It Took 20 Years to Finish His Book: Paul Hlabse on Grief, Faith, and "Violent Disturbance"

Some books take a weekend to read and twenty years to write. Paul Lapsey knows, because his sat on a shelf for eighteen of them.   Signature Quote   "Whatever you start, you have to finish it. It may not be the outcome you want, but you have to see it done."   Paul dusted off a twenty-year-old manuscript after his daughter was born, determined to show her that finishing matters more than the outcome. That decision became his debut psychological thriller, Violent Disturbance.   Paul Lapsey started writing his novel when he was a young man, put it down for eighteen years, then picked it back up two years ago after his daughter was born. He wanted her to see that whatever you start, you finish. The result is Violent Disturbance, a psychological thriller with true crime elements that asks what if, and keeps readers up at night.   In this conversation, Paul opens up about the grief that reshaped his writing, the faith that pulled him through it, and the hard question at the center of his book: what does revenge actually cost? He and Audley compare notes as two fairly new authors, including the surreal moment of holding your first finished book in your hands.   If you have ever shelved something that mattered to you, this one might be the nudge to dust it off.   This Episode Is For You If...   \- You have a project sitting on a shelf that you keep meaning to finish \- You want to hear how grief and faith can shape a creative life \- You are curious what it really takes to publish your first book \- You love a thriller that leaves you thinking about it for weeks   About the Guest   Paul Lapsey is a first-time author and the writer of Violent Disturbance, a psychological thriller with true crime elements that explores grief, faith, and the cost of revenge. He started the book twenty years ago, shelved it for eighteen, and finished it after his daughter was born, determined to show her that whatever you start, you finish.   By day, Paul works full time as a process improvement manager in manufacturing plants, a career spanning twenty-five years. Writing has always been his true passion. He lives in Perry, Ohio, where his book is already finding its way into local stores.   Paul is nearly finished with his second novel and is planning a third, a prequel to Violent Disturbance. He joined the podcast to talk about finishing, faith, and what happens when you finally put your work into the world.   Connect with Paul   https://paullapsey.com   Violent Disturbance is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and anywhere books are sold in the United States.   Listen on Major Platforms   🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ   🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345   📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm\_sh\_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt   Enjoying the show?   Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.   ⭐ Leave a review:   👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious