Portland, Oregon Mar 18, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - After four decades in the courtroom, French-Canadian trial lawyer Jean Lagacé steps into the literary arena with The Manuscript, a novel that challenges genre conventions while exploring love, morality, justice, and creative ambition.
Neither a traditional romance nor a conventional crime novel, The Manuscript weaves together themes of love without sentimentality, murder and capital punishment without procedural drama, and religion without preaching. With subtle elements of magic grounded firmly in reality, the novel resists simple classification inviting readers into a layered narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
At the heart of the story lies an unexpected literary twist. Inspired initially by the song “Piensa en Mi,” Lagacé began writing a baseball-centered story titled Faith. But as the creative process unfolded, a larger narrative emerged: what happens when a publisher discovers a promising manuscript and decides to claim it as his own? The consequences of that betrayal drive the novel forward, blending suspense with irony and sharp commentary on ambition and integrity.
A Story Born from Reinvention
Lagacé began writing in English while spending time at his condominium in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he joined a writing workshop as both a creative outlet and a personal challenge. What started as short stories written “for fun” gradually evolved into The Manuscript, a full-length novel that reflects both his legal background and his fascination with storytelling.
With 40 years of experience as a trial lawyer, Lagacé brings a deep understanding of human conflict, moral ambiguity, and courtroom intensity to his fiction. His transition from law to literature gives the novel a distinctive voice shaped by decades of observing the complexities of truth and justice.
Media Appearances
Jean Lagacé has been featured in radio and television interviews with Logan Crawford, discussing his transition from law to fiction and the creative journey behind The Manuscript.
A Message to Readers
“If you enjoy baseball, you will love the ‘Faith’ story within the novel. But beyond that, The Manuscript is about imagination, betrayal, redemption, and the unpredictable paths stories can take both on the page and in life. I believe readers who spend a few hours with it will not be disappointed.”
Author Website
For more information, visit:
https://authorjeanlagace.com/
Availability
The Manuscript is available now on Amazon and can be purchased here:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DSCQPWKS
Media Contact
Seven Chapter Literary jack.smith@sevenchapterliterary.com +19712989500 8327 SE Schiller St https://sevenchapterliterary.com/
