Writer’s Digest will recognize the work of 1998 Charlotte graduate Nicole Loughan in the March/April 2015 magazine after naming her one of the top self-published authors of 2014.
Her mystery book, “To Murder a Saint,” won honorable mention in the genre fiction category in the magazine’s national competition. Writer’s Digest is the top U.S. magazine for writers.
“Getting a title in this competition is an honor,” said Loughan. “Entering with a short mystery, filled with offbeat characters and quirky settings was such a long shot. I was thrilled that the people at Writer’s Digest took a chance on a very different sort of mystery and liked it.”
Judges in the competition gave the book five out of five points for writing and style and said, “To Murder a Saint” is a fantastic mix of mystery and the dark depths of bayou folklore. I really enjoyed this one and believe that this author may, in fact, be an untapped resource for future fantastic material. The stories are beautifully crafted with attention to detail, rich scene setting, and a healthy mix of narrative and clever dialogue.”
The book is the first two stories from the Saints Mystery Series” — “To Murder a Saint” and “All Saints’ Secrets” combined into one book. The two were originally posted as separate stories on Amazon.com.
Loughan credits her experiences at Charlotte Middle School for her love of reading and writing.
“My interest in writing began with my middle school teacher Mr. Johnston,” said Loughan. “He used to read us Edgar Allan Poe by candlelight. When you came to his class and the lights were out you knew he would be reading and everybody would rush to their seats to listen. He showed us that reading could take you to another place and put you in a different state of mind. Even on a bad day, his readings would put me in a great mood. My books are heavily influenced by Edgar Allan Poe and those days spent by candlelight in Mr. Johnston’s room.”
William Johnston taught at Charlotte Middle School for 30 years. Loughan said, “I learned of his passing recently, and it touched my heart. I thought next time I was in town I would give him a signed copy of my book and tell him what he meant to me. Instead, I have to hope I have honored his legacy.”
The books have been amongst the best selling independently published books on Amazon. The first one sold more than 10,000 copies last year and has topped the best-selling mystery chart. After a surge of sales, “All Saints’ Secrets” was singled out to be turned into an audiobook by Amazon through its Author Creation Exchange (ACX). In it, ACX offers a stipend of up to $100 per hour to a producer to create an audiobook. It is only offered on high performing Amazon titles.
The stipend helped net the voice talents of actress Liz Thompson (AKA Suzy Lexington). Thompson has been professionally acting since age five, when she starred in her first commercial. She continues to work as an actor and voiceover artist whose work can be found on television, radio plays, theater and film. She was most recently the national voice of Crest.
Thompson said she loved narrating the Saints books.
“I have loved portraying Fanchon in the Saints Mystery Series because she is so tough yet so vulnerable,” said Thompson. “I love doing characters that have a real humanity about them.”
Loughan said she never dreamed she would get an actor of Thompson’s caliber. She was thrilled with her performance.
“Listening to Liz read my books was a surreal experience. It was like hearing my stories for the first time,” said Loughan. “I remembered listening to one particular scene, which was filled with action, and even knowing exactly how it ended I was on the edge of my seat. I also enjoyed Liz’s amazing comic timing. I had to listen to the proofs in a private place because I was laughing out loud at her performance.”
Audiobook monthly reviewed the first audiobook and gave it five stars.
Audiobookmonthly.com CEO Susan Keefe said “To Murder a Saint” was “’exciting, with a gripping storyline’ are the first words which come to mind when summing up this audiobook … With plenty of twists and turns and an ending you could never have guessed.”
The books are mystery thrillers with a bit of humor. The first book in the series, “To Murder a Saint,” came out in May of 2013 and “All Saints’ Secrets” followed in August of 2013.
Loughan started her writing career in Charlotte as the news editor of Charlotte High School’s newspaper. She also wrote for the Charlotte Shopping Guide and later for the Lansing State Journal youth publication “The Noise.” She is currently known as the syndicated humor columnist “The Starter Mom” and the Fresh Offerings food writer for Calkin’s media. Her stories about fine dining and where to eat out are published in two greater Philadelphia Daily newspapers, The Intelligencer and The Bucks County Courier.
The third book in the series, “A Masquerade of Saints,” is out now.

Article submitted by
Littlespot Publishing.