22 MARCH 2024 By Rachael Bouley With a successful journalism career under her belt, on-air reporter Christina Estes has set her sights on a new goal: publishing a mystery novel. Her dream is coming true with the release of Off the Air , a fictional tale that includes Valley businesses like Chicago Hamburger Company, Dos Vaqueros, Food City, Oregano’s, Rito’s and Welcome Diner. “I’ve always loved mystery books. In the crime fiction genre, certain cities often pop up as settings, like Los Angeles, New York, Boston, and Chicago. I want to read more books set in Phoenix,” Estes said. “There are a couple of phrases often repeated in literary circles: write what you know or love and write the kind of book you want to read.” After reporting in Phoenix for more than 20 years, Estes was inspired to create a character with a similar passion for community and local news. Off the Air introduces Jolene Garcia, a reporter trying to cover real issues in a world that seems more interested in clicks and reels. When a controversial radio talk show host dies on air, Jolene’s managers are ecstatic because she conducted his last interview. They’ve got the advantage – but not for long. National media descends on Arizona with bigger budgets and better scoops, and Jolene ends up fighting for her job and her life. Estes, a current journalist for the NPR member station in Phoenix, found her fiction writing influenced by her reporting work. Some of her favorite stories feature residents who speak up to protect and support their community, and she references this bravery in her book while reflecting on a rewarding yet challenging career. “Working in local news can be a roller coaster of highs and lows. From reporting stories that matter to your community to covering tragic events that stay with you forever, from meeting co-workers who become lifelong friends to losing valuable colleagues due to cutbacks,” Estes said. “Those experiences play out in Off the Air as I take people behind the scenes. After I finished writing, I realized it was a love letter to local news.” When choosing which places to feature in the book, Estes went with restaurants that have special meaning to her. When it came to Chicago Hamburger Co., that reason was for more than the Chicago dogs. “When the pandemic hit and businesses were closing, and there was so much uncertainty, I wanted to follow two local restaurants for a year. My plan was to check in at various times and file updates on how they were doing,” Estes said. “Bob Pappanduros, owner of Chicago Hamburger, agreed. He was always transparent when we talked. I appreciated him being available and honest, and that’s why Bob and his restaurant appear in a key scene.” She is excited to help put Phoenix in the literary spotlight and is working on a sequel that involves the State Capitol as the setting. “Pitching a Phoenix-based series to the New York City publishing world was difficult,” Estes said. “I’ll spare you the years of rejection and strange comments I got about Phoenix and share the best part: local support has made a big impact. I’m proud that our book – yes, this is Phoenix’s book – is opening more eyes to our city.” Off the Air is available for pre-order wherever books are sold and hits the shelves on March 26, with early copies available at a launch event at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Old Town Scottsdale on March 25 at 7 p.m. christinaestes.com This Arizona reporter is swapping news for fiction Bob Pappanduros, owner of Chicago Hamburger Co., with the author. Bob’s restaurant appears in a key scene of the book. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTINA ESTES

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