds light up as they find their voice on the page. And when the school
day ends and the classroom quiets, I return to my own stories, inspired by
the very love of language I strive to pass on. I sit on the couch with my laptop,
my dog at my side. I might have to push him off my keyboard a few times,
but in the end, he is just as supportive as my husband.
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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: http://www.twitter.com/LoloWags
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Misguided-Trust-Lauren-Wagner/dp/1962308340
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