Books

Six books. Real stories.

Cover of Nobody Plans for This by Dennis M. Lawler. The subtitle reads: A Practical Guide to the Decisions That Will Define Your Final Chapter.

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Nobody Plans for This

A Practical Guide to the Decisions That Will Define Your Final Chapter

Non-Fiction · 2026

Nobody Plans for This is a practical guide to the decisions that will define your final chapter. It is for families working through Elder Care, retirement communities, and the question of who decides. A free interactive spreadsheet comes with the book, so you can run the numbers yourself.

  • Paperback
  • Kindle

ISBN 9798171759018

Fiction

Novels rooted in real experience

Cover of the book Arbitrage by Dennis M. Lawler

Arbitrage

A historical novel linking the collapse of Enron to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Dennis Lawler’s latest novel weaves decades of energy industry intrigue into a sweeping historical narrative. From the trading floors of Houston to the geopolitical chessboard of Eastern Europe, Arbitrage connects the dots between corporate greed, energy dependence, and international conflict. A thriller informed by a career spent inside the industry itself.

In the news: In October 2026, a former Ukrainian special-forces officer went on trial in Hamburg, accused by German prosecutors of leading the 2022 attack on the Nord Stream pipelines from a rented yacht named Andromeda. Arbitrage, published two years earlier, imagined a strikingly similar story. In early drafts, the novel's boat was named Andromeda too; it became Cassiopeia.

Read: When Fiction Gets Close to the Truth

  • Paperback
  • Kindle
Cover of the book Black Start by Dennis M. Lawler

Black Start

An energy industry thriller

When the power grid goes dark, a “black start” is the emergency procedure to bring it back online from nothing. Dennis draws on his nearly 40 years in the energy industry to craft a technically authentic thriller about the fragility of the systems we take for granted—and the people who fight to keep them running.

  • Paperback
  • Kindle
  • Audiobook
Cover of the book Hickory by Dennis M. Lawler

Hickory: A Biography of a Living Legend

Biography · 2020

The remarkable life story of a living legend, told with the warmth and detail that only someone who truly knows the subject can bring. Hickory is a portrait of character, resilience, and the kind of life that inspires everyone it touches.

  • Paperback

Memoir

Adventures worth remembering

Cover of the book Canadian Reflections by Dennis M. Lawler

Canadian Reflections

Memoirs of Fishing Adventures Spanning 35 Years

Thirty-five years of fishing trips to Canadian lodges, distilled into stories of friendship, nature, and the quiet moments that stay with you. Canadian Reflections is part travelogue, part memoir—a celebration of the outdoors and the bonds forged in remote places far from the pressures of the working world.

  • Paperback

Non-Fiction

Practical guides for families

Cover of the book Sorting Out Retirement Community Options by Dennis M. Lawler

Sorting Out Retirement Community Options

Elder Care · 2023

Through the story of fictional couple Jim and Jan Smith, Dennis walks readers through the full spectrum of retirement community options—from independent living to skilled nursing. A practical, approachable guide born from personal experience and genuine concern for families navigating these decisions.

  • Paperback
  • Kindle

All books available on Amazon

Paperback, Kindle, and audiobook editions. Visit the author page for the complete collection.