For many, retirement signals a slowing down. For Frank Lazarus, it marked the beginning of an entirely new chapter filled with intrigue, plot twists, and the quiet discipline of daily writing. A longtime financial services professional, Lazarus has transformed a lifelong curiosity about storytelling into a growing body of work that blends crime, humor, and real-world inspiration.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Lazarus spent more than five decades in the financial services industry. His career was rooted in logic, numbers, and structure – an unlikely training ground, perhaps, for a novelist. But beneath that pragmatic exterior, there was always a creative undercurrent waiting to surface.
“I think someone told me 40 years ago that everybody has a novel in them,” Lazarus said. “I tried to write one back then, but it went nowhere. Every few years, I’d revisit it, maybe add a sentence or two – but it never really took off.”
Frank Lazarus with his latest book, The Coligny Beach Murders.
That early attempt might have stalled, but the impulse never disappeared. About 20 years ago, Lazarus began writing a blog, not with aspirations of fame or fortune, but simply as a way to stay connected. Shared with a small circle of friends and family, his posts offered humorous takes on everyday life, often described by readers as having a “Seinfeld-ish” tone.
“I wasn’t trying to build an audience,” he said. “It was just an outlet. But it helped me find my voice.” That voice would later become the foundation of his fiction.
Lazarus first came to Hilton Head around 2006, eventually purchasing a home in Bluffton before relocating full-time to the island in 2021. With retirement came something many professionals struggle to find: time. And with time came possibility.
The turning point arrived unexpectedly. A friend shared a manuscript that had been rejected by publishers. After reading it, Lazarus had a realization – one that would change his trajectory.
“I thought, ‘I could do this,’” he said.
That spark of confidence led him back to the idea he had shelved decades earlier. Drawing on his experience in the life insurance industry, Lazarus crafted his first novel, The Murder Gambit, weaving in a little-known but fascinating niche of the business as the backbone of a crime story.
“I had no idea how to get it published,” he said. “Then someone introduced me to self-publishing, and that changed everything.”
Building a Series and a Style
What began as a single novel soon evolved into something more expansive. Encouraged by others who understood reader habits, Lazarus pivoted toward writing a series, introducing recurring characters that audiences could follow from book to book.
His Brown and McNeil series was born, anchored by two characters who emerged organically from his first story: Vernon Brown, a detective, and James McNeil, the son of one of the victims in Lazarus’ first book (in which the two characters met). Subsequent books expanded both the narrative scope and thematic depth, incorporating elements as varied as high school basketball, socioeconomic contrast, and regional identity.
Books two and three, for example, explore the world of competitive basketball, juxtaposing vastly different environments – from affluent communities in Massachusetts to overlooked towns in Virginia. The result is a layered narrative that blends mystery with social observation.
“I read a lot of authors like John Grisham and James Patterson,” Lazarus said. “So I think I absorbed a feel for that genre – legal thrillers, procedurals. But over time, I’ve developed my own style.”
That style, he said, leans heavily on dialogue, infused with light humor and the unmistakable cadence of a Philadelphia upbringing.
While Lazarus draws inspiration from his professional background and personal experiences, his approach to research reflects the tools of a modern writer. “I rely a lot on Google and AI, but only for research,” he said. “If I’m writing about a place I’ve never been – like Emporia, Virginia – I’ll research everything: demographics, geography, legal systems. It’s all accessible now.”
This blend of lived experience and digital research allows Lazarus to create believable worlds without being constrained by geography. It also underscores a key theme in his work: the intersection of reality and imagination.
That intersection is perhaps most evident in one of his favorite books, The Murder Hobbyist.
When Fiction Gets Personal
Unlike his earlier works, The Murder Hobbyist takes a bold narrative turn – placing Lazarus himself at the center of the story as a fictionalized version of the author.
“I wrote it in the first person,” he said. “The premise is that I’ve learned so much about murder from writing these books that I decide to try committing one – and see if I can get away with it.”
What follows is a meta-narrative that blurs the line between author and character, fiction and reality. The story begins in Philadelphia but quickly shifts to Hilton Head, where Lazarus’ fictional counterpart becomes entangled in a second murder – this time as the prime suspect.
The detectives from his earlier books re-enter the scene, traveling south to investigate, creating a crossover that ties the series together while introducing readers to the Lowcountry setting Lazarus now calls home.
“It was a lot of fun to write,” he said. “A little risky, too. Some people weren’t sure what to make of it.”
That risk paid off, not only in terms of storytelling but also in expanding the geographic and emotional range of his work. His latest book, Coligny Beach Murders, continues that evolution, grounding the mystery firmly in Hilton Head’s coastal landscape.
Beyond Fiction: Humor, Dating, and Observation
In addition to his novels, Lazarus has published two nonfiction books that showcase another side of his writing.
One is a compilation of his blog posts, spanning two decades of observations about modern life. Titled Is Anything All Right?, the collection offers a humorous, sometimes exasperated look at everything from customer service to cultural quirks.
The other, 103 First Dates: Mismatch.com, chronicles his personal experiences with online dating after the age of 60.
“It’s tongue-in-cheek,” he said. “But there’s truth in it. I let readers decide what’s real and what’s fiction.”
The book has struck a chord, particularly with women, who find both humor and relatability in the stories.
Despite his growing catalog, Lazarus is quick to temper expectations for aspiring writers. “It’s tough,” he said. “You can write a great book, but getting it noticed is another challenge entirely.”
With millions of titles available online and thousands more added each month, visibility is a constant hurdle. Lazarus emphasized the importance of understanding one’s goals from the outset. “Are you trying to build a career? Or are you doing it for enjoyment?” he asked. “That will determine everything – from how you publish to how much you invest in marketing.”
For Lazarus, writing remains a passion project, one that balances creative fulfillment with a realistic view of the industry.
A Quiet Life, A Busy Mind
Now fully settled on Hilton Head, Lazarus embraces a lifestyle that suits both his personality and his craft. A self-described introvert, he finds comfort in solitary activities – walking, reading, and even golfing alone.
“Writing requires a lot of time by yourself,” he said. “You have to be comfortable with that. I’m fortunate to have an understanding partner in Debra Migden.”
It’s a rhythm that allows his stories to take shape, one chapter at a time.
And while he may not have envisioned this path decades ago, Lazarus has found something many seek but few achieve: a second act that feels both purposeful and personal.
“I didn’t start this to become a bestselling author,” he said. “I started it because I had something to say.”
As it turns out, he still does.
For more information, visit FrankLazScribe.com. To purchase books, shop locally at Emry Bookshop, Gifted, By Hand, Ink, and Calhoun Street Gallery, or visit Amazon.com.