MARSHALL, TX – Shannon D. Christensen, owner and publisher of CS Publishing, proudly announced today that Lagniappe, K.D. McLemore’s introduction to The Destiny, Arkansas Series of novels has been named a Gold Award winner in Crime Fiction by the Indie-Gold Awards. McLemore’s debut novel was also recently named a Literary Titan Silver Award honoree.
James Dain, founder of the Indie-Gold Awards Program, said McLemore’s novel was impressive to the peer review judges.
“Your work stood out among a strong field of submissions from talented independent authors around the world,” Dain said in his announcement letter. “Our judges were impressed by the creativity, storytelling, and originality represented in your entry.”
Peer review of entries was by a panel of judges led by award-winning playwright and author Jason Cannon and Joslyn Chase, author of the Riley Forte mystery series and Readers’ Favorite International Book Award finalist.
“Every contest reminds us how much exceptional talent exists beyond traditional publishing, and we’re honored to help bring these authors to the attention of new readers,” Dain said.
Lagniappe introduces Brock Beckett and the fictional community of Destiny, Arkansas, as Beckett seeks to reclaim his life with Cissy, the daughter he believed to be dead, after 14 years as a USMC scout/sniper in the Middle East. Returning to his roots teaching high school literature, Beckett is confronted by a sniper-style murder that pits him against his past and roils the small town of Destiny. Beckett must help Mayor Lloyd Nelson unravel a plot that gives Beckett no choice but to unpack his sniper rifle to stop a madman as crowds throng Destiny’s annual festival. Will a lagniappe, something given for good measure, save Beckett and Cissy’s new life in Destiny?
“The Destiny, Arkansas Series of novels is a mystery-suspense-thriller look at life lived by mostly ordinary people as the small town of Destiny faces the threat of a growing evil,” McLemore said. “This award recognition is especially gratifying because it comes at the beginning of the series, but it makes maintaining the same level of work challenging. And that is exciting.”
McLemore, a former editor of the Hope Star, and Carolyn, his wife of 51-one years, reside in Hope, Ar., where he retired after 30-plus years as a reporter and editor in Texas and Arkansas. He is the author of the forthcoming legal thriller “Gravitas”, the second book in the Destiny, Arkansas series, set for publication in the Fall, and available via his website destinypublisher.com and by request wherever books are sold.