Local Author Takes Hartland 'Undercover' in First Book

Story ideas and plot lines have always swirled around inside the head of Hartland resident Laura DeLanoy until one day, while waiting for her son's football practice to end, the mother of three decided it was time to start writing them down.

Grabbing an extra notebook from her child's backpack and with the sounds of HAYAA football in the background, DeLanoy began her story.

"It starts off with a football game and the words, Blue 15…Blue 15…Down…Set…Hut," DeLanoy said. "I was debating over a opening scene when I heard the coach call out these words and I hurried and copied them down and the scene was born."

Months later, after hours spent plotting, crafting and editing, DeLanoy completed her first book, Undercover Justice, which is now available for purchase on Amazon.

Being able to hold the finished product in her hands, a completed book with her name and picture has been a real source of pride for the Hartland mother and excitement for her family.

"The nicest thing was from my son, he's almost 14 and not too big on reading," she said with a laugh. "But he said he would read it which I thought was the biggest compliment."

While the opening football scene commemorates how her first book began, DeLanoy also admits that there might be other Hartland references that local readers might be able to pick out.

"It's a fictional town, but I pictured a lot of Hartland in my mind," she said. "So, my vision is my community since it's what I know."

With a plot that involves romance, intrigue and murder, DeLanoy's goal was to create a story that people would enjoy.

"There's nothing like feeling so satisfied after a good story and just smiling after you've finished the book," she said. "I just wish that for my book."

Published by Black Rose Writing, Undercover Justice is currently available online.