One of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Liv.
What is your full name?
Olivia Caroline Wilde. Everyone calls me Liv. I chose that nickname when I was twelve in honor of Liv Ullmann, who I thought was the height of sophistication at the time. I’m a distant relation of Oscar Wilde.
How old are you?
Sixty, post-menopausal, and not quite as wild as my name might indicate, most days at least.
What is your profession?
I work as a proofreader and editor for Sage Publications, a woman-owned business in Washington D.C. Luckily, I am able to work from home. I never would have been able to stand the daily, soul-sucking commute from Fredericksburg, Virginia to D.C. I get to work on some interesting articles and books. The most recent was a middle-grade book about unusual dinosaurs, including one that only had one finger.
If you have a significant other, what is their name and profession?
My husband Nate died in a car accident when he was 50. He was a lawyer – one with a heart, which I didn’t know was possible until I met him. Our meet cute (more accurate to say meet messy!) was at an Orioles game on August 31, 1995.
Do you have any children?
I have two daughters, Bailey (B) and Isabel (Izzy). Izzy is a drama major at Virginia Tech, graduating in the spring of 2027. Bailey graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and now works for the Smithsonian’s American History Museum in D.C.
Who is your best friend?
Choosing just one best friend would be impossible. I have a circle of women friends I get together with each month for what we affectionately call our “Monthly.” The circle includes Sophie, Claire, Mary, Jane, and Hannah. They are all the best friends anyone could have. I connect with each of them in different ways, but they are all equally important to me. I wouldn’t have gotten through the loss of my husband without their friendship. We would do anything for each other, including drop everything if someone needs to convene an “emergency Monthly.”
Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
No, I don’t have any pets. With my psychic talents, enough stray people come into my life. I couldn’t cope with stray pets too!
What town do you live in?
I live in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It’s halfway between D.C. and Richmond, Virginia. I grew up in South Jersey though and as they say, you can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can’t take the Jersey out of the girl! That being said, I love living in Fredericksburg. It’s a small town with a thriving art community, great restaurants, and lots of history to explore. There are drawbacks to living in a small town, like everyone knowing your business, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. I love knowing my neighbors and the friendly atmosphere downtown.
What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
I own a town house in the historic Mary Washington Square, which is right next door to the downtown branch of the library where my friend Sophie works. The building I live in was originally the first hospital in Fredericksburg, but eventually it was split up into three-story townhomes. I’ve heard rumors about ghosts in the building, but I haven’t encountered any. Yet.
Before Nate’s accident, we owned an old, fixer-upper house in town, but I couldn’t keep up with it on my own and once my youngest, Izzy, left for college it felt too empty. I wanted to stay in town though, so I bought the townhouse. I love the location right in downtown Fredericksburg and across the street from the Rappahannock River!
Do you have any hobbies?
I enjoy taking yoga classes with my friend Sophie. Once I hit menopause though, some of the changes my body went through made going to class a bit more challenging, and, if I’m honest, more embarrassing. Let’s just say that hormonal changes were accompanied by uncontrollable bodily functions, meaning I learned I had to just skip the “wind-relieving” pose during class altogether!
I also enjoy going to baseball games, though I don’t know if you can call that a hobby. The hobby might be yelling at umpires. What can I say? I grew up going to Phillies games in the “City of Brotherly Love,” where I learned from the toughest fans around!
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
That’s a tough one. Maybe Flashes of Brilliance and Idiocy: a Psychic’s Menopausal Journey.
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m definitely an amateur sleuth, though my skills are improving – in part because of my friendship with Detective Gina Gomez. We work together unofficially on cases occasionally. My neighbor Lucia has been a wonderful mentor when it comes to things of a spiritual nature. She has helped me learn to understand and interpret my visions and to be patient (sometimes!) with the learning process. She has her own mystical powers that I’m just coming to understand. My circle of friends is always ready and willing to help me solve the mysteries my visions present, though I worry about putting them in dangerous situations.
FLASHES OF FIRE AND FURY
Series: A Liv Wilde Mystery, Book 3
Genre: Traditional Mystery w/Paranormal elements
Release: June 2026
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link
There’s a witch hunt underway, and Liv Wilde is one of its targets.
Liv knew it would be impossible to hide her menopausal superpower in a small town, but she never imagined the unwanted attention it would attract.Now, her hot flash-induced psychic visions have put her in the sights of a religious fanatic, who sends Liv a series of letters quoting increasingly disturbing biblical punishments for witches.
More unwanted attention arrives in the form of Mando, a superstitious local baseball player who’s convinced he’s being cursed and that only Liv can help him break it.
Amid the threats and curses, Liv is haunted by visions of a woman being attacked in the woods and left to die in a fire. When her visions become reality and the threats hit closer to home, Liv and her friends race to discover if the letter writer and the attacker are the same person, before other women with supernatural abilities are targeted.
With all the chaos in Liv’s life, the appearance of some welcome attention from a handsome man, only complicates matters.
To protect herself and her daughters, bring the witch hunt to an end, and break Mando’s curse, Liv must put faith in her visions and learn a new way to access her insights.
About the author
Lynda Allen writes the Liv Wilde Mysteries in which menopause is a superpower! Since she had to put up with hot flashes, she figured she might as well make them useful. Lynda proudly infuses her writing with her Jersey Girl sensibilities and aims to create stories imbued with heart and humor. She also serves on the board of Sisters In Crime Worldwide on the Marketing and Communications Committee.