Landis is a native Charlotteean who loves reading and writing. And dogs. Which is why he starts each day walking Gus and Lori, two rescue dogs named after characters from Larry McMurtry’s classic western, Lonesome Dove, one of his favorite books.
Landis has been writing all his life. That’s what lawyers do. But he had a revelation in his mid-50s when he realized it was more fun to write about conflict than to experience it. And so, while still practicing law, he began writing fiction when he penned a Christmas story for his family that turned into his first published book.
As he continues to write, Landis hopes to draw on the Wade family writing gene. His grandfather, Jake Wade, was sports editor for The Charlotte Observer for many years and scrivener of the popular column, “Jake Wade’s Sports Parade,” in the 1930s and 40s. Landis says, “he could really tell a story.”
And because Landis is curious and sometimes frustrated by technology, he asked himself this question as he approached retirement from his law firm: “I wonder if I can create, manage and produce a great podcast that features authors reading their work?” He looks forward to hearing the answer to this question from the podcast’s listeners.
Learn About the Host’s Newest Novel
In his novel “Deadly Declarations,” Landis explores the mystery of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.
He got the idea to write the novel after interviewing Scott Syfert, noted Charlotte attorney and amateur historian, who wrote a non-fiction book about the Meck Dec.
The novel came several years after writing his Christmas novella series (see books below) and after conducting more than 300 author interviews on Charlotte Readers Podcast, which helped prepare Landis to write his first full-length novel.
Landis’ Christmas Books
Landis wrote his first book, The Christmas Heist as a Christmas gift for his family, which one reviewer called a cross between My Cousin Vinny and Miracle on 34th Street.
When the next Christmas rolled around, the characters returned to save Christmas once again in The Legally Binding Christmas.
The trilogy was completed with The Christmas Redemption, which won the 2018 Holiday category of the 12th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards and was the 2018 Holiday category Honorable Mention in the 10th Annual Readers’ Favorite Awards.
The lawyers save Christmas three times, which Landis says is no small feat for the legal profession.
