Interview with Liz Lazarus, author of Dawn Before Darkness
What inspired you to write Dawn Before Darkness?
Two things inspired this novel. First, I had a friend who had a terrible experience with a stalker, so I wanted to fictionalize her story. Also, I went through a lengthy battle for guardianship of my mom, so I felt compelled to expose how broken the probate court system is regarding guardianships and conservatorships of the elderly.
How would you describe your book in 10 words or less?
psychological thriller, stalker, guardianship abuse, suspense, fast-paced, twist ending
Tell us a little about DAWN BEFORE DARKNESS.
Dawn Smith, a vet tech living in rural South Carolina, catches her boyfriend in a series of lies and abruptly ends the relationship. Rather than accepting the break-up, he begins to stalk and harass her, forcing Dawn to seek a restraining order. Undeterred, he launches a deeply personal attack—suing for guardianship and conservatorship of Dawn’s infirm mother. In court, he manipulates the truth using evidence that he planted while the couple were still dating. And just when Dawn thinks things can’t get any worse, she is faced with an impossible choice: rekindle the relationship or lose her mother forever.
What do you hope readers will take away from Dawn Before Darkness?
My strong advice to all parents is to ensure that your estate planning is in order—that your personal representative is chosen, your POA and Will directives are clear and that this documentation is finalized before anyone can challenge your mental capacity.
How did your personal experience shape this book?
We’ve all heard stories about the court system taking children away from their parents,
presumably because the adults were unfit guardians. It’s equally possible for the legal
system to take aging parents from their perfectly competent adult children. I know—it
happened to my family.
I spent ten years and thousands of dollars to convince the court that I would be the best guardian for my mom. It took a change of attorney, a change of venue and a new judge to make this happen. Although I was able to eventually become my mom’s guardian, there are many families who are still fighting this broken system—and others who lack the resources for this kind of battle.
DAWN BEFORE DARKNESS is fiction, but what happens to the main character and her mom is all too real.
What advice would you offer writers currently working on their own book?
Write without expectations – of money, fame, or great reviews. Do it because it’s a calling that you enjoy ... because you can’t control the rest.
What will you be working on next?
I have an idea and a vague outline. That’s how these things get started.
I plan to stay in the psychological suspense and mystery genre. There’s nothing I like more than discovering a twist that I didn’t see coming, so when I can do that for my readers, I’m really happy.
Will you be having a book launch event for Dawn Before Darkness?
Yes, the book launches May 26, 2026, and we will be having a party at our home in Bozeman, Montana.
Where can readers connect with you online?
You can find links to my books / audio books and read sample chapters at: www.lizlazarus.com.
The e-book is available for preorder on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
I look forward to hearing from you, and please feel free to tag: #dawnbeforedarkness #authorlizlazarus
Thanks!
Liz Lazarus