Alexandria resident Matt Lavoie has spent decades working as a policy expert and political operative in D.C., and now he has taken that experience to pen and paper.
Lavoie’s thriller novel “Main Street Fringe” will be released by Level Best Books on Sept. 1. This is Lavoie’s first novel, following the story of a Virginia State Police detective going “undercover” as himself to pursue a violent conspiracy group, putting his own family at risk.
Lavoie is a member of the International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America. A launch event is planned Sept. 2 at Elaine’s Literary Salon in Alexandria, followed by a New York City event on Sept. 16 at The Mysterious Bookshop.
ALXnow: Why did you want to start writing?
Matt Lavoie: It all began with reading. My mother instilled a love of stories and reading and as a kid, I was rarely without a book in my hands. When I was about 10 a friend visited for a few days. After he left, my mom asked if I was sad the visit was over. I said, “Yeah, but I can finally read.”
Over time, all those magical escapes into the pages got me thinking I’d like to write my own someday. But like a lot of people, it became a dream for tomorrow and life and career overtook that desire. When COVID hit, I found myself with nothing but time. With a nugget of an idea, I sat down and decided to see where it took me.
ALXnow: In what ways did the political climate, particularly fringe groups, influence the content?
Lavoie: My 20 years in politics and advocacy allows me real insight into cultural evolution (devolution?) and it’s at hyperspeed these days. The internet and its opportunities to recruit and rabbit-hole people is a gamechanger. That said, this story is relatively timeless. Conspiracy is embedded in our culture and you could select examples from nearly any decade in our history.
It’s possible someone keeping tabs on the news could write a generic version of MAIN STREET FRINGE. We see evidence of the thematic elements every day. What makes my book unique is my deep experience studying and talking with people across the country about how their fears, struggles, and backgrounds drive their beliefs. It allowed me to create characters you can understand, if not condone, and how they handle being on the edge of radicalization.
ALXnow: Did D.C. provide any inspiration for the story?
Lavoie: D.C.’s certainly a big influence in MAIN STREET FRINGE. First off, the FBI investigations into conspiracy groups and the limitations there in create the need for our hero to infiltrate. But it’s the specter of D.C. that looms over so much, the real and imagined policies, the rumors, the ambition of political figures drive the action no matter where we are – Charlottesville, San Francisco, Upstate New York, etc.
ALXnow: When do you find the time to write? What does your process look like?
Lavoie: Lack of time was forever my excuse for not writing. Once I started, I found so much joy in creation, finding time isn’t a problem. I write whenever I can. That tends to be post-9 pm and I’ll hammer the keyboard until I’m tired enough that the words no longer make sense. I’ll outline two or three chapters in advance, write those, edit, and repeat.
While I’m writing, I’m listening to mostly classic rock, loud, and I turn off the internet because I’m not to be trusted with a distraction.
ALXnow: How long did Main Street Fringe take to write?
Lavoie: Start to finish on the first draft, probably about 4-5 months. But the pathway to publication is long and it’s probably been three years since I first typed “The End.”
ALXnow: Do you have any literary influences?
Lavoie: Too many to list in total, but a shorthand would have to include George Pelecanos, Stephen King, John Irving, S.A. Cosby, Jordan Harper, Henry Wise. I’m not comparing myself specifically to any of these brilliant writers, only aspiring to be more like them.
ALXnow: Are you working on another book?
Lavoie: Always. Right now, I’m closing in on completing a story set primarily in Northeast D.C. about a half-reformed hustler blackmailed into finding a missing woman while the rest of the city’s under siege from a serial killer offing the political donor class. For me, it’s a big step forward in complexity and style, a real walking-and-chewing-gum situation. Hopefully I don’t end up with too much gum in my hair.
