The Clockwork Coroner

T.E.A.M. — Together Everyone Achieves More.
Years ago, I borrowed—no, let’s be honest, plagiarized—that acronym from my friend, Diana Bechel. Over time it’s been distilled into my own mantra:
“Collaborative efforts yield better results.”

That truth has followed me through every stage of my writing journey.

When I wrote Napkin Nights, I learned the hard way that self-editing is a trap. You’re standing too close to the elephant—you can’t see the shape of the thing you’re building. That lesson stayed with me through The Murder of Crowe and is shaping every decision behind The Clockwork Coroner.

Do You Have the Fiverr?

Fiverr, if you’ve never used it, is an online marketplace that connects freelancers with clients for creative and digital work. It’s where I found my editor for The Murder of Crowe, Yvonne (out of Chicago), who turned what could have been a lonely process into a lively, back-and-forth collaboration. Her fingerprints are on every polished sentence of that book.

Now, as The Clockwork Coroner nears the midpoint of its second act, Fiverr is back in the mix—this time with a graphic artist designing the new cover, a social icon for Instagram, and artwork that reflects the same precision and intrigue the story is built on.

Together

Vistaprint was my go-to for the first official Clockwork Coroner bookmarks, built from AI-generated imagery (thanks, ChatGPT!) and a healthy dose of trial, error, and caffeine. I honestly didn’t think I’d burn through 20 bookmarks so fast—but with only four left, that’s a good problem to have.

Each collaboration—editor, artist, printer, and yes, AI—reminds me why I believe in creative teamwork. Every project is stronger when multiple hands help shape it.

So here we are: progress is being made.
For those who’ve been asking (quietly or loudly wink), The Clockwork Coroner is alive, evolving, and more thrilling with every draft.

Together, we’re building something remarkable.

— Los