Like many authors, I pour my  heart, soul, and time into writing stories that matter and that I hope will be received with anticipation. I’m always excited to hear back from my readers that they love my stories. It gives me pleasure and my own sense of anticipation when the next book is complete and ready to be released to the world.

I also rely on literary contests to get feedback on my works. They are marketing tools, because a book that has won a literary award gets needed visibility and also may help a reader decide to select that particular book over millions of others.

The latest book in A Cadence Mystery, Fallen Deer, was awarded a gold Literary Titan Book Award! That makes eight total literary awards for this series. 

And the reviews keep coming in. Here is a sample of what they are saying:

“Hagan’s writing style is lyrical yet grounded, with dialogue that feels lived-in and authentic. She skillfully balances cozy moments with the dark undercurrents of violence, injustice, and historical pain. Her prose doesn’t waste a word, and there’s a quiet power in how she lets moments unfold.” Reader Review

“Fallen Deer had me hooked from page one.” Reader Review

“What I love most about this book is how effortlessly Hagan blends cozy small-town dynamics with high-stakes suspense. The relationships feel real—warm, complicated, and filled with the kind of teasing and deep loyalty that makes the town of Cadence feel like home.” Literary Titan

“Hagan weaves a web of discord among the various characters. As an author, she proves herself adept at creating a pervasive sense of unease. Her language choices, dialogue, and the bleak tone make this a horror-mystery tale that is not to be missed.” Reader Review

“An intriguing mystery that kept me guessing the whole time. There were so many twists and turns that I could not put the book down.” Reader Review

“Hagan has a rare ability to make you care deeply for every voice in her ensemble, even when they’re flawed or in conflict. The intergenerational and multicultural dynamics in Cadence add profound richness and texture.” Reader Review

“The storytelling is beautifully layered: social commentary, mystery, and personal growth all weave together seamlessly. Fallen Deer isn’t just about solving a crime; it’s about healing, reckoning with legacy, and finding strength in community.” Reader Review

I received one other amazing piece of news this week. Every once in a while, I search my name to see if I missed any reviews or any other information about my books. One of the hits on my latest search revealed that my first memoir, Another Day in Post-Racial America: To the Mothers of the Black Lives Matter Movement, With Love, had been a semi-finalist in the North Street Book Prize 2020 literary contest! I contacted the administrator of the contest, and she verified I had indeed been a semi-finalist! I must have missed the email that announced the good news back in 2020. It was a hard time for all of us with the pandemic, and it was also the year my career as a records manager and archivist was coming to an end. So maybe I missed the email announcing the status of my submission. Or, the email went to junk mail, and I never received it. No matter. I’m happy that I learned about it five years later!

Another Day in Post-Racial America was also listed by BookAuthority as one of the best Black Lives Matter Books of all time and, after the audiobook came out last year, it was also listed as one of the Best Black Lives Matter Audiobooks. If you haven’t read it, you can purchase it on Amazon or Audible along with my second memoir, American Dreaming: A Memoir of Interracial Love, Estrangement, and Race Equality. Both books are relevant to what’s happening now in this country.

All good news for this independently published author!

Thank you for reading my books, writing those reviews, and staying in touch through this blog. Drop a comment and let me know which of my books is your favorite and why. Or, let me know what you think will happen next in Cadence, the small town with big secrets.

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